Fox Wants More Than 200 Vertical Titles. Who Gets to Own the Hits?
Updated: Oct 9
More than 200 vertical titles is not a test with one inexpensive romance. Reuters reported that Fox struck a deal with Holywater Tech, the company behind My Drama, to produce more than 200 titles in exchange for an equity stake. That raises a question creators should ask before the next wave of big media deals: who owns a successful story after the episodes go live?
What the deal signals
A large slate suggests a company wants a repeatable production process, a stream of concepts, and enough audience data to keep commissioning. It does not mean 200 shows are already released or that every title has the same budget. The deal is a plan for production, and its impact depends on what viewers actually watch.
The rights question
A vertical series can begin as a short romance and later become a new season, a longer cut, a remake, a translation, or a character franchise. The first contract may decide whether its writer shares in any of that. A flat script fee can be fair if it reflects a full buyout. A low fee tied to broad, permanent rights deserves closer review.
What to put in a pitch
The premise needs an audience promise, a protagonist with a painful choice, an opening that works without lengthy setup, and enough changes to sustain a season. A list of cliffhangers is not the same as a season. A buyer also needs to see what can be produced efficiently: locations, cast size, and action that reads clearly on a phone.
What to ask a buyer
Ask who owns the underlying story and characters, which territories and languages are included, whether there is exclusivity, how sequels and remakes are treated, and whether you receive credit. If compensation depends on performance, ask for reporting and the exact deductions. Get a consequential contract reviewed by a qualified professional.
Keep reading
It is not too late to enter the vertical drama business. Read the Vertical Drama guides here for more on writing, pitching, and understanding the market.
Reporting
Reuters, August 18, 2026:Read the source
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Viola Musaraj is a writer, novelist, micro and vertical drama producer, and interactive narrative designer with more than 140 million reads worldwide.
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