Nikkei Inc. – President & CEO, Tsuneo Kita and Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc. – President & Representative Director, Toshichika Ishihara on April 22nd jointly launched a new broadcast business venture to deliver the latest information on Japan to the Asian region. This is the first joint initiative undertaken by the “Nikkei-TBS Smart Media Business Partnership”, a legal partnership established on April 5th.
Under the partnership, the two parties will jointly conduct business activities to broadcast/ distribute up-to-date information on Japan via broadcast channels in Asia and the internet, and deliver mobile content to smartphone users in Japan. Operating costs are expected to be in the order of several hundreds of million yen, with equal contribution from both parties. Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings Senior Managing Director Shinji Takeda and Nikkei Senior Managing Director Shigeru Komago have been appointed President and Vice-President, respectively, of the administrative organization established under the partnership.
The first joint initiative by “Nikkei-TBS Smart Media” is the launch of “Channel JAPAN”, an English-language program to be broadcast in select countries throughout Asia, starting April 22nd. “Channel JAPAN” is a magazine-style informational program that will offer the most up-to-date coverage of the Japanese economy and business, as well as the latest trends in popular and traditional culture, and technology.
The aim is to highlight the energy, the attraction, and the limitless business opportunities that Japan has to offer, and to generate wider interest in Japan among viewers in Asia. The one-hour weekly program will include several segments to guide viewers on a tour of cutting-edge products and services, key persons and companies, the hottest tourist destinations, and a variety of other current topics.
About the Program
Title: “Channel JAPAN”- A one-hour, weekly English language production
Hosts: TBS announcers: Mai Demizu, Kanae Takeuchi (alternating)
Nikkei staff writer: Makiko Utsuda
Broadcast networks/distributors and air times
CNBC ASIA (Asian countries/region) Sundays, 9:00 AM/6:00 PM (Singapore time)
CNBC TV18 (India) Sundays, 2:00 PM (India time)
Unique Broadcasting Inc. (Taiwan) Mondays, 5:00 PM on News Channel/ 7:00 PM on
Business Channel (Taiwan time) – Total household viewership of 3 Asian networks is 53.27 million (as of Spring 2012). Ustream distribution (Tuesdays, 10:00 AM) and archive streaming. The program can be viewed in Japan on Ustream.
In addition to further expanding distribution of “Channel JAPAN” to other major Asian countries and regions, “Nikkei-TBS Smart Media” is currently preparing to launch a mobile content service for smartphone users this summer.
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