Versant Media is also passionate about short content.
The media company, which owns MS NOW and CNBC and spun off from NBCUniversal earlier this year, has participated in a Series A funding round that establishes a partnership with GammaTime, a micro-drama streaming platform. Under the terms of the agreement, GammaTime will work with Versant to develop original productions with top showrunners and also utilize some content from the company’s entertainment library.
“Versant’s investment is a turning point for GammaTime and the category,” said Bill Block, founder and CEO of GammaTime. “We are combining unparalleled audience scale and engagement with premium marketing. We build originals at scale, and Versant gives us the IP, brand equity and creative DNA to do it right.” Block, who got his start in the entertainment business as an agent at ICM, is a former president of Artisan Entertainment and former CEO of Miramax.
Versant will become a non-controlling minority investor in the company.
Microdramas are becoming increasingly important in the media landscape, with advertisers from Procter & Gamble to J.C. Penney increasingly interested in the instant hit format. Several companies have begun offering bite-sized dramas and soap operas for sites like TikTok and Meta’s Reels. In China, content capsules have already proven to be very popular. London-based consultancy Omdia estimates that microdramas could generate up to $11 billion in 2026.
Versant’s investment in GammaTime follows a $14 million seed round in October 2025.
Led by vgames and Pitango, who also participated in Series A along with Alexis
Ohanian, Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Travers Ventures. GammaTime has debuted since its launch
The company produces microdramas centered around romance, true crime and fantasy, and the company also has a deal with the National Enquirer to use its archives for original content.
“GammaTime is reimagining short-form storytelling for a new generation of viewers,” Mark said.
Versant CEO Lazarus said in a statement. “Their mobile-first approach and focus on original content make this a natural partnership for Versant as we continue to expand our iconic brand and rich content library.”
And telling stories. ”
Versant is committed to expanding its revenue beyond traditional cable networks. It is under its umbrella. In recent months, the company has acquired assets such as FreeTV Networks, a portfolio of FAST channels and free over-the-air stations, and StockStory, an AI financial data analysis platform that will be used by CNBC. The company plans to launch new streaming products related to MS NOW and other parts of its business.
