AIS and ReelShort Tap Into Thailand’s Verticaltainment Boom

From bite-sized dramas to bingeable mobile storytelling, a new entertainment format is taking over screens, one vertical episode at a time

There’s a new word entering the entertainment lexicon, and it’s tailor-made for the way we live now: verticaltainment.

Short, fast, and designed for the scroll, vertical series, also known as micro-dramas, are quickly becoming one of the most compelling shifts in global content consumption. And now, Thailand is stepping firmly into that future.

In a move that signals both ambition and timing, AIS has partnered with ReelShort, a global leader in vertical storytelling, to bring one of the world’s largest libraries of short-form drama content to Thai audiences.

A format built for how we actually watch

If traditional TV asked for your time, vertical series are built around your habits.

Think episodes that last just a few minutes. Stories that hook you instantly. And narratives designed to be consumed anywhere from BTS commutes to coffee breaks. It’s entertainment that fits into the rhythm of everyday life, rather than asking you to pause it.

AIS data reflects just how quickly this shift is happening. Usage of vertical drama apps has surged by 56% in the past year, with around 9 million users in Thailand now engaging with this format monthly. That’s not just growth: it’s a behavioral change.

Inside the ReelShort universe

At the center of this movement is ReelShort, a platform that has quietly built a global following with its library of more than 4,000 titles spanning romance, fantasy, thriller, and beyond.

Produced with a distinctly mobile-first mindset, these series are structured for instant engagement—high emotional stakes, quick pacing, and cliffhangers that keep viewers tapping next episode. New content drops daily, creating a steady stream of stories designed to be consumed in bursts but remembered longer.

What makes the Thailand launch particularly relevant is localization. Content comes fully equipped with Thai subtitles and dubbing, making it one of the most accessible micro-drama platforms in the market right now.

And while the format is compact, the ambition isn’t. Backed by Crazy Maple Studio in Silicon Valley, ReelShort productions blend Hollywood-style storytelling with the efficiency of digital-native content.

Entertainment meets connectivity

By combining ReelShort’s storytelling engine with AIS’s 5G infrastructure, the experience becomes seamless: fast streaming, mobile optimization, and packages designed around how people actually consume media today.

The entry point is intentionally low. Subscription packages start at just THB 39 per month, bundling access to ReelShort’s VIP content with mobile data, making premium entertainment feel almost seamless.

Packages and pricing

• 5G ReelShort add-on package

THB 39 per month (from THB 599) including 500MB of data

Dial *629# to subscribe

• Daily package

THB 37 per day with unlimited data at speeds up to 4Mbps

Dial 777370# to subscribe

• Weekly package (prepaid only)

THB 240 per week with unlimited data at speeds up to 4Mbps

Dial 777240# to subscribe

• 5G Max Experience package

Starting from THB 499 per month including 1 year of free ReelShort access, high-speed 5G internet, continuous data, and free calls for new customers or those switching to AIS

More information: ais.th/consumers/entertainment/streaming-app/reelshort

[PHOTO: Courtesy of AIS]