Tokyo – NHK’s international business arm, Media International Corporation (MICO), is to merge with NHK’s main program-making subsidiary, NHK Enterprises, Inc., (NEP). The MICO-NEP merger is part of NHK’s reorganization of its affiliates to strengthen the NHK group’s international operations. NEP produces programs in a wide range of genres and forms the core of NHK’s domestic content business. MICO has a record of success in marketing NHK programs overseas and in acquiring overseas programs for NHK and other domestic broadcasters. The creation of a new NEP through the merger will enable a single company to strategically distribute NHK content domestically and internationally. NHK will continue building on its achievements in major co-productions and in producing rich content in diverse genres. The launch of the new NEP will generate new strengths in terms of international production and marketing, thereby boosting the NHK brand on a global scale. The new NEP will make its debut and announce international co-production projects at the MIPTV international media market in Cannes, France, in April 2010.