SEOUL, South Korea & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 31, 2025--
Vigloo, a premier destination for immersive short-form dramas from Korean content platform company SpoonLabs, today announced its expansion into the U.S. market, aiming to establish itself as a leader in the rapidly growing short-form streaming industry. Backed by $86 million from South Korea's gaming giant Krafton, the platform is investing heavily in 100+ English-language originals, tapping into America’s surging demand for short-form and mobile-first content.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331029360/en/
Originating in Asia, short-form drama platforms are rapidly expanding worldwide, with the U.S. emerging as a key market. According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, short-form drama app downloads grew by 320 million year-over-year in 2024. Outside China, these apps generated $1.2 billion in revenue, with the U.S. contributing 60%, making it the largest revenue-generating market in this segment.
America’s Growing Love Affair with Short-Form Drama
With the U.S. short-form drama market booming, Vigloo is rapidly emerging as a leader in this entertainment revolution since its launch in July 2024. The company is set to release over 100 original English-language titles by the end of the year. Since December 2024, the platform’s U.S. monthly active users (MAU) have increased fivefold, reflecting a major shift in viewing habits. With U.S. users now generating 50% of its revenue, the company is doubling down on American storytelling—fusing local narratives with the fast-paced, addictive format that has captivated audiences across Asia.
With 70% of U.S. users aged 35 and above—and 60% female—Vigloo’s audience is primarily composed of busy professionals, working moms, and Gen X and older millennial viewers who crave entertainment that fits their on-the-go lifestyles. Whether balancing careers with family time or enjoying hard-earned relaxation, Vigloo offers a streaming experience tailored for short breaks between responsibilities.
“The U.S. has become the biggest market for short-form drama, and Vigloo is leading the charge by delivering original, immersive content that speaks directly to American audiences,” said Neil Hyuk-jae Choi, CEO of SpoonLabs. “Through strategic production partnerships in the U.S. and a growing library of English-language originals, we’re redefining mobile-first entertainment with fresh, binge-worthy storytelling.”
The platform's top U.S. genres include romance, with popular subgenres such as cross-cultural workplace romance (e.g., working abroad in Korea) and thrillers (e.g., betrayals and revenge plots). Some of Vigloo’s most-watched dramas in the U.S. include Fight for Love, The Billionaire Cowboy’s Runaway Bride, and Escaping the Bridezilla.
The Future of Streaming
Vigloo’s over-the-top (OTT) platform combines best practices in gaming, webtoons, social media, and TV to deliver bite-sized, high-quality content. Each series features 50-100 episodes, with episodes lasting just 1-2 minutes—perfect for today’s fast-scrolling audience.
Meeting the demand for fresh, diverse content, Vigloo achieves this through a flexible and cost-effective production model. With content available in eight languages, including English, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Arabic, the platform offers a global streaming experience tailored to local tastes.
Choi added, “Stay tuned for upcoming announcements as Vigloo continues to build a thriving creator ecosystem and partners with U.S. creators to expand our short-form drama lineup.”
For updates on Vigloo’s U.S. expansion and upcoming content releases, visit www.vigloo.com.
About Vigloo
Vigloo, the innovative streaming platform, provides short-form drama aficionados worldwide with a curated selection of premium content from both emerging and award-winning filmmakers. Designed for mobile-first, episodic storytelling, its vertical-scrolling OTT platform caters to audiences seeking binge-worthy entertainment without the lengthy time commitments of traditional streaming content. Vigloo's vast library of over 20,000 hours and 200 series of exclusive content spans genres like romance, comedy, and thriller, featuring original IP for the U.S., Korean, and Japanese markets, as well as licensed IP in eight languages. Vigloo is operated by SpoonLabs, a global content platform company backed by investments from leading venture capital firms and Korean video game company Krafton. For more information, visit www.vigloo.com and www.spoonlabs.com/kr/.
Short, Sweet, and Unstoppable: Short-Form Drama Takes the World by Storm
