Japanese television is a massive industry that has become a focal point in Japanese culture. Pop culture and worldwide interest in Japanese productions often stems from Japanese television with more than 95% of citizens having used the medium daily since 1985, with a steady decrease in the amount of time spent reading the newspaper in that same time (NHK Opinion Research, 2000).
Japan’s major TV networks include Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV), Tokyo Broadcasting Systems (TBS), Fuji Television Network, TV Asahi Corporation, TV Tokyo Corporation, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (YTV).
According to Buddecomm, Japan is one of the world’s leading mobile telephone markets as well as to have developed one of the most advanced broadband environment in the world. It is the third largest broadband market in the world after the U.S. and China. With the continued strong uptake of FttH services, it is accompanied by an ongoing convergence between fixed line and mobile communications broadcasting.
Key Developments
WOWOW, Japanese premium pay-TV broadcaster, announced strategic changes relating to executive leadership roles within the company and divisional realignment designed to grow its business. WOWOW looks to enhance international business by continuing to pursue opportunities for international co-productions and creating content which could have a potential for worldwide business.
Saffron Digital and KDDI launched new and improved version of Video Pass. Designed and developed by Saffron Digital, KDDI’s premium video on demand service has been given a complete overhaul with a richer interface to give users a simpler and more visual experience across multiple devices.
NHK World TV launched a 24-Hour channel on U.N. In-House Network. Japan International Broadcasting, the distribution company of NHK’s international channels, announced a five-year partnership with the United Nations Headquarters (U.N.) in New York City which brings NHK World TV, the stand-alone, 24-hour, English-language television news and lifestyle network, to the U.N.’s In-House Network channel.
FC Internazionale partners with MLJ to inter boost presence in Japan. Under the terms of the two-year agreement, MLJ have exclusive rights to develop and market Inter’s official Japanese mobile website for smartphones and non-smartphone mobile devices. FC Internazionale will provide MLJ with a range of exclusive content targeted at its Japanese fan base, which has grown significantly in recent years since the arrival at the club of Japan international Yuto Nagatomo. MLJ will also update the Japanese version of inter.it and manage the official Inter profiles in Japanese on leading social networks.
CONTENT TOKYO 2015 gathered 50,208 visitors, 1,526 exhibitors, 5,146 conference attendees and 479 press visitors globally. The show is Asia’s leading comprehensive content industry tradeshow composed of 4 specialised independent shows – LICENSING JAPAN, Creators’ Expo, Production Companies Expo and Content Solutions Expo – all held under one roof.
Following a collaboration agreement signed by Media Prima and Nippon Television in 2013, the Welcome to the Rail World format was proposed to the Japanese broadcaster this year, support for international co-productions was made available through the cooperation of the Broadcast Program Export Association of Japan (BEAJ), and discussions began between Primeworks Studios and Nippon Television on producing the railway travelogue series. The collaboration between Primeworks Studios and ntv7 Malaysia with Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) began shooting in November.
NHK and BBC Worldwide announced the signing of a new deal at MIPCOM. The deal made will see both parties co-producing new natural history series – Wild Japan – that will be shot largely on 4K and aired globally in 2015/16.
Fuji Television announced at the Asia TV Forum 2015 (ATF) that it will launch a full-scale internet and cable VOD distribution in Singapore through StarHub TV, delivering hit dramas such as Nobunaga Concerto and Dear Sister starting spring 2015. Singapore will be their first giant step into the Southeast Asian market.
On the first day of MIPTV 2015, TBS and Dentsu announced they have entered into a format rights agreement for the sports entertainment programme SASUKE. Under this agreement, Dentsu acquired the rights to sell the format throughout Europe (excluding four Northern European countries) for two years. By marketing SASUKE in Europe, Dentsu will help TBS build on the high popularity and momentum the format currently enjoys around the world.
