China regulator says micro-dramas are becoming the fourth global audiovisual form
In short
China's National Radio and Television Administration released a China-ASEAN micro-drama report on 20 October. It says micro-dramas are becoming the fourth global audiovisual product form after American film, Japanese animation and Korean TV drama. It reports 490,000 micro-dramas released in January to September 2026 and 850 million users.
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China's National Radio and Television Administration released the China-ASEAN Micro-drama International Communication Development Report on 20 October, during China-ASEAN Audiovisual Week in Beihai, Guangxi, according to IT Home and Jiemian, which cited CCTV News. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The report says micro-dramas, a form of online audiovisual content born in China, are changing the global audiovisual landscape at a startling pace. It says they are becoming the fourth global audiovisual product form after American film, Japanese animation and Korean TV drama. It adds that China-ASEAN micro-drama cooperation is deepening and has become an important vehicle for digital economy cooperation and cultural exchange between the two sides. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The report says China's micro-drama market keeps growing quickly. A total of 33,000 micro-dramas were released nationwide in 2025, and 490,000 were released in January to September 2026, 13 times the 2025 total. Micro-drama users number 850 million, with more than 600 million monthly active users, which the report calls an important part of internet users' cultural life. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The report also says overseas growth is strong. The micro-drama market outside China will exceed 6 billion US dollars in 2026, up 67% on 2025. IT Home added a conversion of about 40.162 billion yuan at current exchange rates. China-backed platforms dominate the global market: all of the top 10 micro-drama apps by overseas downloads in January to September 2026 were China-backed, as were 9 of the top 10 platforms by in-app purchase revenue. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Jiemian's version includes a section on the structure of Chinese micro-dramas sold overseas. Locally made dramas rose from 5% in May 2026 to 11% in September, while dubbed dramas fell from 95% to 89%. By the end of September, AI-made dramas accounted for more than 60% of such titles. [ 4 ]
The report expects the next three to five years to be a key period for regional micro-drama development, with continued market expansion, deeper cooperation across the industry chain and more flexible business models, according to IT Home and Jiemian. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The figures come from a regulator's report, carried by outlets that credit CCTV News, so they show how Chinese officials describe the sector's growth at home and abroad. The report also says the next three to five years will be a key period for regional micro-drama development.
Key facts
- The National Radio and Television Administration released the China-ASEAN Micro-drama International Communication Development Report on 20 October during China-ASEAN Audiovisual Week in Beihai, Guangxi. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The report says micro-dramas, a form of online audiovisual content born in China, are becoming the fourth global audiovisual product form after American film, Japanese animation and Korean TV drama. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- 33,000 micro-dramas were released in China in 2025; 490,000 were released in January to September 2026, 13 times the 2025 total. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Micro-drama users number 850 million, with more than 600 million monthly active users. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The overseas micro-drama market outside China is set to exceed 6 billion US dollars in 2026, up 67% on 2025. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- All of the top 10 micro-drama apps by overseas downloads in January to September 2026 were China-backed, as were 9 of the top 10 platforms by in-app purchase revenue. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jiemian reported that AI-made dramas made up more than 60% of Chinese micro-dramas sold overseas by the end of September. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How the report defines or counts a micro-drama and how it measures the overseas market. The documents give only the report's headline figures and no methodology.
- The shift in overseas micro-drama content toward locally made and AI-made dramas. Only Jiemian gives these figures: locally made dramas rose from 5% in May to 11% in September, and dubbed dramas fell from 95% to 89%.
- According to the report, 490,000 micro-dramas were released in January to September 2026, 13 times the 2025 total of 33,000, and users number 850 million. Reported by a single source so far
- According to the report, the overseas micro-drama market will exceed 6 billion US dollars in 2026, up 67% year on year. Reported by a single source so far