It was back in February 2010 that NHK Enterprises, Inc., (NEP), one of Japan’s biggest content production companies and a subsidiary of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), announced plans to merge on 1 April, 2010, with Media International Corporation (MICO), NHK’s international business arm. Company says the MICO– NEP merger is part of NHK’s reorganization of its affiliates to strengthen the NHK group’s international operations – to create a Japanese integrated media firm with global reach. NEP is one of Japan’s leading integrated media companies. It produces internationally renowned TV programs in diverse genres including drama, entertainment, documentaries, and animation for NHK and other broadcasters. It also produces movies, plans and organizes events, markets character goods, publishes DVDs and other packaged media, and produces content for websites, mobile devices, and digital signage. NEP is particularly noted for production of natural–history programs. NHK transferred its natural–history unit to NEP in 2007, thereby giving NEP its world–leading HD production know–how and one of the world’s biggest footage libraries of HD nature video. MICO handles international business for NHK. Its main activities are acquiring overseas TV programs for NHK and other broadcasters in Japan and handling the after–sales of NHK– produced programs overseas. Also, MICO has invested in various series (for example, the Domo, SAMURAI 7, and KOBATO anime series) and distributes them around the world. The new incarnation of NEP resulting from the merger will organically bring together NEP’s ability to create and distribute content and MICO’s international business know–how, which the company has gained over 20 years. NEP says it aims to leverage the resulting synergy in the following areas: International co–production encompassing TV, cinema, and digital deployment The new NEP will energetically pursue innovative, large–scale international co–production projects aimed not just at TV broadcasts but also at cinema releases and at digital deployment to websites and mobile devices. Drawing on NEP’s extensive relationships with production companies, anime studios, movie companies, and other partners in Japan, it will serve as a bridge for overseas producers who want to involve Japan in their program–making. The new NEP will also leverage the benefits of its integration of MICO to plan and develop major documentary and drama series. Rights business targeting the international market With NEP’s production operations and MICO’s overseas marketing operations under one roof, the new NEP will more dynamically and effectively develop, produce, and distribute content with international marketability. The company will pursue a crossmedia vision, dealing not only with TV programs for broadcast but also with digital content for websites and mobile devices; formats; merchandising; and internationally marketable programs made with cutting– edge technologies such as 8K, 4K, and 3D. Access to Japan for overseas producers With new synergy between MICO’s purchasing operations and NEP’s content–development functions, the new NEP will be ideally positioned to swiftly and more boldly acquire outstanding overseas content. The new NEP will be able to handle a diverse range of rights encompassing not just broadcasting but also videograms, merchandising, online distribution, and film. As a result, it will be able to take bolder steps to develop new business schemes that cover all rights. Essentially, the new NEP will be a one–stop shop for overseas producers looking to reach the Japanese market. Commenting on the planned merger, NEP President and CEO Naoji Ono said: “NEP strives to be a leading integrated content company in the digital age, so the expertise that MICO has gained through its international operations over the past 20 years is an immensely valuable asset. I’m confident that the merger will propel NEP into a position as one of the world’s leading media companies.” MICO President and CEO Yukihiko Amagi said: “MICO’s thorough knowledge of the world’s broadcast markets and the extensive network we’ve built through our international operations will be even more effective when they’re paired with NEP’s content–creation and delivery capabilities.”
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