productioninterview
Home & Away Japan’s appetite for global partnerships has picked up pace with a string of new international alliances for both scripted and unscripted development. Meanwhile, the domestic market remains relatively closed to international adaptations. Japan’s appetite for global alliances – a long-running refrain that has
due to the pandemic,” says Fuji TV’s team leader and head of formats,
picked up recently with a string of new high-profile co-developments
Ryuji Komiya.
– far outweighs its ability to stomach domestic adaptation of foreign formats for Japanese audiences at home. In the first six months of this year, the country had three shows
TBS’ Mayu Sunaga, director of international content development, agrees. “Our format business in Asia has been slow due to the influence of Covid-19 last year. However, we
commissioned or on air – one from the U.K. (ITV Studios’ 35 Up), and
have seen some very strong signs of recovery
two from Korea (reality/dating show Just Married and The Masked
since the beginning of 2021... and the finalising
Singer Japan, both based on IP from free-TV broadcaster Munhwa
of a few deals for our scripted formats with
Broadcasting Corporation/MBC), according to ContentAsia’s
our partners in South Korea and China. In
Formats Outlook for the first half of 2021.
addition to that, several contracts that were
Just Married Japan premiered on 9 July exclusively on
made in the past, have started up and
homegrown streaming platform AbemaTV, featuring young
proceeded into local production,” Sunaga
celebrity singles experiencing virtual married life.
says.
The Masked Singer Japan is an Amazon Prime Video exclusive that premiered in September. The third title is factual format 35 Up, which followed a group of children from when they were seven years old, aired on NHK in February. The country’s broadcasters and distributors have been a whole lot more successful at creating a foothold in international co-development and format licensing. And, post Covid-19, expectations are high.
Moe Kanzaki, Nippon TV’s format sales, Ryuji Komiya, Team Leader and Head of Format, Fuji TV
international business development, says the leading commercial network has used the Covid-19 to focus on new products. “For us, this
transitional period has been a time to focus on developing new formats that have potential in the international market,” Kanzaki says. In the first half of this year, Fuji TV had four formats sold or on air outside
“There is a huge trend for Asian non-scripted formats worldwide...
of Japan – drama Matrimonial Chaos in China; medical drama The
everyone in the world is ready to move on, as we had to hold in 2020
Voices and sports romance series, Pride, which has gone to CJ ENM
24
contentasia october 2021