KC Global Media, Asia’s leading entertainment network, expands its distribution footprint in the region for top Japanese entertainment channel, GEM, by inking a multi-year deal with Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts  Limited (TVB) from September 1, including the renewal of popular Japanese anime channel, Animax and English language entertainment channel, AXN. In the Maldives, Medianet Pvt Ltd reinforced its subscriber’s appeal for Japanese entertainment by securing a long-term deal for both Japanese channels, GEM and Animax, from July 1. 

Avani Bhanchawat, Vice President, and Head of Revenue at KC Global Media, said, “Our strategic  offering for Japanese entertainment and anime content is a testament of our ambition to pave the  way for the new world fast taking shape around us. We are excited to expand our network by  partnering with the leading broadcasters in Hong Kong and the Maldives in bringing more curated  premium Japanese contents to fans in the region.”  

As the preferred destination featuring first-run and exclusive Japanese dramas and variety, GEM  subscribers can look forward to romantic drama, NICE FLIGHT!, premiering the same week as Japan on Jul 25, on Mondays, 8:45 p.m., featuring popular actor, Yuta Tamamori, as a commercial pilot, who falls in love with air traffic controller, played by Anne Nakamura, while ramen drama, Mampuku,  premieres on Jul 13, on Sundays at 6:40 p.m., with 10 episodes back-to-back. Premiering on Aug 2 is 10  count to the Future (territories apply), airing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8:45 p.m., featuring the award-winning and iconic Takuya Kimura (Best Actor for Masquerade Night) and Hikari Mitsushima (Best Supporting Actress for Kakekomi) in this feel-good drama about a former amateur boxing champion finding himself after suffering a personal setback from losing his wife. Renovation Like Magic, premieres on Aug 31, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 8.45 p.m., and features award-winning actress, Haru (Best Actress for Night Doctor and Dear My Loneliness and Darkness), and popular actor, Shotaro Mamiya, in a drama uncovering mysteries and dark secrets of their clients by the renovation duo. GEM will also feature all 5 members of the top Johnny Artiste agency boy band group, ARASHI! in season 4 of their variety show, Must Be ARASHI! premiering on Aug 1, Monday, 7.50 p.m., and season  2 of Who is the Real Celebrity? which premieres on Aug 9, Tuesdays, 4:00 p.m.  

Animax continues to be the leading destination for anime across a variety of genres, home to the latest  blockbuster anime as well as well-loved classics. Fans can look forward to season 3 of action & sci-fi series, Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These – Collision, premiering on Jul 19, on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 p.m., and the second season of basketball retro-favorite series, Kuroko’s Basketball,  on Jul 21, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, at 8:00 p.m. In August, comedy series, Police in a Pod, premieres on Aug 9, Mondays and Tuesdays, at 10:00 p.m., while fantasy title, Life with an Ordinary Guy who  Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout, airs on Aug 22, Mondays and Tuesdays, at 8:00 p.m., with season 1 of retro action drama, Gintama, premiering on Aug 26, on Fridays, 8:00 p.m. Anime sports fans  can look forward to a 3-part movie series in Kuroko’s Basketball: Winter Cup Highlights with Kuroko’s  Basketball: Winter Cup Highlights ~Shadow and Light~ (Part 1) and Kuroko’s Basketball: Winter Cup Highlights ~Beyond the Tears~ (Part 2) premiering on Aug 21 and 28 on Sunday, 8:30 p.m., with the 3rd movie, Kuroko’s Basketball: Winter Cup Highlights ~Crossing the Door~ (Part 3) schedule to be screened on Sep 4th, Sunday, at 8:30 p.m. All content from Animax will be telecast in their original  Japanese audio and accompanied by English subtitles.