Disney+ Teams Up With TVING In Japan
Disney is continuing to expand its partnerships to offer more local content on its streaming service internationally, while also expanding its reach of original content to a broader audience.
Today, Disney has announced a new deal to bring more Korean original programming from CJ ENM to Disney+ in Japan, while also offering select original programs on the TVING platform in Japan.
This new partnership kicks off on November 5th, with Disney+ subscribers in Japan getting access to up to sixty TVing titles and CJ ENM series, including “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” and “Reply 1988″.
The next day, on November 6th, Disney+ in Japan will also see the release of the new Korean Japanese thriller called “Dear X”, on the same day as it debuts in Korea.
In exchange, TVING will receive some of Disney’s original programming, such as “Moving”, “The Worst of Evil”, and “Tempest”. As part of the deal, the TVING programming will also get featured on the Disney+ homepage, along with a “TVING Collection” being added.
Tamotsu Hiiro, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd, said in a statement regarding the new deal:
“As we celebrate five years of Disney+ in Japan, we remain committed to expanding our content offerings to reflect the diverse preferences of audiences. This collaboration with CJ ENM and TVING is a significant step forward in that journey. By combining CJ ENM and TVING’s compelling Korean storytelling with Disney+’s world-class portfolio of global blockbusters and local hits, we’re creating a richer viewing experience for viewers of all generations.”
Julie Choi, CEO of TVING, added:
“Our partnership with Disney, which has a strong presence and deep history in Japan, is an opportunity to most effectively present TVING content to local viewers. We will continue to deliver compelling K-content to global audiences. Through this partnership with Disney, we aim to grow beyond Korea’s No.1 OTT into a truly global K-OTT platform.”
Tony Zameczkowski, Senior Vice President and General Manager, DTC (Direct-to-Consumer), Asia Pacific, The Walt Disney Company, said:
“This collaboration with CJ ENM and TVING marks a pivotal moment in our regional content and partnership strategy. As Korean storytelling continues to captivate global audiences, we’re proud to bring CJ ENM and TVING’s most compelling series to Disney+ viewers in Japan. This partnership not only strengthens our Korean content offering but is the beginning of a broader opportunity to deepen our connection with audiences in one of the world’s most dynamic streaming markets.”
Roger’s Take: In the past year, Disney has been making more and more local content deals, to bring more local content onto its streaming service, while also sharing older Disney+ original shows on free-to-air platforms to get additional revenue and reach a larger audience. While Disney was heavily investing in original local content, it has changed its strategy to make more deals, to license vast numbers of local shows to fill the void, as licensing will ultimately work out cheaper than creating that many shows from scratch. As with deals such as with British broadcast ITV, expect that this TVING deal is only going to benefit Japanese subscribers.
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