SINGAPORE AND TOKYO – Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks and Nippon Television Network Corporation (Nippon TV) have formed a joint venture to launch a new pay TV entertainment channel entitled GEM Asia.
The channel will have access to more than 500 hours of Japanese content per year exclusively from Nippon TV while distribution and advertising sales for GEM across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong will be managed by SPT.
The pan-regional pay TV channel will have a programing lineup of first run and exclusive dramas, comedies and variety entertainment shows from Japan and other North Asian territories.
“After three years of actively pursuing various content-related business opportunities in Southeast Asia, we came to realize that our programs are our strength and greatest asset. This led to our discovery that the pay TV business would best enable us to provide constant access to top-notch Nippon TV entertainment to viewers in Southeast Asia, said Kimio Maruyama, board director and executive operating officer of Nippon TV.
“There is a strong demand for North Asian content across the Southeast Asian market, especially the types of Japanese dramas and variety entertainment shows for which Nippon TV is highly regarded. We are looking forward to working closely with them on this unique new pay TV offering, which perfectly complements our successful portfolio of Asian entertainment channels,” George Chien, Executive Vice President, Networks, Asia-Pacific for SPT, added.
