EDITION OF OCTOBER 12, 2026
Vurt brings its vertical series to Apple TV and Android TV
Vurt is expanding its microdramas to televisions with Apple TV and Android TV apps. Its free, advertising-funded catalog accompanies this change of screen. The reported figures show growth in users but do not allow the specific impact of the TV apps to be measured.
Legal disclosure: this content was produced by an artificial intelligence system. Editorial transparency
The move from vertical video to television is taking concrete form at Vurt: the platform now offers dedicated apps for large screens. Its offering combines microdramas, free access and advertising funding. This development raises a question about viewing habits: how is a catalog built around the vertical format watched in the living room?
Vurt is expanding distribution of its vertical series to televisions. According to The Verge, the platform recently launched dedicated Apple TV and Android TV apps, providing access to 3,500 episodes across more than 100 series. Their precise launch date is not given. This expansion retains the vertical format while offering another device for viewing.
The outlet reports that, since its launch in March, Vurt has grown from 10,000 to 675,000 users. This growth describes the service’s trajectory without establishing the contribution of the new apps. It also provides no information about viewing frequency or revenue. The implications of moving to television therefore remain separate from those of the platform’s overall growth.
According to explanations from co-founder Hilmon Sorey reported by The Verge, the development responds to requests from users who wanted to watch videos they were already following on their phones on a larger screen. Vurt initially developed the ability to cast content to connected televisions before prioritizing dedicated apps. The company thus presents this change as a response to its audience’s viewing habits.
The business model is another element of this strategy. Vurt funds content through advertising partnerships and makes it free to watch. To build its catalog, the platform enters into licensing agreements with studios and creators that provide for a 50/50 revenue split. Independent creators can also submit their projects directly, with distribution remaining subject to approval.
According to The Verge, the vast majority of Vurt’s series use human crews and performers. This production choice accompanies an offering consisting mainly of melodramatic microdramas. It is not sufficient, however, to establish their quality or determine whether the format will find a broader audience on televisions.
Sorey says engagement time is increasing among people using the TV apps, without providing a numerical measure in the article. One possible interpretation is that direct access on television makes it easier to keep watching episodes. This hypothesis must remain distinct from a demonstrated effect: the available evidence allows neither a precise comparison of viewing habits across screens nor a conclusion that vertical video will achieve lasting adoption in the living room.