New division launches in Fall 2026 to develop premium vertical short-form content; one of the fastest-growing new formats in global entertainment
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 8, 2026 /CNW/ -- Network Media Group Inc. (TSXV: NTE) (OTC: NETWF) ("Network" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the launch of Network Verticals, a new division of Network Entertainment dedicated to developing, producing, and distributing premium vertical content.
Verticals are feature-length stories serialized into short episodes, typically 50 to 100 episodes, each 60 to 90 seconds. The stories are filmed in a 9:16 aspect ratio designed specifically for smartphone viewing. The genre is known for its scripted dramas and soap opera-like content and is now expanding into other genres, including unscripted true crime, comedy, music, horror, and sports.
Network Verticals marks the Company's entry into one of the fastest-growing formats in digital entertainment. Omdia, a global technology, media, and telecommunications research firm, estimates that the global vertical content market generated US$11 billion in revenue in 2025 and will reach US$14 billion by the end of 2026, with Variety projecting US$26 billion by 2030.
"Verticals are exploding because they meet the evolving needs of today's audiences, delivering short-form content to their cell phones," said Network's Chief Operating Officer, Paul Gertz. "What makes the opportunity particularly compelling is the format's strong monetization potential, with subscription and transactional revenue already growing at an exponential rate. As the business evolves to include advertising, franchises, and new distribution models, we see significant potential for premium storytelling and new revenue opportunities in this space."
Network's Vice President of Studios, Eric MacDonald, said, "Network has a long history of adapting premium storytelling to new platforms and emerging formats. We were one of a select group of production companies chosen to create original content for the innovative but short-lived mobile platform Quibi, conceived by Jeffrey Katzenberg and launched at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave us an early opportunity to leverage our premium production experience to short-form, mobile-first storytelling."
Industry leaders are moving quickly into the space. Fox Entertainment has taken an equity stake in Holywater, the company behind the My Drama app, and committed to more than 200 shows for the platform. Disney+ has launched Verts, a dedicated vertical video feed inside its mobile app, while Netflix, Peacock, YouTube, Amazon, and TikTok are all investing in vertical storytelling as both a standalone content category and a tool for audience engagement.
Hollywood talent is following the momentum. Academy Award nominee James Franco, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Hart, Issa Rae, and Kim Kardashian are among the high-profile talent who have entered the vertical space as producers, developers, on-screen talent, and investors.
"Verticals represent one of the most significant shifts we've seen in how audiences now regularly discover and consume content," said Derik Murray, Network's Founder and CEO. "We've consistently earned the trust of the world's A-list talent, high-profile IP holders, and global distributors, streamers, and broadcasters, and Network Verticals gives us the opportunity to bring that expertise to an evolving format and a new generation of audiences."
Network Verticals will operate as a dedicated content pipeline within the Company. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.
About Network Entertainment
Network Media Group is the parent company of Network Entertainment Inc.
Network Entertainment is a creatively driven production company that creates, finances, and produces award-winning film, television and digital content for audiences around the world. For more than two decades, Network has built a reputation for telling the stories of extraordinary and iconic international figures.
Network has earned international recognition for productions including Facing Ali, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary; Sidney, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, was produced in partnership with Oprah Winfrey and was released globally on Apple TV+, earning a Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Biographical Documentary, and a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature; and Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), a Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated feature documentary, directed by Academy Award winner Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. The film debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and premiered shortly after on Hulu/Disney+. Another recent release, BRATS, a feature documentary directed by Brat Pack member Andrew McCarthy in partnership with NEON and ABC News Studios, had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, went straight to #1 on Hulu upon its release, and won the 2025 ASCAP Award in the Top Streaming Film category.
For additional information on Network Entertainment Inc., visit www.networkentertainment.ca.
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Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information
Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are necessarily based upon management's perceptions, beliefs, assumptions and expectations, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management of the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that could result in the forward-looking information ultimately, perhaps materially, being incorrect. All forward-looking information in this news release involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond the control of the Company and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
SOURCE Network Media Group Inc.
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