Live edition Vol. I · No. 32 Saturday, 08 August 2026
Tracking 3,784 titles · Across 34 platforms · Streaming Radar  ·  the newsletter · Vertical Invasion  ·  the report

Vertical Drama Apps · aTwist

aTwist

Hollywood's own bet, and the format's move into cinemas

$200K per series · 18,500+ screens · BET deal
Launched as MicroCo in August 2025 and renamed aTwist in April 2026, this Cineverse–Banyan Ventures joint venture is the closest thing the format has to a Hollywood establishment play: Jana Winograde (ex-Showtime) as CEO, Susan Rovner (ex-NBCUniversal, ex-Warner Bros. Television) as chief content officer, Lloyd Braun (ex-WME, ex-ABC Entertainment) as executive chairman. Its distinguishing move is off-app — a National CineMedia deal putting vertical drama into cinema pre-shows across 18,500+ screens in 1,650+ theatres, the first time the format has been sold to a seated audience rather than a scrolling one. BET Studios signed on in May 2026 to co-develop microseries windowed across both cable and vertical. Unscripted budget around $200,000, with 10 to 15 weeks of post.
🔓 ANALYSIS
The billionaire werewolf died by press release. The question is who inherits.
5 acts · 6 heirs · Dodge City, Beijing, Perpignan
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FAQFrequently asked questions

What is aTwist?

Launched as MicroCo in August 2025 and renamed aTwist in April 2026, this Cineverse–Banyan Ventures joint venture is the closest thing the format has to a Hollywood establishment play: Jana Winograde (ex-Showtime) as CEO, Susan Rovner (ex-NBCUniversal, ex-Warner Bros. Television) as chief content officer, Lloyd Braun (ex-WME, ex-ABC Entertainment) as executive chairman. Its distinguishing move is off-app — a National CineMedia deal putting vertical drama into cinema pre-shows across 18,500+ screens in 1,650+ theatres, the first time the format has been sold to a seated audience rather than a scrolling one. BET Studios signed on in May 2026 to co-develop microseries windowed across both cable and vertical. Unscripted budget around $200,000, with 10 to 15 weeks of post.

Is aTwist free?

aTwist uses a freemium model: the first episodes are free, the rest unlocks via coins, ads or subscription.

aTwist is one data point in the report. Platform economics, P&L models, market forecasts — Vertical Invasion 2026.
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