Industry

 FOX Entertainment has taken a strategic equity stake in HOLYWATER, a leading innovator in the fast-growing $8 billion global vertical video market. The investment supports FOX’s technology-driven growth strategy and solidifies its position as a forward-looking, next-gen entertainment studio.

By partnering with HOLYWATER, FOX Entertainment accelerates its transformation into a modern content powerhouse, embracing vertical video as a core part of its digital storytelling evolution. The collaboration deepens FOX’s connection to digital creators and younger, mobile-first audiences by meeting viewers on their terms—across platforms, formats, and borders.

The alliance will include joint development of original vertical video series, creator-led projects, brand partnerships, and potential integration of FOX IP for new remakes and storytelling extensions. FOX and HOLYWATER also plan to announce upcoming collaborations with top Hollywood talent.

“Digital storytelling innovation is redefining entertainment. By investing in vertical video, FOX Entertainment is embracing a format that drives long-term, scalable growth,” said Rob Wade, CEO of FOX Entertainment. “HOLYWATER is pioneering this space, combining creative vision with cutting-edge tech. Together, we’re unlocking new ways to tell stories, elevate talent, and connect with audiences globally.”

“Vertical streaming is one of the fastest-growing segments in entertainment,” added Bogdan Nesvit and Anatolii Kasianov, HOLYWATER’s co-founders and co-CEOs. “Our mission is to make vertical storytelling mainstream by expanding its creative scope. FOX shares our vision and brings the resources, talent network, and global scale to help make it a reality. This partnership empowers us to deliver premium vertical content across genres and platforms.”

With over 55 million users, HOLYWATER is transforming the vertical video space by combining creator-driven storytelling with AI-enhanced production. Its ecosystem includes:

My Drama: the #1 vertical streaming app among U.S. and European companies
My Passion: a leading digital book publishing platform
My Muse: a generative AI-powered vertical series platform

The FOX-HOLYWATER collaboration merges one of the world’s top vertical video ecosystems with FOX’s creative and global infrastructure. Under the agreement, FOX Entertainment Studios will develop and produce more than 200 vertical video titles for My Drama over the next two years. Genres will range from drama to thriller, with first titles including Billionaire Blackmail and Bound by Obsession, both currently filming in Atlanta, Georgia.

The partnership will also leverage FOX Entertainment’s deep content portfolio, including:

Studio Ramsay Global (with chef Gordon Ramsay)
Bento Box Entertainment (award-winning animation)
FOX’s scripted and unscripted studios
Over 350 made-for-platform films

A robust talent roster including Denis Leary, Jon Hamm, Hannah Waddingham, Josh Charles, Annie Potts, Minnie Driver, and Ken Jeong