BET and aTwist Partner to Launch Microdramas for Cross-Platform Audiences

BET and aTwist Announce Partnership for Microdrama Development

BET has announced a strategic partnership with aTwist, a new microdrama platform formerly known as MicroCo, to develop and produce original microseries content. The collaboration will focus on creating short-form series designed for cross-platform distribution, with BET securing a limited first-run window for long-form versions before they are re-edited as microdramas for aTwist’s mobile-first audience.

Vision for the Partnership

"The microseries format represents one of the most significant shifts in how content is created, distributed and consumed, and we’re positioning BET at the forefront of that evolution."

Aisha Summers-Burke, EVP and head of creative at BET Studios

Summers-Burke emphasized the partnership’s potential to build a pipeline reflecting Black culture and driving industry conversations. "Our partnership with aTwist brings a best-in-class team and a format built for the future. Together we’re creating a pipeline that reflects Black culture and drives the conversation."

aTwist’s Leadership and Mission

aTwist, a U.S.-based company co-founded by former Hollywood executives Jana Winograde, Susan Rovner, and Lloyd Braun, has not yet launched. Despite their backgrounds in traditional entertainment, the team is committed to low-cost programming, aligning with the success of other microdrama platforms.

"This collaboration reinforces that microseries aren’t just a format, they’re a scalable pipeline for cross-platform storytelling. BET is a true cultural cornerstone, with one of the most loyal and engaged audiences in media, and we feel incredibly fortunate to partner with a brand that has consistently championed authentic storytelling."

Jana Winograde, Susan Rovner, and Lloyd Braun, co-founders of aTwist

aTwist will be the first microdrama platform to utilize a windowing distribution model, a strategy influenced by the founders’ extensive experience in traditional entertainment. Winograde previously served as president of Showtime, Rovner was chairman of NBCU Content and president of Warner Bros. TV, and Braun held roles as chairman of ABC Entertainment Group and WME.

Focus on Underserved Audiences

The partnership aims to super-serve Black audiences, a demographic that remains largely underserved in the emerging microdrama ecosystem. aTwist’s leadership plans to curate a diverse slate of original content spanning comedy, drama, unscripted, horror, and romance genres. Additionally, the platform intends to acquire microseries and support creator-led narrative storytelling.

"I personally feel like there’s a lack of respect sometimes for the audience of these and you hear things like, ‘They’re cheesy.’ That bothers me to no end. There is a really big fandom here that needs to be respected, and that should be respected."

Susan Rovner, co-founder of aTwist

Budget and Genre Expansion Goals

While aTwist aims to elevate microdrama content by expanding genres and reach, the platform will maintain low budgets to compete with leading microdrama platforms like ReelShort, GoodShort, and MyDrama. The chief creative officer of aTwist clarified that the venture is not attempting to reinvent the wheel but rather to provide high-quality, affordable content.

Launch Timeline

aTwist has not yet announced a launch date, and BET has not specified when its first microdrama collaboration will debut on cable. The partnership represents a forward-looking approach to content creation and distribution in the evolving media landscape.