Issuu

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2025

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

The official publisher of Payload Asia, Asia Food Journal, and Television Asia Plus.

https://www.payloadasia.com

https://tva.onscreenasia.com

https://asiafoodjournal.com

For advertising opportunities, please contact:

Simon Lee Sales Director, HK & International (+852) 9437 2779 sales@harvest-info.com

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

Viewable on mobile devices, laptop, and facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus desktop.

Harvest Information Pte. Ltd. 531 Upper Cross Street,#04-16, Singapore 050531

CR I

N O

Chua Chew Huat Sales Director, Asia Pacific (+65) 9863 7382 sales-sg@harvest-info.com

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

Editor’s Note EDITORIAL/PUBLISHER KEEN WHYE LEE Publisher publisher@harvest-info.com MATHEW CHAN Editor editor-tva@harvest-info.com SALES SIMON LEE USA/Europe/Middle East/ Hong Kong/China sales@harvest-info.com CHUA CHEW HUAT Asia Pacific sales-sg@harvest-info.com MARKETING Dear Reader, Welcome to the November-December 2025 issue of Television Asia Plus! As we enter our final issue of the year and the last stretch of 2025, it’s time to look back and see what trends have made a big impact on the industry and which will continue to make waves in the years to come. In line with that for this issue’s cover story, we explore the two biggest trends of the year in the industry; generative AI and microdramas. From the growing use and push back of AI and the rapid popularity of microdramas, will they be a force that changes the industry or just a drop in the bucket that will slowly die down? For our first feature story, we have a piece about how Taiwanese Cinema and content is taking the world by storm and how these stories are fostering global connections for years to come. And our final feature story is about the groundbreaking partnership of TBS, U-NEXT, and, THE SEVEN for a global production project unlike anything they have made before.

LALI SINGSON mktg@harvest-info.com TECHNICAL SUPPORT MICHAEL MAGSALIN tech@harvest-info.com Television Asia Plus is published by Harvest Information Pte. Ltd. 531 Upper Cross Street, #0416, Singapore 050531 facebook-f twitter linkedin-in

TVAPlusMag TVAsiaPLus television-asia-plus

Mathew Chan

Editor

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

NEWS CONTENT

Harry King TV’s Curiosity adds two new hosts Production company Harry King Television has announced it has attached two new hosts to its original TV format CURIOSITY. Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip and The Travelling Auctioneers’ Izzie Balmer and TV personality, Auctioneer and Art Valuer Bee Harford (BBC1’s The Travelling Auctioneers) join Raj Bisram and Henning Wehn as presenters. The indie unveiled its two new presenters of CURIOSITY who will host the format alongside comedy legend Henning Wehn and TV presenter and antiques expert Raj Bisram. Jewellery expert and TV presenter Izzie Balmer known for Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Show and Flog It! brings her presenting charm and fanbase from multiple UK returning series and specialist expertise to the show. BBC1’s The Travelling Auctioneers Bee Harford, known as an expert Auctioneer and Art Valuer, also joins the lineup.

Producer, Nicholas Sercombe, says: “We are honoured to welcome Bee and Izzie to the show. They are sunbeams in the world of entertainment and experts on collectibles. They give us even greater insights into the curiosities that pass through the emporium.” CURIOSITY is a new original unscripted format set in a shop that buys and sells wonderful and weird

collectibles and curiosities. The concept was created by Raj Bisram and Mark Turner and developed into a format by Nicholas Sercombe and Ian Bailie for both digital and linear distribution. In each episode, celebrity guests visit the emporium to find antiques, ornaments and other period pieces from the Curiosity shop owners Raj Bisram and Henning Wehn to be feted and guided by and Izzie Balmer and Bee Harford.

Millimages Marks 10 Years of Adventures with Molang at BLE

Millimages, one of Europe’s oldest independent animation studios and IP developers, lands at Brand Licensing Europe celebrating 10 years of the iconic brand Molang. During the BLE, Millimages had strong focus on the retail segment for the iconic flagship property Molang.

Since 2015, Molang is the embodiment of kindness and positivity in the licensing industry, touching the hearts of ‘kidults’ across the globe! As such, Commercial Director Alexandra Algard-Mikanowski and her team will be showcasing the successful Heathside Trading collection which comprises plush toys, bag charms and collectibles (which particularly appeal to Gen Zer’s and Millennials), key categories driving sales, and engagement. In July 2025, Millimages finalised a deal with iconic retailer HMV in the UK to celebrate Molang’s anniversary. From August through to October, HMV store windows across the country will feature Molang displays celebrating 10 years of kindness. Beyond toys, the brand will spotlight its pan European stationary deals with Blueprint and CYP, reinforcing

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

Molang’s reach in ‘back-toschool’ and gifting categories. On the apparel front, new capsule collections developed with Fashion UK and Sahinler continue to bring Molang’s soft and transgenerational universe to fabric. Alexandra Algard-Mikanowski, Commercial Director, Millimages said, “10 years is an incredible milestone as the Molang universe continues to expand. Molang as a character transcends all cultural and social barriers, touches hearts, and has allowed us to establish some wonderful and trusted global partnerships. We really looking forward to showcasing Molang’s new licensed products and connecting even further with new retailers as the Molang brand continues to cement itself as a must-have license.”

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

New hit Turkish drama Dynasty of Love from FARO & Gold Film is now being represented by Global Agency Global Agency has announced the addition of a powerful project to its catalog. The company has successfully secured the international distribution rights for the highly anticipated brand new series, “Dynasty of Love” which is produced by FARO and Gold Film.

facing the end of his reign of the grand terminal bus station. With an election looming and rivals threatening his empire, he makes a shocking move—replacing his true heirs with an impostor son who can protect his legacy. The impostor moves into the

Established by Yamaç Okur and Mehmet Eryılmaz, FARO is a new showrunner based production company behind Magarsus, one of the most successful digital series of recent times, awarded by Berlin TV Series Festival and Golden Butterfly Awards. Yamaç Okur is the producer of global hits Insider, The Pit and Flames of Fate.

family mansion. Soon a passionate romance immediately begins with the wife of his real son. As secrets unravel and power shifts within the family mansion, the line between loyalty and ambition blurs, distrust brews, the unresolved becomes apparent leaving everyone’s fate hanging in the balance. With its unique storyline and strong cast, this series is set to make its mark on this season and will air on Show TV on Thursday evenings during prime time. Dynasty of Love brings together a world-class creative team to deliver a gripping family saga. Filmed in striking locations that recreate the vibrant chaos of Istanbul’s central bus terminal, the series immerses viewers in an environment where power, heritage, and hidden agendas collide.

Dynasty of Love is an unmissable family drama that blends passion, betrayal, and revenge in a story of power and forbidden desire. At the heart of the story is a powerful tycoon

Keshet International licenses two series of Traffic Light comedy format to TV3 Group in Latvia Keshet International (KI) has licensed two seasons of its International Emmy Award-winning comedy format Traffic Light (Ramzor) to TV3 Group in Latvia. Currently in production by SIA Seriālu mājas (Kolektīvs) under the local title Luksofors, the first season (57×30’) will premiere on TV3 from 1 September, with a second season (61×30’) already confirmed. Originally created by Adir Miller for Keshet Broadcasting and Endemol Israel, Traffic Light is a warm and witty situation comedy about three lifelong friends navigating the complex realities of adulthood — from marriage and parenting to relationships and the eternal lure of single life. The characters’ contrasting life situations lead to wildly different (and often hilariously facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

misguided) advice, proving that when it comes to friends, honesty isn’t always the best policy.. Produced by SIA Seriālu Mājas, both seasons of Luksofors will be directed by Ričardas Vitkaitis (Gaugu Karai. Kaveliai, The Mole), with scripts written by Elita Krūmiņliepa and Laura Jeruma, and showrunners Leva Salceviča (Rugtas izveles) and Rimvydas Martinaitis (Rugtas izveles, Vinas melo labak). Traffic Light has proven a global hit since first airing on Keshet in Israel, where seasons three and four became the highest-rated scripted series in the country. Described by Haaretz as “a comedy which constantly delivers” and the “comedy of the decade” by The Marker, the original show won Best Comedy Series at

the 2010 International Emmy Awards and was polled as Israel’s favorite TV series by the county’s mostread newspaper Yediot Aharonot. Keshet International has since licensed the format in six territories.

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

NEWS CONTENT

SLR Productions and Sinking Ship Entertainment announce development on CGI animated feature Monkey Base Australia’s SLR Productions and Canada’s Sinking Ship Entertainment have announced development is underway on a 90-minute CGI feature, Monkey Base. Announced at this year’s Australian Children’s Content Summit, Monkey Base is based on an SLR Original animated comedy/sci-fi adventure created for global family audiences. SLR Productions’ CEO Suzanne Ryan and Sinking Ship Entertainment’s Head of Co-Production and International Partnerships Carla de Jong will serve as Executive Producers, together with Sinking Ship Entertainment Partners, Blair Powers and Matt Bishop. Bringing together a first-class line-up of talent, SLR Productions’ Yasmin Jones joins as Producer, with Dean Sutherland as Producer, whose concept inspired the movie. The

award-winning script team includes screenwriter Joel Slack-Smith, with script editing by Michael Drake. Design and animation will be led by the globally renowned Sinking Ship Entertainment, which will also handle international distribution, with SLR Productions managing Australian and New Zealand distribution. Monkey Base marks the first in a planned suite of family films from the official co-production partnership, formed following a meeting between SLR Productions and Sinking Ship Entertainment at the inaugural Australian Children’s Content Summit last 2023.

Perched on the edge of a white hole and charged with protecting Earth from wayward asteroids, SB7 is run by the freewheeling Captain Derik and his dancing crew of misfits, including an entire team of meerkats all named Fred. But when a moon-sized piece of space junk barrels toward Earth, Erika must rally this unlikely band in a last-chance mission to save the planet… and maybe even learn to have a little fun along the way.

Erika, a hotshot Space Academy cadet, is destined for greatness until a spectacular graduation mishap gets her reassigned from Earth’s newest, shiniest space base to its oldest and most embarrassing, Space Base 7.

Love Nature Greenlights Two New Captivating Wildlife and Nature Program portfolio of wildlife series that appeals to our global audience. These two new titles add to our channel’s diversity of offerings” says Alison Barrat, SVP, Head of Content, Love Nature. “Each of these new titles explores the connection between human and animal species.They both tap into a different aspect of our global fascination with wild species.” Love Nature, a wildlife and nature brand with linear and streaming channels available internationally, announced two new original programmes. The titles exemplify Love Nature’s diverse range of content from blue-chip specials to daring wildlife rescues. The slate includes: HumanLike: The Chimps of Fongoli (1 x 60’), a thrilling look at how a group of chimpanzees

have adapted to survive in an extreme environment and Aussie Snake Wranglers: Deadly Pursuit Season 1 (6 x 30’), an adrenalinefuelled series that follows a group of professional snake catchers on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. “Love Nature viewers enjoy a wide range of natural history series. Over the last decade, we have built a

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

The newly greenlit titles will premiere on Love Nature worldwide. They will roll out on Sky Nature in the UK, Italy, and Germany in addition to premieres across co-commissioning territories. Blue Ant Studios oversees licensing opportunities for new titles outside of commissioning territories. The new titles include: HumanLike: The Chimps of Fongoli and Aussie Snake Wranglers: Deadly Pursuit Season. facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

WinZO Launches the World’s First Global Short Drama Championship WinZO, India’s largest homegrown interactive entertainment platform with a robust ecosystem of 250 million users engaging with a rich platform including over 100 competitive games in esports and social formats across 15 languages, announced the launch of the WinZO Short Drama Championship, a first-ever global competition designed to give microdrama creators an international stage and global audience.

WinZO’s 250 million-strong global audience and gain visibility at marquee events. Submissions will be judged on originality and storytelling strength, with final winners selected through audience engagement metrics. Further, WinZO will also partner with them to showcase their stories at key marquee events and to plugand-broadcast their content.

The winners will secure production deals and a 100% sponsorship to commission the project, alongside long-term partnerships to produce original content for WinZO TV, the company’s newly launched microdrama platform. Beyond financial incentives, participants will have the opportunity to reach

“At WinZO, we’ve always believed that India’s cultural capital is its greatest export. We built WinZO

as a platform to democratise opportunities for creators, first in gaming, and now in storytelling. India has the talent, artistry, and scale to lead the global microdrama revolution. Our job is to empower them with the stage, the tools, and the audience,” said Paavan Nanda, Co-Founder, WinZO The WinZO Short Drama Championship is the first bold step to build the world’s largest library of microdrama content, sourced from diverse creators across India and beyond. The WinZO Short Drama Championship is designed to harness this moment, offering creators financial support to bring their vision to life, global visibility, and most importantly, the chance to write India’s next big cultural export story.

Tehran becomes ZEE5’s fastest Hindi Film of 2025 to cross 100 Million Minutes ZEE5 celebrates a blockbuster debut for its latest exclusive release, Tehran, which has raced past 100 million streaming minutes within just 72 hours of its premiere, making it the fastest Hindi movie of 2025 to reach this milestone on the platform, and one of ZEE5’s most-watched titles this year.

hoardings across MP, UP and Mumbai. With a strategic social media takeover & content partnerships for a 360° outreach, the campaign became an unmissable, nationwide conversation.

In its launch week, Tehran crossed 200 Mn streaming minutes, ranking as ZEE5’s most viewed content of 2025 by watch time. The film trended across India, consistently appearing in the Top 3 spots in 17 states, reflecting the overwhelming nationwide appeal. The global audience response was equally remarkable. ‘Tehran’ broke into the Top 5 ZEE5 titles of 2025 across 190+ countries, trending strongly in the US, MENA, UK, and APAC regions, reflecting its strong diaspora resonance.

Backed by the full force of the Z Network, the integrated marketing blitz for Tehran dominated every touchpoint from TV across to eye-catching

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

As part of the promotional campaign for the geo-political thriller, ZEE5 hosted the first ever exclusive screening of Tehran with the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) in Delhi, followed by an engaging Q&A with John Abraham who spoke with students about the film’s narrative, his perspective on foreign affairs, and the challenges of depicting such themes on screen. In Mumbai, the campaign was amplified by a spectacular visual projection of the film’s poster on the Bandra Worli Sea Link on the eve of the premiere, witnessed by thousands, with John Abraham himself in attendance making it a truly unforgettable celebration.

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

NEWS CONTENT

The Hardacres Heads to the US with Banijay Rights

Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, has announced that BritBox has acquired the North American streaming rights for period drama The Hardacres. Produced by award-winning production company Playground (Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, All Creatures Great and Small), in association with Screen Ireland, Red Berry Productions for 5 in the UK, The Hardacres is a sweeping rags to riches

story that follows the lives, loves and fortunes of the working class Hardacre family as they move from a grimy fish dock to a vast country estate in 1890’s Yorkshire. BritBox has acquired seasons one and two of the series for North America in a deal negotiated by Matt Creasey, EVP Sales, Acquisitions and Coproductions, Banijay Rights. The first season will debut on 10th September in the US and Canada. Renewed last month for a second season, the ensemble family drama premiered on 5 in October 2024 and

was the channel’s best new weekly drama launch. The second season will chart the Hardacre family as they settle into Hardacre Hall and turn their attention to reshaping the world around them…with all the ambition, friction, and fallout that entails. Inspired by CL Skelton’s epic novel, The Hardacres places an ordinary family in an extraordinary position and explores the age-old question – can money ever buy true happiness? The Hardacre family consists of Claire Cooper (The Continental, The Peripheral) and Liam McMahon (Hunger, The Secret, Warrior Nun) as loving married couple Mary and Sam Hardacre, alongside Julie Graham (Time, Ridley, Penance), as Mary’s wily mother, Ma, and their three kids, Joe, Liza, and Harry, played by Adam Little (Ackley Bridge, Coronation Street), newcomer Shannon Lavelle and Zak Ford-Williams (Better, Bridgerton).

All3Media International inks mulitple presale deals for Hera Pictures’ I Fought the Law All3Media International has concluded a raft of presales for Hera Pictures’ I Fought the Law starring BAFTA winner Sheridan Smith, as numerous broadcasters sign rights to the powerful new factual drama ahead of its UK broadcast. Launching on ITV in the UK this autumn, the four-part drama has been acquired by POLAR+ for France. Filmin has signed digital rights for Portugal and Spain, while EITB has secured TV rights for Spain’s Basque region. Further TV rights deals in Europe have been inked with NPO (Netherlands), SVT (Sweden), Virgin Media (Eire), VRT (Flemish Belgium) and Hellenic Telecommunications (Greece).

Dazzler Media has also signed DVD and DTO rights for UK and Eire. Freedom Media in Kazakhstan has acquired digital rights, while TV rights have been signed by TVNZ in New Zealand, Yes TV in Israel and Now TV for Hong Kong and Macau. Stan has secured digital rights for Australia. I Fought the Law tells the heartbreaking and inspiring real-life story of Ann Ming (Sheridan Smith, Cilla, Accused, Mrs Biggs), a mother who, driven by unimaginable grief, finds strength to challenge the centuries-

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

old Double Jeopardy Law to see her daughter’s murderer finally brought to justice after a 15-year battle. Produced by Hera Pictures (What It Feels Like For A Girl, Mary & George, Hamnet, Temple, Honour), the series is written by Jamie Crichton (All Creatures Great and Small, The Last Kingdom, Grantchester) and is based on Ann Ming’s book ‘For The Love of Julie’. The series will launch on 31st August on ITV and STV and will be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player. All3Media International is also handling global sales for MultiStory Media’s accompanying documentary I Fought the Law: The Ann Ming Story, which will debut on ITV and STV following the launch of the drama.

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale Breaks Records as WOW Presents Plus’ Most Watched Premiere

Emmy-winning media company World of Wonder announced that premiere of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale set a new record as the biggest global launch in WOW Presents Plus herstory, delivering a 50% increase in viewership compared to the most recent third season premiere of Drag Race Philippines.

A twist on Drag Race’s “vs The World” format, Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale sees fan-favorite queens from previous seasons of Drag Race Philippines take on Asian queens from across the global franchise in a battle for the crown. Since premiere, fans and critics alike have praised the season for its jaw-dropping runway looks, fierce lip sync battles, and authentic celebration of Filipino drag culture.

KatKat (Drag Race Philippines Season 2 winner), Maxie (Drag Race Philippines Season 3 winner), and Marina Summers (Drag Race Philippines Season 1 + Drag Race UK vs The World S2 finalist), and is set to make their premiere appearance later this season on Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale. Their debut single “Slaysian Royale” will be released this Friday, September 5th, with a full EP dropping later this year.

Coming off of the premiere’s rapid success, World of Wonder’s WOW Records announces the formation of their first ever girl group outside of a Drag Race season: REYN4. The group is composed fan-favorite Drag Race Philippines alum Precious Paula Nicole (Drag Race Philippines Season 1 winner), Captivating

Weekly viewing parties for Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale popped up nationwide in bars, clubs, and queer spaces. This surge of in-person celebrations highlights how the series has transcended cultural boundaries, creating a sense of global connection through showcasing Asian drag artistry.

PBS Science series NOVA joins as co-producer on The Mystery of the Desert Kites with BBC and ZDFinfo boarding as pre-buyers ARTE Distribution secures major international partners on highprofile archaeology documentary produced by Ma Drogue A Moi for France Télévisions. Upcoming premium documentary The Mystery of the Desert Kites (1×52’), directed by Nathalie Laville and produced by Ma Drogue À Moi for France Télévisions, has secured the PBS Science Series, NOVA, a production of GBH, (USA) as coproduction partner, alongside pre-buys from BBC (UK) and ZDFinfo (Germany). Filmed in the stunning landscapes of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, The Mystery of the Desert Kites follows two international teams of archaeologists as they investigate thousands of ancient geoglyphs — enormous stone structures

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

resembling giant kites — dating back to around 7000 BC, predating both the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge by several millennia. Through cutting-edge technologies and breathtaking aerial cinematography, the film sheds an unprecedented insight into one of humanity’s oldest and least understood engineering feats. The documentary is led by French archaeologist Rémy Crassard and Franco-Jordanian researcher Wael Abu-Azizeh, whose groundbreaking work is revealing new insights into the Neolithic period in this region and an ancient still unknown people: the Ghassanians. ARTE Distribution is the international program sales unit of the European public channel

ARTE with a catalog of over 4,000 hours of documentaries entrusted by more than 150 prestigious French and foreign production companies. ARTE Distribution has made its mark on the 5 continents, bringing a wide range of documentaries to the world. A reference for factual documentaries, ARTE Distribution has won the 2023 Unifrance TV Export Award which recognizes the best-selling French documentary worldwide, with THE LATEST SECRETS OF HIEROGLYPHS by Patrick CABOUAT.

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

NEWS CONTENT

Anima Kitchen’s Tippi T-Rex roars into China together with 4 songs and 14 episodes of approximately 3.5 minutes each.

Independent European animation company Ánima Kitchent and Indonesian animation studio Mocca Studio announce a major step in the global expansion of their preschool animated series, Tippi T-Rex, having secured a significant distribution agreement for the Chinese market. Following the recent co-production announcement of 26 new 5-minute episodes with Mocca Studio, Tippi

T-Rex has garnered interest in China. The series has been acquired by 24 Bridges a subsidiary of Beijing based Bridges Culture Transmission Co. Ltd, in a deal brokered by Barcelonabased distributor GoldBee, which specializes in kids and family content. Through a four-year collaboration that enhances the IP’s reach in Asia, the deal with 24 Bridges includes 52 x 5-minute exclusive episodes of the 2D series

Ánima Kitchent’s innovative content strategy is built around a digitalfirst, data-driven approach. The company began by testing shortform videos on YouTube, analyzing performance metrics before scaling to longer multi-platform formats. This methodology led to the fine-tuning of content to optimize engagement, ensuring maximum impact and in the production of the first season of 26 episodes x 5-minute episodes, and now, with Mocca Studio, the completion of a full season slate of 52 x 5-minute episodes. With this latest deal, Tippi T-Rex continues to grow as an internationally appealing IP, engaging preschoolers with lovable characters, imaginative storytelling and educational themes.

yes Studios reveals Greece as the 13th territory to adapt Your Honor yes Studios has announced that Greece is set to become the home of the latest version of its hit global drama, Your Honor. J K PRODUCTIONS SA / Kapa Studios has licensed the format from yes Studios in a deal that will see the series airing on Antenna in the 2026 season. Greece becomes the 13th country to produce a localised adaptation of Your Honor – and the fourth to be announced this year, following earlier deals concluded in Hong Kong, Ukraine and Poland. Adaptations have previously been announced in the US, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, Russia, and India Your Honor (S1 12×35’; S2 10×40’), originally titled Kvodo,

The Witch, Shipwreck, Timoros and Sasmos – the latter being one of the most successful Greek series of all time. Last year, JK PRODUCTIONS SA / Kapa Studios adapted the Spanish series Gran Hotel for Antenna to great acclaim.

is a compelling legal thriller telling the story of a respected senior judge whose son is involved in a hit-and-run accident, leading to difficult choices, moral dilemmas, and terrible consequences as he attempts to keep the crime a secret. J K PRODUCTIONS SA / Kapa Studios is the leading independent studio in Greece and has created a number of high-profile dramas, including

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

Your Honor was created by Ron Ninio and Shlomo Mashiach and produced by yes TV and Koda Communications. yes Studios represents the original drama and the format worldwide. The series has been an Official Selection at nearly 20 international festivals, including SerienCamp in Germany and the Chicago International TV Festival and was the Grand Prix Winner at Series Mania in 2017.

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

NEWS OTT

OTTplay Collaborates with Amazon Prime to Offer Prime Lite Benefits to Customer high-quality content, and also enjoy other Prime Lite benefits through varied subscription plans with OTTplay.

OTTplay Premium, India’s leading AI-powered OTT aggregator, has joined hands with Amazon Prime to offer Prime Lite benefits to its customers, delivering unparalleled value. Amazon Prime Lite subscriptions will be available through OTTplay in two ways – through bundled offerings with OTTplay’s partner Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as NetPlus, KCCL, NXT, Railtel, and more, making it even easier for users across 1000+ cities and towns in India to seamlessly access Prime Video’s

With this collaboration, OTTplay will provide its customers unlimited access to Prime Video’s premium entertainment that includes an extensive library of award-winning and blockbuster Indian and international Originals, TV shows, movies, and more, on a single device of their choice, in HD quality with ads. Prime members also enjoy benefits like free unlimited Same-Day/Next-Day delivery, special access to everyday Prime offers, exclusive access to shopping events like Prime Day, and early access to Amazon Great Indian Festival. OTTplay Premium offers a deeply personalized content discovery experience along with bundled subscriptions to 30+ leading OTT

platforms. Its AI-driven interface simplifies how users find, explore, and enjoy premium content across genres and languages. Powered by deep personalization and smart content discovery tool, OTTplay Premium continues to reinforce its position as a leading platform that curates, recommends, and provides subscription access to multiple OTT services—all in one place. With 1000+ ISP partners onboard, it also ensures that great entertainment is matched with great connectivity – fulfilling all digital needs through a single, seamless subscription. The collaboration with Amazon Prime furthers OTTplay Premium’s vision of becoming India’s ultimate OTT super app—a one-stop destination for entertainment across genres, platforms, and languages, empowering users to stream smarter, faster, and across platforms—all in one place.

Bundesliga International signs broadcast deal with Japanese streaming platform ABEMA

Bundesliga International has signed a new broadcast partnership with Japanese streaming platform ABEMA to show two German league games free-toair (FTA) every week next season. After the new Bundesliga campaign kicks off this Friday with defending champions FC Bayern München hosting RB Leipzig, Japan’s OverThe-Top platform ABEMA will stream two selected games each matchday alongside highlights and original programming. The partnership with ABEMA further strengthens the Bundesliga’s presence facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

in the Japanese market following last week’s announcement that subscription sports broadcaster DAZN will stream all German league topflight games until the end of the 202728 campaign. ABEMA has more than 30 million weekly active users in Japan. “This new deal with ABEMA marks a significant step in expanding our reach in Japan and deepens our connection with one of Asia’s most passionate football audiences,” said Peer Naubert, Chief Executive Officer of Bundesliga International. “We are the most active league in Japan, and creating touchpoints for fans is core to our approach. “From guest appearances by Japanese Bundesliga Legends Makoto Hasebe and Tomoaki Makino at the Osaka

EXPO, to Jürgen Klopp’s surprise visit in February, we are working closely with our clubs to bring the Bundesliga closer. “Our partnership with ABEMA helps us to increase our digital exposure in Japan, ensuring fans in the Land of the Rising Sun keep up to date with Football As It’s Meant To Be.” A bumper total of 14 Japanese players have been named in the squads of the 36 clubs in Germany’s Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 for the 2025-26 season, including FC Bayern defender Hiroki Itō and Eintracht Frankfurt’s new signing Ritsu Dōan. “It is an honour to once again bring the Bundesliga to audiences in Japan on ABEMA this season,” said Yasutaka Tsukamoto, General Manager of ABEMA.

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

NEWS OTT

Tale Wind Animation Studio Partners with Yolu to Manage Flagship YouTube Channel Tale Wind, the animation studio behind the popular Turbozaurs animated series, has announced a strategic partnership with Yolu, a leading YouTube Multi-Channel Network. Under this agreement, Yolu will manage Tale Wind’s two flagship YouTube channels – Turbozaurs English and Turbozaurs Español. This collaboration aims to boost the series’ presence on YouTube by leveraging Yolu expertise in audience development, digital rights management, and platform optimization. “Working with Tale Wind gives us the chance to bring Turbozaurs to even more families. It’s a brand that combines fun and learning, which is exactly the kind of content we want

to support at Yolu. At the same time, we are expanding our presence in Spanish and English-speaking markets, which remain a key focus as we continue opening new territories for Turbozaurs,” said Tamara Oliveri, Sr Head of International Content LATAM & US Hispanic at Yolu. With millions of young fans worldwide, Turbozaurs continues to grow as an international brand that entertains and educates children with fun, adventure-packed stories. In addition to this partnership, Tale Wind announced the launch of its 12th official YouTube channel, Turbozaurs Polska, dedicated to Polishspeaking audiences. This launch will solidify the brand’s multilingual presence across global markets.

The Turbozaurs YouTube network now spans multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Mandarin, and more – with plans for continued expansion into new markets. With this launch, both companies reaffirm their commitment to making Turbozaurs accessible to children everywhere, while continuing to explore new opportunities in emerging digital markets.

ABC Commercial secures first content deal with UYoung’s UKIDS platform expanding footprint in China ABC Commercial has announced a major deal with China’s UYoung, securing the sale of Ready, Steady, Wiggle! Series 4–7, Wiggle & Learn and Big Words, Small Stories to UYoung’s UKIDS app, one of China’s most trusted streaming platforms for children’s enlightenment education. This milestone sale marks ABC Commercial’s first distribution into the tightly regulated and highly competitive Chinese market. It reflects a sharpened strategic focus on Asia and a growing appetite in the region for premium, educational content. UKIDS, a preferred platform for curated international edutainment, will localise both titles to be made available across China. The deal strengthens the global presence of

ABC Commercial’s preschool slate and represents a significant achievement for its production partners, including The Wiggles and Moody Street Kids. Alex Zhou, ABC Commercial’s Content Sales Manager for Asia & MENA, played a key role in facilitating the agreement through his experience in China’s complex distribution landscape. With Ready, Steady, Wiggle!, Wiggle & Learn and Big Words, Small Stories firmly within the preschool edutainment category, the titles align perfectly with China’s growing demand for content that supports English language learning, social development and early cognitive skills. Ready, Steady, Wiggle! Series 4 & 5 and Big Words, Small Stories will launch on UKIDS from mid-October 2025. This will be followed by Wiggle

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

& Learn and Ready, Steady, Wiggle! Series 6 & 7 from 1 January 2026. This latest partnership builds on ABC Commercial’s broader commitment to growing Australian content exports into Asia. It follows successful launches across Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea. As interest continues to grow from Chinese agencies and platforms, ABC Commercial is well placed to expand further in the market.

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

CJ ENM Expands Global Reach With Amazon MX Player Deal in India; CJ ENM is further strengthening its global footprint through an expanded partnership with Amazon, now extending to India via Amazon MX Player, Amazon’s free streaming service. The move comes after Amazon’s acquisition of MX Player, marking the first official content package deal between CJ ENM and the newly integrated Indian AVOD ecosystem. The new agreement includes a package of 18 drama series from CJ ENM—many of which have already found success in global markets—that will now be made available to Indian audiences. As part of the effort to connect more deeply with local viewers, the titles will be dubbed in Hindi, Tamil,

and Telugu, completely free to stream. Leading the lineup is Lovely Runner, the recent hit series that created a K-pop romance buzz, set to release on September 8, 2025. Following that, a collection of fan-favorite romance titles—My Lovely Liar, Twinkling Watermelon, Wedding Impossible, and Delightfully Deceitful—will be rolled out gradually over four quarters starting from the same date. With these already well-received titles, CJ ENM is set to captivate viewers in India. This partnership is particularly meaningful as it not only signals a

deepening relationship between CJ ENM and Amazon MX Player, but also marks a new phase in CJ ENM’s strategy to engage global audiences through localized content strategies. Also marking it as a significant milestone in expanding the reach of Korean content in India’s free streaming market, Sebastian Kim, VP of the International Content Business at CJ ENM said, “This launch is very meaningful as we continue to reach new audiences around the world.” He added, “The shows have already proven their strength in story, cast, and production, and I believe they will strongly connect with Indian viewers through our new partnership with MX Player.”

Red Bull TV Lands on Whale TV+ Whale TV™ has announced the arrival of Red Bull TV on its Whale TV+ streaming service. On the Red Bull TV channel consumers can enjoy the best action and sports stories, live events, films and series. Initially Whale TV+ users will be able to watch Red Bull TV 24/7 live in English, Spanish and German. Additionally, the two companies are also committed to making Red Bull TV content available on demand soon through the Whale TV+ VOD section. Consumers can tune in for free to Red Bull TV on Whale TV+ on their Whale TV, Fire TV, Android TV or Google TV powered streaming player or smart TV. The launch follows the recent channel expansion on Whale TV+ with various new and exciting free TV channels. Whether you love cooking, travelling, sports, music or nature

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

– on Whale TV+ there is always something to watch. New channels include Hip Hop TV, INTROUBLE, Rock TV, Newsmax & Tasty. Whale TV+ aggregates hundreds of free live TV channels and thousands of hours of on demand entertainment, available to stream for free without registration, sign-up or subscription. As the home of emerging sports, Red Bull TV allows viewers a front row seat to captivating moments

played out in real time across the worlds of padel, surfing, skiing, skateboarding, MTB, music, motorsports and beyond. Events like Premiere Padel, Red Bull Rampage, Red Bull Batalla, Drift Masters, WSL and Red Bull BC One are all featured through exciting livestream coverage. Whether it’s on the ground, in the air, or on the water, Red Bull TV is there to capture all the action, providing an unforgettable experience on every size of screen.

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

NEWS OTT

UpStream Media & Henry Cole TV launch online platform featuring The Motorbike Show & exclusive originals UpStream Media has announced that it has partnered with HCA Entertainment to launch an exclusive online membership club that will fuel passion for The Motorbike Show. This unique platform will give members access to a wealth of content, including past seasons of the iconic series, and brand-new original shows. Original series’ produced exclusively for the platform include Iconic

Bikes, an exploration of the most iconic motorcycles housed in the National Motorcycle Museum; Henry’s Bikes, which sees Henry Cole explore the motorbikes that mean the most to him; Shed Talk, where Henry Cole invites the biggest names in the motorcycling world for candid, in-depth conversations; And Skid Risk, which follows Guy ‘Skid’ Willison as he restores, designs, and shares his love for motorcycles.

Nick Rees, COO of UpStream Media, said, “In the current media landscape, production companies are having to think differently about how they finance and distribute content that their fans truly want to see. There is a loyal audience for this content that has been built up over many years, and UpStream Media is extremely excited to be partnering with HCA for this next phase of the company’s journey.”

In addition to being a streaming service, ‘The Motorbikeshow.com’ is packed with many unique features, creating a dynamic membership club. Subscribers will enjoy priority access to live events and exclusive meet-ups, offering rare, up-close opportunities to engage with the stars of the show and immerse themselves in the world of motorcycling.

The partnership also offers brands an unparalleled opportunity to invest in content that resonates deeply with a dedicated and engaged fanbase, ensuring a meaningful and long-lasting connection with viewers. The motorbikeshow.com was unveiled to fans at a launch event at the National Motorbike Museum last September 14.

Dish TV India selects ThinkAnalytics for AI recommendations on Watcho OTT; curation, UX testing and

ThinkAnalytics, the global leader in video content discovery and persaonalization, has announced that Dish TV India, the leading content distribution company, has chosen ThinkMediaAI to provide personalized recommendations across its Watcho OTT platform. ThinkMediaAI will allow Dish TV to enhance the viewing experience and drive increased user engagement and subscriber loyalty. ThinkAnalytics’ comprehensive ThinkMediaAI product suite includes personalised content discovery, search, editorial

orchestration, A/B business insights.

ThinkAnalytics will provide search and personalised content discovery across more than 24 OTT apps on Watcho ’s OTT aggregation platform as well as live TV. Dish TV will take advantage of ThinkMediaAI’s massive scalability to meet the requirements of millions of paying subscribers as well as supporting 12 different languages. ThinkMediaAI will strengthen Watcho’s evolution from a content aggregator to a comprehensive entertainment platform that offers curated and immersive experiences. And, as Watcho’s library is boosted with more international and regional titles, ThinkMediaAI’s industryleading metadata enrichment ensures the highest quality

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

recommendations and discovery, even when viewers are interested in niche local language dramas. Using ThinkMediaAI’s real-time profiling and dynamic UI with rail positioning and trending content tailored to the user, Watcho viewers will have a personalized user experience on every device. At the same time, the editorial and curation team will have improved decision making based on new insights and intelligence about viewing behaviour trends and content investments. They will also be able to increase efficiencies with A/B testing and automation tools that optimize editorial workflows and accelerate time-to-market for new content and campaigns while minimizing dependency on engineering resources. facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

Unparalleled coverage of the Asia Pacific’s media industry The Asia Paciﬁc’s media industry is evolving at a rapid pace and Television Asia Plus is here to provide full coverage and an unbiased look at everything that is happening in the region. Television Asia Plus embraces Asia Paciﬁc’s vibrant broadcast, production, and distribution of content across Free TV, Pay-TV, OTT, short video, livestream and new media platforms. We take a look at the trends, the current market, and the freshest news and information on what’s happening in the industry today. facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

Our digital platforms comprising tva.onscreenasia.com an @TVAsiaPlus on FB, Twitter and LinkedIn cover the latest industry news and movements. Meanwhile our print version is available as bonus distribution at all major trade events including HK Filmart, APOS, Mipcom Cannes and ATF. In the market for over two decades, Television Asia Plus has been proven to be a reliable and reputable television content journal. We reach 15,000 senior content professionals across Asia Paciﬁ c through our web, social media, e-newsletters and print products. November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

NEWS PLATFORMS

Hello Einstein Studios and Gamisodes Partner to Launch Interactive Baby Einstein Playable Episodes curiosity and discovery in babies, toddlers, preschoolers and parents for nearly three decades. Now, fan favorite characters -Cal, Dean and Tinker – are making a bold entry into interactive, gamified storytelling. Hello Einstein Studios, the media entertainment company that creates trusted, best-in-class children’s educational entertainment, has announced a partnership with nextgeneration entertainment platform Gamisodes™ to launch Baby Einstein Interactive Episodes, a first-of-itskind interactive offering delivering beloved Baby Einstein content into hands-on, engaging learning experiences for children ad-free. Baby Einstein has been a leader in educational content inspiring

Built for mobile devices and tablets, each interactive episode invites children and parents to tap, explore, and problem-solve together. From discovering ocean life to learning letters and shapes, every interaction is crafted to spark curiosity and support early development. “As we look ahead to the 30th anniversary of Baby Einstein, we’re evolving the brand with innovative content and products that continue to nurture curiosity in new and exciting ways,” said Jaime Martin, Director

of Licensing and Media, Hello Einstein Studios. “Now, through our partnership with Gamisodes, we’re empowering that curiosity in an entirely new way—by making our shows interactive and playable. This isn’t just an evolution of our brand—it’s a fresh, relevant way to meet the needs of today’s families.” “This is screen time parents can feel good about,” said Davis Brimer, Founder & CEO of Gamisodes. “Baby Einstein is setting the pace for how legacy and active franchises can modernize and thrive. With Gamisodes, they’re not just entertaining their audiences— they’re leading a movement in the industry by delivering new opportunities for engagement, retention, and revenue growth.”

V10 Entertainment Acquires Digital Platform Towerhouse

V10 Entertainment, the media company and owner of Venture 10 Studio Group, Vin Di Bona Productions (America’s Funniest Videos), and Fishbowl Worldwide Media, has announced the acquisition of Towerhouse, a content creation and platform management company known for powering brands including the Women’s Sports Network (WSN), Comics Explained, Olympian gymnast Ian Gunther, and fitness icon Ronnie Coleman.

Skeath. Jones will also spearhead further V10 digital investments and partnerships as part of the deal. “Parker is a best-in-class executive who knows the digital landscape incredibly well,” said Stevens. “In just a few years, he built a very successful company with a ton of momentum. V10 is making a big bet on Parker and his team with this investment, which aligns perfectly with our content strategy and elevates V10’s owned brands and channel services businesses during this transitional time in audience engagement.”

monetization, proven by its record-breaking growth of the Women’s Sports Network. With V10’s extensive content libraries and global distribution reach, Towerhouse is uniquely positioned to redefine how premium IP thrives on digital platforms.

Towerhouse was founded in 2021 by former YouTube and WarnerMedia executive Parker Jones. Following the acquisition, Jones will remain CEO of Towerhouse, reporting directly to V10’s CEO John Stevens and President Carter

Towerhouse is an industry leader in developing and monetizing premium YouTube channels for sports, fitness, racing, and anime rights holders. Leveraging advanced AI-driven insights and hands-on creative strategies, Towerhouse rapidly scales audiences and maximizes

The Towerhouse acquisition was brokered by Sebastian Wulff and James Creech of Quartermast Advisors with David Hernand and Julian Alsarhn of Simpson Thatcher on behalf of V10 and Clarion Capital. Financial terms were not disclosed.

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

ZOE Broadcasting continues to invest in PlayBox Neo with significant infrastructure upgrades with EMAM free-to-air television networks, transmitting programmes over the network and using directto-home satellite infrastructure.

ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. (ZBNI/ZOE TV), a valued customer of PlayBox Neo for over a decade, has further solidified its position among global television networks by upgrading its infrastructure with PlayBox Neo’s fully integrated channel branding and playout solutions. ZBNI is a leading multimedia network that is well-respected in the Philippines and is one of the country’s most established

Supervised by PlayBox Neo’s APAC regional office, in close collaboration with technology partner EMAM, the latest project involved the deployment of comprehensive PlayBox Neo Channel-in-a-Box (CiaB) systems, seamlessly integrated with the eMAM™ Vault solution at ZBNI’s studio headquarters in Manila. The eMAM Vault platform manages media processing, storage and archive in the cloud and on-premise environments. It can run on one or two servers locally, in the cloud, or as a hybrid to manage any quantity of media in storage and archive. “This powerful combination ensures high operational efficiency,

reliability, and scalability, tailored to meet ZBNI’s evolving broadcasting needs while building on over 10 years of successful collaboration with PlayBox Neo.” PlayBox Neo’s APAC regional office Sales Manager Iulian Ionescu points out. EMAM, Inc. President David Miller adds, “The PlayBox Neo system with our eMAM Vault allows reporters and video editors to quickly and easily ingest and archive video clips, graphics and images for news editing using Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects. Other departments at ZOE TV, such as programming and traffic operations, have full access for browsing the media library, where they can upload and download material from the eMAM Vault platform for other daily playout scheduling and other workflow needs.”

Prime Video Launches NFDC – Cinemas of India as an Add-On Subscription Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, has on-boarded NFDC – Cinemas of India, as an add-on subscription. As the home to groundbreaking classics from India, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) offers an extensive library featuring iconic films by renowned and internationally acclaimed directors such as Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Mira Nair, and Kalpana Lajmi, to name a few. With this add-on subscription, customers in India can enjoy evergreen classics from multiple Indian languages, including critically acclaimed films like Mirch Masala (Hindi), Ghare Baire (Bengali), Salaam Bombay (Hindi), Doghi (Marathi), Jameela (Tamil), Ganashatru (Bengali), Bangarwadi (Marathi), Parinamam (Malayalam), Rudaali (Hindi), Gandhi (Hindi), Marupakkam (Tamil), Bioscope (Malayalam), Percy facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

(Gujarati), Stri (Telugu), Mammo (Hindi), Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda (Hindi), among others, at INR 199 per year. The curated NFDC add-on subscription on Prime Video includes some of the most awarded and critically acclaimed films of all times – from the multiple Academy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe Awardwinning film Gandhi (Hindi), and Salaam Bombay! (Hindi) that won the Caméra d’Or and Audience award at the Cannes Film Festival in addition to the National Film Awards, along with a nomination at the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, to Agantuk (Bengali), Satyajit Ray’s last film that won the FIPRESCI Award at the Venice Film Festival, and Best Feature Film at the National Film Awards; from Qissa (Punjabi) that won the Netpac Award for World or International Asian Film

at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Paar (Hindi) that won the UNESCO Award at the Venice Film Festival, as well as the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, to several National Film Awards, Kerala State Awards, A.P. State Awards-winning films like Bioscope (Malayalam), Thodu (Telugu), Tiladaanam (Telugu), Kaliyachan (Malayalam), and many more.

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

NEWS PLATFORMS

Pebble migrates ON TV to new technology platform Pebble, the leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, has completed a project to migrate ON TV, the major independent broadcaster in Egypt. The implementation and migration was managed by Cairobased integrator Systems Design. ON has used Pebble automation for many years. It has now grown to offer five channels, and the playout system has grown under the control of the original Pebble Neptune platform. To provide continuing resilience, flexibility and scalability, the broadcaster moved to the latest enterprise automation software from Pebble. The challenge in the project was maintaining uninterrupted

broadcasting, from the same server network and switchers, while the Pebble control level and the Pebble content management database were upgraded. Pebble and Egypt Systems Design developed a migration plan to commission and prove the software on the backup hardware, allowing the channels to be switched over one by one, with no interruptions or disturbances whatsoever. Currently, ON broadcasts five channels, which are delivered from a fully redundant 5+5 configuration with main and backup servers, master control switchers and graphics engines. There is a single router providing switching, and pebble content management between all channels and storage, which during the transition the router had to be

controlled by both the old and new automation platforms, adding to the complexity of the migration plan. The nature of the ON channels means that there is a mixture of fully automated playout with live events on any of the channels. The broadcaster relies on the Pebble Auto Resume feature, which allows operators to skip out of the current on-air event to take a live feed, or a pre-programmed series of events, dropping back into the schedule either at the point where the operator opted out, or at the current time.

Zattoo acquires Green Streams to build Europe’s most operatorcentric TV platform TV-streaming provider Zattoo has announced the acquisition of Green Streams GmbH, further strengthening its position as a leading TV-platform provider. With this strategic move, Zattoo expands its B2B product portfolio and lays the groundwork for entry into new international markets. By integrating one of the industry’s most advanced middleware platforms, the company significantly accelerates its technological development and unlocks new growth opportunities. Founded in 2021, Green Streams has rapidly established its modular, cloud-native Media Integration Platform (MIP) among telecommunications and pay-TV operators in select markets. The platform offers a flexible, efficient solution for TVand streaming services, optimised to combine existing in-network

TV and streaming offerings, setting new standards of modularity and efficiency compared with existing platforms. The deal also opens access to additional market segments and customer groups.

components with “best-of-breed” third-party modules. This means that for every core technology layer, the most powerful specialised option can be selected and seamlessly integrated into the overall system. With this acquisition, Zattoo creates the foundation to build an operator-centric TV platform for Europe—modular, cloud-native and designed for global deployment. Full integration of Green Streams technology will allow Zattoo to mix in-house and third-party components to deliver tailor-made

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

Another key benefit is the accelerated development of innovative features, boosting Zattoo’s competitiveness and enabling the company to bring cutting-edge solutions to customers even faster. The current Green Streams platform will be further developed under the Zattoo brand, strengthening the combined technology portfolio. Green Streams founders Gernot Jaeger and Ivo Stock—both former Zattoo executives—will continue to lead the ongoing integration from within the Zattoo team. facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

Ideal Systems Debuts “Tabatha” AI-Powered Newsroom Service at IBC2025

Ideal Systems has previewed “Tabatha,” an integrated newsroom AI platform with native integration of Comcast Technology Solutions’ (CTS) VideoAI at IBC2025 in Amsterdam. Tabatha is optimised and tailored for using AI in modern TV newsroom productions and is the latest module for Ideal Systems “Alice” cloud integration platform. Tabatha’s native integration with

Video AI from CTS aims to dramatically increase newsroom productivity by reducing content search times and increasing search accuracy. It will enable users to search for any highlight without requiring content specific training and significantly simplify highlights workflows across all news and sports genres. Born out of the need for deep integration with both legacy broadcast systems and new media content management systems, Tabatha provides an enterprise integration layer for launching new AI assisted workflows to assist with the efficient creation of news content in legacy newsroom environments with minimal integration impact. Tabatha also allows for the management and control of multiple AIs within

the same workflows, even if they are from different AI providers, with different billing models and full API level audits of all actions. While Tabatha can integrate with many AIs depending on customer requirements, it will launch with a native integration with VideoAI from CTS. Like Tabatha, VideoAI comes from a proven broadcast background having been developed and used by some of the largest broadcast, media and entertainment companies in the world. Based on years of real-word data training and refinements, VideoAI has won numerous accolades including a Technology & Engineering Emmy® Award, NAB Product of the Year Award, and numerous others.

DubHub Partners with GoQuest to Bring Turkish Hit Kuma to Global Audiences with AI Dubbing Localization studio DubHub has announced its collaboration with GoQuest Media to bring the Turkish hit drama Kuma – The Other Wife to global audiences through state-of-the-art AI dubbing technology. The series is now launching in French and Italian on YouTube, opening new markets and monetization opportunities. A co-production between GoQuest Media and VIP2000, Kuma – The Other Wife has been produced by Stellar Yapim. Kuma – The Other Wife has been a breakout success, becoming one of the most watched dramas on Kanal 7 in Turkey this summer and is already licensed to more than 15 international territories and more deals are in the pipeline.Through this partnership, DubHub’s specialist production team facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

in Istanbul has created French and Italian versions of the series using its proprietary AI-powered dubbing process, which combines advanced machine learning with human expertise in language adaptation, voice casting, and sound engineering. “Turkish drama has enormous global potential when made available in multiple languages, especially on platforms like YouTube,” said Fredrik af Malmborg, CoFounder of Dubhub. “Top Turkish series can attract up to 10 million subscribers in their original versions, and by offering localized versions, we can multiply both reach and revenue by three to four times.”

specialists preserve the emotion and authenticity of the original performances — maintaining the quality international viewers expect. The Kuma project was developed in close collaboration with GoQuest’s team, which also co-invested in the original series. Together, the companies are aiming to maximize the global appeal of Turkish dramas by making them accessible in multiple languages and tapping into the growing demand for international content on digital platforms.

DubHub’s hybrid approach ensures that while AI accelerates scale and efficiency, human November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

PEOPLE

All3Media International promotes Amanda Stevens to SVP Global Digital Partnerships All3Media International has promoted Amanda Stevens to SVP Global Digital Partnerships. The promotion reflects the continued growth of the company’s Digital Publishing activities, which include the recent UK launch of original new FAST channel Demand Drama, the launch of SVOD channel Inside Outside as a FAST channel, and numerous AVOD SVOD and TVOD initiatives. As SVP Global Digital Partnerships, Amanda will spearhead the Digital Publishing team’s partner management and will lead the company’s FAST channel team. She will also work closely with regional teams on windowing the release of content for publication in the digital space and will develop and oversee promotional opportunities with leading platform suppliers. Amanda will continue to report to Gary Woolf, EVP Strategic Development, who focuses on the overall Digital Publishing strategy and new digital opportunities for All3Media International. Since joining All3Media International in 2023 as VP Global Digital Partnerships, Amanda has been integral to identifying new FAST linear and VOD publishing opportunities as well as optimising existing partnership deals. This includes leading the development and recent launch of Demand Drama, the FAST launch of Inside Outside, and the introduction of branded YouTube channels such as Gardening with Monty Don and Midsomer Murders. “I’m thrilled to continue to be part of such a dynamic, forward-thinking company and to work alongside the many partners who are central to our ongoing success in this vibrant market,” commented Amanda Stevens. “As the viewing experience evolves, we’re always looking for new avenues to reach audiences via digital delivery, whether that’s partnering with leading platforms on new channels or launching innovative brand promotions that

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

Amanda Stevens, Senior Vice President at Global Digital Partnership

immerse viewers in their favourite shows. We have many exciting new collaborations in the pipeline, and I look forward to working with Gary and the channel management team as we roll these out – and forge more new partnerships – in the coming months.” Amanda joined All3Media International from Samsung TV Plus, where she was Senior Manager of Business Development for all thirdparty channels. Prior to this, she was Senior Manager, Content Partnerships at TalkTalk (formerly blinkbox) and also held roles including Head of Acquisitions for Comedy Central and MTV. Amanda began her career at Flextech Television, which became Virgin Media Television.

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

Banijay Rights Hires Lottie Wilson as VP Australia and New Zealand Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, has announced the appointment of Lottie Wilson as VP Australia and New Zealand. Based in Sydney, Wilson will be responsible for executing Banijay Rights’ sales strategy across Australia and New Zealand, where she will represent the leading distributor’s 205,000+ hour-strong catalogue with a focus on finished tape exploitation. Wilson was formerly Head of Acquisitions, Branded Services, ANZ, at BBC Studios, where she set direction and strategy across the company’s Australian and New Zealand branded services. She held senior acquisition roles at the company since 2015. Starting in July, Wilson will report into Lyle BettsonBarker, SVP Australia and New Zealand, Banijay Rights, who said, “With more than 15 years’ experience in the international television industry, Lottie is one of those rare executives with ample experience across sales, acquisitions and branded services. We’re in no doubt she will an incredible addition to our global sales team as we look to grow our business in both Australia and New Zealand even further.”

Lottie Wilson, Vice President at Banijay Rights

she creates content to invite mainstream audiences into climate friendly lifestyles.

Lottie Wilson, VP Australia and New Zealand, Banijay Rights added, “I have long admired Banijay Rights’ innovative approach to business so to join its industry-renowned team is a real privilege. I look forward to exploring new opportunities across our ever-expanding catalogue in these two key markets.” Led by CEO Cathy Payne, Banijay Rights represents a world-class, multi-genre portfolio of standout programming including Survivor, Big Brother, MasterChef, Peaky Blinders, Rogue Heroes, Marie Antoinette, Grantchester, Mr Bean and Black Mirror.

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

PEOPLE

Mukund Acharya joins SPNI as Chief Technology Officer to drive technology-led transformation Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has announced the appointment of Mukund Acharya as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective immediately. In his new role, Mukund will spearhead the company’s consolidated technology portfolio, encompassing the Enterprise Technology Group (ETG), LIV Technology, and Broadcast Operations and Network Engineering (B.O.N.E.). He will be responsible for driving SPNI’s digital transformation agenda, fostering innovation, and ensuring strategic alignment between business goals and technology initiatives across the network’s linear and digital platforms. With over 29 years of experience in leading technology teams and delivering large-scale transformations, Mukund brings deep expertise in platform engineering, scalability, and product innovation. He joins SPNI from Disney+ Hotstar (Now JioStar), where he served as Head of Engineering. During his tenure, he led several missioncritical projects, including the integration of JioCinema and Hotstar apps, and the seamless delivery of marquee events like the ICC World Cups 2023, 2024, and 2025. His prior experience includes senior technology leadership roles at Yahoo, InMobi, and other global organisations.

Mukund Acharya, Chief Technology Officer at SPNI

Mukund will report to Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO, SPNI, and will also work closely with the leadership of Sony LIV to support its next phase of platform evolution and growth. Commenting on the appointment, Gaurav Banerjee said, “Mukund’s proven leadership in technology-led transformation makes him an invaluable addition to our team. As we expand our digital and broadcast capabilities, his role will be critical in aligning our technology roadmap with our vision for growth and innovation.”

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

Warner Bros. International Television Production Italia appoints senior team to lead newest production label Following the launch of its new production label in Italy earlier this year under Stefano Torrisi, Warner Bros. International Television Production has confirmed the senior leadership appointments for WBITVP Italia, marking a major step forward in its presence in the territory. Pierangelo Marano joins as Head of Entertainment, taking creative and strategic lead on non-scripted programming. He will oversee the development and production of WBITVP and third-party entertainment formats produced by WBITVP Italia, and serve as Executive Producer across a growing portfolio, with a brief to deliver original, ambitious content that resonates both locally and internationally. Marano brings extensive experience from Banijay Italia, where he developed and delivered hit entertainment and factual formats for both television and streaming. His previous senior positions at Endemol Italia, Magnolia and Pesci Combattenti include credits such as Big Brother, The Farm, Long Lost Family, Beauty and the Geek and Crónicas Marcianas. Max Giammarrusti steps in as Head of Production, responsible for all operational aspects of non-scripted production, from budgeting and compliance to delivery and staffing. He will work closely with creative teams to ensure production excellence while supporting the company’s commercial and strategic growth. Giammarrusti also joins from Banijay Italia, and his recent responsibilities include leading production teams for Masterchef, Lo Show dei Record (Guinness Book of World Records) and Che Tempo Che Fa, one of Italy’s most popular talk shows. He has also previously served as Executive Producer for the Endemol Shine Group for both scripted and unscripted shows.

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

Max Giammarrusti, Pierangelo Marano, Nicolás de las Peñas Warner Bros. International television Production Italia

Rounding out the appointments, Nicolás de las Peñas expands his current role as Business Director for WBITVP Spain and Portugal to also oversee finance and operations for the new Italian label. A trusted member of the WBITVP Spain & Portugal group since 2016, he has played a central role in driving the outfit’s operational delivery across their portfolio. All three roles report to Stefano Torrisi, Managing Director of WBITVP Italia. Ilan Astrug, VP Creative Format Acquisition at WBITVP’s London headquarters, who has supported WBITVP’s activity in the Italian market in recent years, including format licensing ahead of the launch of WBITVP in Italy, will continue to support the WBITVP Italia management team. The new unit’s first production is the upcoming season of Primo Appuntamento (the Italian version of the hit UK format First Dates) for Discovery Real Time. With this series in production and these experienced new senior team members in place, WBITVP Italia is fully operational, with a remit to adapt standout international formats, originate local IP, and contribute to the group’s broader strategy of organic growth in key markets.

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

COVER STORY

The Year of AI and Microdramas By Mathew Chan

As we close out 2025, it’s always interesting to see

AI’s Fast Acceleration in TV

the trends which we thought would be prevailing and what actually took the entertainment industry

The use of AI in television production is rapidly becoming

by storm. There is no doubt, though, that the

a central part of how shows are made. According to

biggest thing in entertainment was the looming use

a recent report from ResearchAndMarkets.com

of AI, rather than the more rapid and widespread

titled “Strategic Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence

use of it that has every side of the industry

in Film and TV”, AI is now being used across nearly

reacting. From acceptance to downright boycotts,

every stage of production: from pre-production and

the use of AI has been divisive. Another big trend

casting

that nobody saw coming was the rapid rise of

and even marketing and distribution. It is also

Microdramas. What looked like fake ads turned

used to automate routine tasks, improve decision-

out to be real bite-sized content that has a quick

making,

and

post-production

personalize

editing,

audience

localization,

experiences.

payoff that made them utterly addicting. Shows like the Kaplan Heiress becoming a meme slowly

The report continues to note that Media companies’

cemented their impact on the industry as a whole.

spending on AI will grow at a compound annual

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

between

2024

recent Argentinian science fiction series El Eternauta

$12.5

billion.

(The Eternaut), based on the popular graphic novel

At IBC 2025, one of the broadcast industry’s major

of the same name, was the first series they produced

annual gatherings, executives confirmed that AI

that involved the use of generative AI footage.

growth and

rate

2029,

(CAGR) from

$2.6

37.2%

billion

tools have moved well beyond experimental status into everyday production workflows. AI now assists

“We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible

with scripting, live production tagging, real-time

opportunity to help creators make films and series better,

editing, and content localization. Likewise, at NAB Show

not just cheaper,” he said. “Using AI-powered tools, they

2025, AI-powered technologies took center stage. As

were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable

put by Karen Chupka, Executive Vice President and

speed and, in fact, that VFX sequence was completed

Managing Director, NAB Global Connections and

10 times faster than it could have been completed with

Events, “AI is transforming media and entertainment,

traditional VFX tools and workflows,” he continued.

unlocking new ways to tell stories, engage audiences

“The cost of [the special effects without AI] just

and streamline production. At NAB Show, we’re

wouldn’t have been feasible for a show in that budget”.

bringing

together

emerging

tech

and

visionary

creators to explore AI’s ability to enhance storytelling.”

Asian countries are also embracing generative AI, particularly in India, with several projects in the

Even Netflix, one of the major players in the streaming

pipeline. Most recently, they released Naisha, which

industry, have made public comments about the use of

was promoted as “India’s first AI-generated film”.

AI in production and how they produce their television series, particularly the use of generative AI. According

It doesn’t seem like the widespread use of AI will

to Ted Sarandos, Co-Chief Executive at Netflix, their

slow down anytime soon, given how much studios

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

COVER STORY

are using it to help lower the ballooning costs of

show with over 50 episodes only takes a few days to

producing shows of every tier to remain competitive.

shoot, with most taking less than a week, allowing them

Only time will tell whether there will be adverse

to bank a catalog of content for months in advance.

effects on the industry as a whole, but for now, executives are more open to introducing tools that

The format originated and was popularized in China

can save them money and help generate profit.

(currently 80% of revenue still comes from China), then slowly made its way across Asia, with rapid

The Microdrama Boom

growth in Western territories. According to Neil Hyuk-jae Choi, CEO of Korean content company SpoonLabs, in a Forbes article, “Globally right

While AI has been present in some form or another in

now there are almost 300 companies that are doing

the industry for years prior, a relatively new type of

short form dramas and all of these companies

content is taking the industry by storm. If you aren’t

think

that

this

business

has

great

potential.”

familiar with them, you may have seen them as ads on various platforms without realizing. They are ultra-short, serialized dramas that deliver compelling narratives in just a few minutes per episode, often 1 to 5 minutes, shot vertically for mobile viewing. The rise of TikTok, Reels, and short-form vertical content contributed to their fast growth, allowing them to capture the market interest. While regular TV shows bank on actual actors or name recognition, microdramas often cast everyday people as a way for audiences to relate more to the content they are viewing. They are fast to produce, where one

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

will only get bigger. According to new research presented at MIPCOM by Maria Rua Aguete, Head of Media and Entertainment at Omdia, vertical dramas are projected to generate billions of dollars in global revenues in the next 5 years.

A Touch of Skepticism While these 2 trends may be the biggest things to come out of 2025 and are looking to continue to 2026 and onwards, other experts believe that these aren’t

What Makes Them So Compelling?

meant to be long-term shifts in the industry but a

While traditional television shows ask you to invest

short episodes can result in rushed plots, overused

anywhere from 20 minutes to more than an hour per

tropes, or ‘clickbait-y’ content aimed more at hooking

episode, microdramas only need you to be hooked and

viewers than offering nuanced storytelling. And the

pay attention for at least 1 to 5 minutes. With the rise

same goes for generative AI, where the technology is

of user-generated content on TikTok, YouTube Shorts,

not quite there yet in terms for full-scale production,

Facebook/Instagram Reels, the general populace’s

and with artists and creatives constantly pushing

attention spans have shortened. Rahul Mittra, an

back against the use, it will be an uphill battle for the

Indian film and web-series producer, observes a shift

technology. Concerns about the environment and the

in audience behavior, “You have to hook them in the

impact of heavy use of AI still linger as the industry

first minute — betrayal, revenge, romance, all packed

constantly looks towards a more sustainable approach.

mere stopgap of sorts. Critics point out that ultra-

in. The attention span of the youth has shrunk.” Only time will tell if microdramas will eventually break Also being shot specifically vertical-first for mobile,

into the zeitgeist and become their own lasting format

it optimizes the opportunity to allow people to

that goes head-to-head with traditional formats, and

immerse and experience in an orientation they already spend hours viewing. While they are shorter, they still maintain bingeable properties like constant plot twists, cliffhangers, slow-burn reveals and more that hook viewers from the start. Adding to all this

the same goes for AI. But one thing’s for sure, these are the hot new things everyone is willing to try and invest in while the fire is hot, and as long as they can reduce costs, and make more than they are worth, they’ll be around for at least a little while longer.

is that companies are more willing to invest, given the low production cost to produce, as well as quick turnaround time, making sure there is a steady stream of content for the growing audience to view. Given its low-budget costs and growing audience, experts are predicting that the medium is a new shift in the television and content landscape that

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

FEATURE STORY 1

Taiwanese Cinema Stands Out at Busan with TAICCA Driving Global Connections

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opened

continues to host the Taiwan Pavilion at the Asian

last September 17 with a strong lineup of Taiwanese

Contents & Film Market (ACFM), which kicks off this

titles selected, including Left-Handed Girl, Taiwan’s

Saturday, to support Taiwanese industry professionals

official submission for the Academy Awards Best

in building deeper collaborations with international

International Feature. Additionally, five Taiwanese

markets

and

expanding

global

opportunities.

and co-produced projects will be presented at the Asian Project Market (APM), aiming to attract global

At BIFF this year, Taiwan stands out with a remarkable

investors and explore co-production opportunities.

lineup. Left-Handed Girl, Taiwan’s official entry for

This year, the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA)

the Best International Feature Film, and Girl, which

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

premiered at Venice, have both been selected for

only a hub for original content, but also a strong

BIFF’s inaugural Competition section, while No Island

partner in the global film and television industry.”

in the Sea is competing in the Wide Angle – Asian Short Film Competition. Acclaimed director Tsai Ming-liang’s

At Asian Project Market, five Taiwanese and co-

classic Goodbye, Dragon Inn is featured in the Special

production projects have been selected, including

Program in Focus, while his latest feature, Back Home,

Goddamned Asura director LOU Yi-an’s new project

is selected for Icons section. In addition, two Taiwan co-

Snake in the Dreamscapes, Golden Horse Award-winning

productions supported by TAICCA’s Taiwan International

director Laha MEBOW’s The Skull Oracle, AN Bon’s No

Co-funding Program (TICP) are also recognized: Dear

Country for Old Men, as well as two co-productions, The

Stranger is selected for A Window on Asian Cinema,

Daughter and Wake Me up When the Mourning Ends.

while Girlfriends is selected for Vision section.

These projects span diverse genres and tackle themes ranging from history to society and gender, showcasing

“Taiwan’s strong presence at Busan this year shows

the maturity of contemporary Taiwanese filmmaking.

the diversity of our creativity and the strength of

TAICCA has also established the “TAICCA Award” at

our

TAICCA

both APM and the AFiS Project Pitching. The recipient of

Chairperson Sue WANG. “We hope to build long-

the TAICCA Award from APM will present at 2025 TCCF

term global partnerships and make Taiwan not

PITCHING and qualify to apply for TAICCA’s Creative

international

collaborations,”

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

said

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

FEATURE STORY 1

Content Development Program (CCDP). At AFiS, the

documentaries—Da

Song,

Life

Beside

Itself,

project recognized by TAICCA will be chosen based

Monologue in the Ruins, and Gravity, movement—

on story and co-production opportunities with Taiwan,

to connect with global audiences and buyers. At the

with prize support to encourage further collaboration.

Busan Story Market (BSM), six Taiwanese IPs, including manga Monsters Only Cafe, books My Unusual Family,

This year’s Taiwan Pavilion presents over 200 titles and

Lifesaver Deployed, and A Year of the Veterinary

brings together 62 Taiwanese companies to connect

Interns, as well as web novels Bodacious!: Archdemons

with international buyers. In the newly launched WIP

and

Doc Square at ACFM, TAICCA is partnering with the

matchmaking, showcasing the adaptation potential of

Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI) to host

Taiwan’s original IPs. For the Producer Hub program,

a documentary showcase, supporting four Taiwan

TAICCA has recommended five Taiwanese producers

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

The

Paradise,

were

selected

for

business

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

and directors to participate, fostering international

serve as presenters at the “BIFF with Marie Claire Asia

connections

Star Awards”, with FU Meng-po also attending the

and

co-production

opportunities.

world premiere of his series The Resurrected afterwards. TAICCA also collaborates with Taipei Film Festival on the “Top Talent” initiative and supports the international

In addition, TAICCA is set to sign a Memorandum

exposure of Taiwanese actors. Last month, Tseng Jing-

of Understanding with Korea’s leading production

hua, Sandrine Pinna, and CHUNG Hsin-ling appeared

company, Studio Dragon, to establish a formal

as presenters at the “Global OTT Awards”. Tonight

partnership. Recognizing Taiwan’s strong potential

(September 18), Sandrine Pinna and FU Meng-po will

original

Chinese-language

romantic

comedies,

the two sides will jointly develop at least two films or series within the next two years, focusing on adapting Taiwanese IPs or producing new youth romance stories. By combining the strengths of both Taiwan and Korea through co-productions and talent exchanges, the collaboration aims to expand into international markets.

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

FEATURE STORY 2

TBS, U-NEXT, and THE SEVEN Join Forces for a Groundbreaking Global Project

Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Japan’s leading

thrilling glimpse into this ambitious new world.

streaming platform U-NEXT, and global hit-maker

A powerhouse collaboration is making headlines:

THE SEVEN are teaming up for the very first

THE SEVEN, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television

time—and they’re coming in with a bang. The

(TBS), and streaming giant U-NEXT are teaming up for

powerhouse trio just announced a mega-scale

the very first time to launch a bold new initiative—

drama project that promises to deliver “Japanese

the “TBS × U-NEXT × THE SEVEN Global Project.”

Sword Action Entertainment” on a scale unlike

At the heart of this project is something truly

anything seen before in Japanese television.

unprecedented: a large-scale “Japanese Sword Action Entertainment” drama, set to shake up the landscape

To set the stage, a teaser video and teaser

of Japanese television. Tapping into the timeless

key visual have dropped ahead of the official

allure of jidaigeki (period dramas) and samurai

title

and

culture—genres already beloved worldwide—the

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

cast

reveal—offering

the

first

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

three companies are combining their strengths. THE

September 25, its Alice in Borderland Season 3

SEVEN, the hit-making studio behind global smashes

premiered on Netflix and immediately sparked a

with its cutting-edge visuals and VFX; TBS, the

global frenzy. Just a day later, the company’s very

broadcaster behind countless drama-driven social

first self-produced and distributed film, Baka’s

phenomena in Japan; and U-NEXT, Japan’s fastest-

Identity, made history at the 30th Busan International

growing streaming platform, known for innovation

Film Festival, where three of its actors took home

in both content and technology. Together, they

the Best Actor Award simultaneously. Riding this

aim to deliver entertainment like never before.

wave of international momentum—and at a time when jidaigeki content is once again captivating

Masamine Ryuuho, President and Representative

audiences worldwide—THE SEVEN is ready to

Director, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television,

unveil its next major creation for the global stage.

Inc. commented, “This is a historic moment for Japanese entertainment. To challenge the world with

The production team reads like a dream roster of

partners like THE SEVEN, which keeps creating global

Japan’s top talent. Chief Producer Akira Morii of THE

hits, and U-NEXT, which drives Japan’s streaming

SEVEN, who steered Alice in Borderland and Yu Yu

content industry, is truly exciting. I believe this project

Hakusho to worldwide success, leads the charge.

will thrill audiences everywhere and become a new

Producers Mamoru Inoue and Kazuya Shimomura,

landmark in Japanese drama. Don’t miss this moment.”

both with impressive credits, are also on board. Acclaimed director Kazutaka Watanabe—trusted

And there’s no better studio to lead the charge

by actors for his meticulous pursuit of realism and

than THE SEVEN, which is on fire right now. On

dramatic tension in works like NHK’s Naotora: The

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

FEATURE STORY 2

Lady Warlord, Mare, and Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan—

of Yuya Maeda, celebrated for creating immersive

will direct. The script comes from versatile writer

worlds across everything from period dramas to sci-fi.

Masaaki Sakai (Cold Case 2 & 3 and Small, Slow but Steady). Action director Kensuke Sonomura, known

“We are thrilled to announce this large-scale drama

for his innovative fight choreography, is set to elevate

project. By maximizing our partnership with TBS

the sword battles to a new level. VFX will be handled

and joining THE SEVEN’s world-class production,

by Tomofumi Akahane, who won the Asian Academy

this project links broadcasting and streaming in a

Creative Award for Best Visual Effects for Netflix’s Yu

brand-new way. We hope it will first delight Japanese

Yu Hakusho. And character design comes courtesy

viewers, and then captivate audiences around

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

www.tva.onscreenasia.com

President

Katsuaki Setoguchi, President and CEO, THE

and Representative Director, U-NEXT Co., Ltd.

SEVEN, Inc. had this to say about the ground

the world.,” said

Tenshin

Tsutsumi,

breaking partnership, “At THE SEVEN, our mission place—and

is to create innovative content that entertains the

major

world. With Alice in Borderland and Yu Yu Hakusho,

growing

louder.

we’ve proven we can compete globally. Now,

While the full scope of the project will be revealed in

with TBS and U-NEXT as our strongest partners,

stages, fans are already getting their first taste: a teaser

we’re pouring everything into this new adventure.

video and teaser key visual have just been released. It’s

Our goal is simple: to thrill global audiences with

only a glimpse, but enough to feel the scale, intensity,

Japanese Sword Action Entertainment that fuses

and passion fueling this groundbreaking project.

tradition

With a

such

all-star

team

soon-to-be-announced

talents—the

buzz

only

cast

with

cutting-edge

visual

technology.”

With TBS, U-NEXT, and THE SEVEN joining forces for the very first time, their collaborative project promises to deliver a groundbreaking “Japanese Sword Action Entertainment” that could mark a turning point in the history of Japanese dramas.

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus

November - December 2025 Television Asia Plus

facebook-f TVAPlusMag | twitter TVAsiaPLus | linkedin-in television-asia-plus