Microdrama and the Public Value Chain: From Commissioning to Platform Release 

As public broadcasters begin to explore microdrama, a new production ecosystem is emerging at the intersection of editorial mandate, platform logic, and creative experimentation. A format initially shaped by social media — fast, episodic, and emotionally immediate is now being tested within public-service frameworks that prioritize cultural relevance, accessibility, and long-term audience engagement. This panel examines how broadcasters and producers are jointly navigating this shift. Why are broadcasters entering the microdrama space now, and what strategic gaps does it address? Can a format built on speed and retention align with public-service values without becoming reductive? And how are producers shaping these formats, balancing narrative integrity against platform-native conventions while working within commissioning frameworks that are still taking shape, where terms, expectations, and rights structures are being defined as the work is made? Grounded in recent initiatives, including YLE Areena Stories and its commission Mama’s Boy (3 x 3–4 minutes), and RTV Slovenia’s 40 x 1-minute microdrama The Three of Them, the discussion moves into concrete commissioning practice and considers whether microdrama functions as an entry point for younger audiences, a testing ground for new voices, or a standalone strategy for external platforms.