Paramount+ is set to make its debut in the Japanese market on December 1, thanks to a new partnership with local operators J:COM and Wowow. This collaboration will offer Paramount+ as an additional on-demand service at no extra cost to subscribers of J:COM, one of Japan’s top cable television operators and broadband internet providers, and Wowow, a longstanding premium pay channel leader in Japan.
This marks Paramount+’s second foray into the East Asian market, following its arrangement with South Korea’s TVing, controlled by entertainment giant CJ ENM, last year. Paramount+ also successfully launched in Australia through a partnership in August 2021. In Europe, the service is accessible through collaborations with SKY in Italy, the U.K., and Germany, as well as Canal+ in France.
With the launch in Japan, J:COM and Wowow subscribers will gain access to a wide range of Paramount+ originals, including shows like “Tulsa King,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” The Paramount+ Japan offering will also include a vast selection of content from Paramount’s extensive library of films and TV series, featuring titles such as “Mission: Impossible,” “Bumblebee,” “G.I. Joe,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “NCIS,” animated favorites like “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “South Park,” and beloved Showtime titles such as “Dexter” and “Ray Donovan.” Additionally, MTV’s young-adult series and music shows, including the MTV Video Music Awards Japan, will be available.
Marco Nobili, Executive VP and International GM of Paramount+ International, expressed the significance of this milestone, saying, “With the launch of Paramount+ in Japan, we are now delivering hours of popular films and series to fans in all key streaming markets worldwide. It is an important milestone for us and a critical step for the future of our streaming business.”
This partnership builds upon existing relationships between Paramount Global and both J:COM and Wowow, with J:COM having licensed MTV and various movies and dramas from the U.S. studio for several years. Wowow, a prominent Japanese movie channel for over two decades, has also been a consistent purchaser of the studio’s titles.
Yoichi Iwaki, President and Representative Director of J:COM, expressed their excitement about bringing Paramount’s diverse content to the Japanese audience, highlighting the popularity of Paramount’s drama series among their customers. Akira Tanaka, President and CEO of Wowow, looks forward to providing a wealth of content from Paramount+, including films and international dramas, through Wowow on demand, and envisions future collaborations with both companies for various new initiatives utilizing content.