Microdramas draw viewers but ad slots remain uneconomical
ReelShort users now spend 35.7 min/day, rivaling TikTok, yet the platforms earn mainly from subscriptions and in‑app purchases. A 15‑second ad would consume a quarter of a two‑minute episode, making ad inventory inefficient and unprofitable for brands. Brands are better off creating content rather than buying ads on microdramas.