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Fox Entertainment is placing another big bet on microdramas: The company signed a multiyear deal with Dhar Mann Studios — the digital studio founded by mega-popular creator Dhar Mann — for a series of original scripted vertical-video shows.
Under the pact, Dhar Mann Studios will create and produce an initial slate of 40 “narrative-driven” titles designed for Holywater, the microdrama video platform in which Fox Entertainment took an equity stake last year. Following their exclusive debut on Holywater’s My Drama app, the Dhar Mann Studios shows will have worldwide distribution windows managed by Fox Entertainment Global. The first shows under the deal are expected to roll out this spring.
Founded in 2018, Dhar Mann Studios has built a multigenerational audience of more than 163 million followers for its short-form scripted content across platforms including YouTube. The company’s mission is to create “inspirational narrative content” that makes a “positive impact on people across the world.” Through his partnership with Fox and Holywater, Mann will retain ownership and creative independence over his original content.
“Dhar Mann’s inspiring, undeniable storytelling excellence and passionate audience have made him one of the most powerful and consequential voices in entertainment today,” Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade said. “As leading partners to creators exploring this growing ecosystem, we’re primed to expand Dhar Mann Studios’ reach by super-serving his new and existing fans everywhere with this all-new, original vertical content.”
To date, according to Dhar Mann Studios, its content has generated some 20 billion views across platforms. The company operates a 125,000-square-foot, three-stage production facility in Burbank, California.
The deal with Fox Entertainment is Dhar Mann Studios’ first official partnership in the fast-growing vertical space. To lead production, the studio recently appointed producer, showrunner and development executive Erin McFarlane as its head of vertical content. Previously, McFarlane led creative programming development and production for vertical video platform SaltyTV.
Dhar Mann Studios CEO Sean Atkins, a former MTV and Discovery exec, said in a joint statement with McFarlane: “As we introduce Dhar’s creative vision to this new format and era of entertainment, it became clear that Fox Entertainment and Holywater are partners that truly understand what this scope of ambition requires. Rob and his team are both embracing innovation and investing in it, affording us an unprecedented level of creative autonomy and resources needed to build something that has never been done before at this scale. That combination allows us to reach new and existing audiences in powerful ways while staying true to Dhar’s positive and resonant storytelling.”
Bogdan Nesvit and Anatolii Kasianov, Holywater’s co-founders and co-CEOs, added, “We’re pleased to partner with Dhar and Fox to bring this creative vision to our audiences worldwide. This represents the first step in our broader strategy to attract global creators and top-tier talent to vertical storytelling at scale.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine-based Holywater announced its largest financing round to date, banking $22 million. In addition to its investment in Holywater, Fox Entertainment Studios is in active production on a slate of 200 original microdramas and vertical series for the platform. Fox also is collaborating with other Hollywood studios, talent and creators to develop projects for Holywater.
English (US) ·