Home and Away could get mobile spin-off but is this the future of soaps?

Home and Away could soon be bringing Summer Bay to mobile screens, with Australia’s Channel Seven developing a new short-form drama series designed for people watching on their phones.

The proposed brand-funded micro-drama was revealed during Seven’s 2027 programming announcements on 22 October. The project would expand the world of the long-running soap, although casting, storylines and release arrangements have not yet been announced.

Could mobile TV be the future of soaps?

Micro-dramas are short television stories made for smartphones, often lasting between one and three minutes. Many are filmed vertically, using a 9:16 screen format rather than the traditional widescreen 16:9 picture.

They still feature familiar soap ingredients, including romance, family disagreements, secrets and cliffhangers, but the stories unfold through much shorter instalments.

It is already a substantial industry. Global micro-drama revenues were estimated at $11 billion in 2025, with researchers forecasting that figure could reach $14 billion by the end of 2026.

British broadcasters are also experimenting with the format. Channel 4 launched The Guest List, a five-part mobile drama developed with beauty brand Sol de Janeiro, on 24 October.

For Home and Away, the appeal could be the opportunity to explore additional Summer Bay stories without replacing the regular episodes. Whether those stories would involve established characters or introduce new faces has not been revealed.

Why is Seven exploring the idea?

The announcement follows a successful year for Home and Away. Seven says the soap is averaging 1.1 million viewers across television and streaming in Australia, an increase of 13% compared with the previous year.

It is also enjoying its biggest audience since 2018, showing that traditional soap viewing remains popular even as broadcasters explore new ways to reach audiences.

A mobile series could allow Seven to experiment with shorter storytelling while attracting viewers who already spend time watching entertainment on TikTok, Instagram and dedicated drama apps.

But would regular viewers want to follow additional stories on their phones, or would they prefer everything to remain on conventional television?

For now, the mobile project remains in development, with no indication that it would replace or affect the main programme. The more interesting possibility is that both formats could work alongside each other, giving fans another way to enjoy Summer Bay without losing the familiar episodes they already watch.

Home and Away is available to stream on 5 in the UK, with evening episodes airing on 5STAR. Australian viewers can watch on Seven and 7plus. UK episodes air behind the Australian broadcasts.

Image credit: Channel 5