Two of Japan’s major broadcasters – Nippon TV and TBS Holdings – provided updates on their global expansion plans in separate sessions at TIFFCOM. Reflecting the Japanese media and entertainment industry’s new outward-looking approach, both media conglomerates are now operating production studios that are developing content aimed at international audiences.
Nippon TV recently launched Tokyo-based Gyokuro Studio, which aims to develop 10 unscripted formats each year, targeting international markets. Headed by Ken Akiyama, the new outfit has already launched its first two formats – Mega Catch, which pits contestants against an onslaught of fast flying objects, and Secret Little Assistant, in which kids get to help their parents at work, without the grown-ups’ knowledge.
In his TIFFCOM presentation, Akiyama explained that the studio will “co-create, not only with in-house talent, but also with leading external creators and production houses to deliver premium Japanese content to the world.”
Nippon TV, which recently established a Los Angeles business hub, already has a strategic partnership with Canada-headquartered Blue Ant Studios to expand development and production of Nippon TV and Gyokuro Studio’s unscripted formats in the North America market.
The two companies previously worked together on Blue Ant’s adaptation of Nippon TV’s global hit format Old Enough!, including its first season in Canada and a second season planned for TVO and its YouTube channel. The new strategic partnership is headed by Tom Miyauchi, who also heads up Nippon TV’s new LA office, with Blue Ant’s Matt Hornburg and Diane Rankin.
“Japan’s networks used to prioritize domestic ratings, but that needs to change and our plans for co-production and co-creation with international partners is already underway,” said Nippon TV Senior Executive Operating Officer Keiichi Sawa, also speaking at the TIFFCOM session. “We established our LA base in June and partnerships with companies both domestic and international will be essential for us.”
Takayuki Shinoda, Nippon TV’s Associate Managing Director, Global Strategy Headquarters, also introduced the broadcaster’s AI division, Viztrick AiDi, explaining some applications of the tech, including facial recognition, analyzing sound and video in real time, and overlaying graphics on live broadcasts. While mostly used for sports broadcasting in Japan, Nippon TV is positioning the technology for other applications and rolling it out for international usage.
Meanwhile, during a presentation on the following day, TBS Holdings gave updates on the first year of its global expansion strategy, first outlined at TIFFCOM last year, which include partnering with Banijay Entertainment on its popular Ninja Warrior format. Banijay now has sales rights to the format, outside of the U.S., Asia, France, Germany and Poland.
TBS’ presentation also focused on its strategic alliance with Vietnam’s state-owned broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) and the work of its Tokyo-based production studio The Seven, which is developing a slate of internationally focused series and films.
The Seven previously produced three seasons of hit Netflix series Alice In Borderland and recently made its first film, Baka’s Identity, which won the Best Actor Award at this year’s Busan International Film Festival for its ensemble cast – Takumi Kitamura, Go Ayano and Yuta Hayashi.
Upcoming productions include samurai drama series Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem, a live-action remake of a popular manga, which recently added Go Ayano to the cast.
“There have been structural issues in Japan’s domestic TV market in the past that have kept us from expanding globally, but we’re challenging ourselves on this mission now,” said Katsuaki Setoguchi, who head TBS Holdings’ global business division and is also president and CEO of The Seven.
“We know that Japanese anime is well received outside Japan, but we want to push the boundaries to see what other kinds of storytelling can travel. We’re exploring that through The Seven, a dedicated studio utilizing writers’ rooms and story development. But we’re not fighting alone – we want to work with other stakeholders.”
Hiroyuki Ota, who heads TBS’ Southeast Asia & Global South Business Division, explained that the company has been working with Vietnamese broadcaster VTV since 2012, co-producing and distributing culture, music and entertainment programming, but the two companies are now expanding their partnership.
Under a new strategic alliance announced last month, the two partners are rebooting sports entertainment series Sasuke Vietnam (known locally as Khong Gioi Han), which has already run for several seasons and sold to 25 territories. “It’s not just a sequel but an updated version that will suit the modern sensibilities of Vietnam,” said VTV vice president Do Thanh Hai. “We find that TBS has the same mindset as us and by continuing to exchange experiences hope we can bring more knowledge of Vietnam to the world.”
The post Japan’s Nippon TV & TBS Holdings Reveal Global Expansion Strategies appeared first on Deadline.
