Caracol Televisión partners microdrama specialist ReelShort to make first telenovela

Lisette Osorio (left) and Sammie Hao

Colombian broadcaster Caracol Televisión has partnered with US-based ReelShort to launch its first micro telenovela shot in vertical format for viewing on mobile devices.

Caracol TV is producing an original ReelShort series in Colombia, which began filming this month and is set for release in the summer, featuring “super-short, snackable episodes.”

The series is part of ReelShort’s strategy to create short episodes of Spanish-language content with “high emotion.”

The series is part of ReelShort’s broader initiative to create Spanish-language content that meets the platform’s vertical-first format, with short episodes and high emotion, and optimised for mobile audiences.

The two are set to produce more Spanish-language originals together having previously agreed a licensing deal last year.

ReelShort licensed a slate of eight titles that included both classic and contemporary Colombian dramas.

ReelShort simultaneously adapted some of its most popular microdramas in Latin America to test the demand for shortform storytelling in Spanish-speaking markets, which it has found to be strong.

“At Caracol TV, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to connect with global audiences, and this collaboration with ReelShort marks an exciting milestone. Launching our first telenovela in this format allows us to blend our expertise in compelling storytelling with the dynamic, on-the-go viewing habits of today’s digital generation,” said Lisette Osorio, VP of international business at Caracol Televisión.

“We saw an opportunity to build something much bigger in Lat Am,” said Sammie Hao, head of casting and talent relations at ReelShort Licensing.

“After licensing proved successful, the next natural step was to go local – to work with Caracol not just as a content provider but as a creative production partner to continue the force in Lat Am.”

Maritza Castro, creative project manager at ReelShort Lat Am Productions, said: “This coproduction with Caracol marks an exciting step: the channel has embraced experimenting with a new narrative format. From production, we’ve worked to blend the local essence with the agility and excitement that define ReelShort.”

The move comes as the popularity of microdrama on both specialist streamers and social media platforms in the US and Europe continues to grow, having first taken hold in Asia, where many of the platforms that distribute them are based.

Characterised by fast-paced, concise, soapy storytelling, with videos usually one to two minutes long, microdramas have caught fire on platforms such as Chinese short-video app Kuaishou and TikTok sibling app Douyin.