Influencer
YouTuber Alan Chikin Chow Opens Massive K-Drama-Inspired Production Studio for Digital Entertainment
Alan Chikin Chow, the “most-watched YouTube Shorts creator,” has launched a 10,000-square-foot production facility in Los Angeles to expand his digital content operations.
Chow’s YouTube channel surpasses Taylor Swift’s with over 67 million subscribers. Through his “Alan’s Universe” franchise, which spans YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, he generates approximately 1 billion views monthly. The series combines long-form and short-form content targeting younger audiences.
The new facility’s design draws inspiration from “Idol School,” a 2017 Korean reality competition show, featuring vibrant set pieces that support the production of interconnected vignettes. These segments are subsequently edited into shorter content for various social media platforms.
“I truly believe that YouTube is the future of TV,” Chow said in an interview with Variety. “I believe in ‘Alan’s Universe’ as a franchise that will not only exist on digital but across multiple platforms of music, film and TV, merchandise and live touring.”
The creator, who maintains acting credits in productions including “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Mean Girls,” describes his content as “the fantasy of high school that you had before you got to high school and got jaded.” His “Alan’s Universe” series has accumulated more than 500 million views across platforms.
Chow, who was one of the speakers at Forbes’ inaugural Creator Upfronts event in October, frames this expansion as part of a broader shift in content creation. “In the past, there were a few key decision-makers that got to choose what stories get told,” he stated. “But now, because of technology, that power has gone back to the people.”