North America-focused deal follows launch of Old Enough! on Canada’s TVO
Nippon TV has linked up with Canada’s Blue Ant Studios to expand the Japanese company’s unscripted formats business in North America.
The partnership closely follows the launch of Nippon TV’s Gyokuro Studios, which was unveiled earlier this week and aims to develop 10 unscripted formats each year.
The two companies will collaborate to further develop and prep original formats from Gyokuro Studio for buyers in the US and Canada.
Tom Miyauchi, who was recently appointed head of the newly established Nippon TV LA hub (launching in July), will oversee the partnership alongside Blue Ant Studio’s co-president Matt Hornburg and Diane Rankin, exec vice-president of content development and commercial strategy.
The two companies have previously worked together on the Canadian adaptation of Nippon TV’s format Old Enough!, which is entering a second season on TVO and its YouTube channel.
The Japanese company’s unscripted formats also include Dragons’ Den/Shark Tank, Silent Library and Eye Candy, while Blue Ant is behind IP such as Race Against the Tide, All-Round Champion and The Jury.
Miyauchi said the partnership followed the success of Old Enough! in Canada and added that the company sees “tremendous opportunity” to expand in the region.
“By joining forces, we aim to blend [Blue Ant’s] creativity and market-winning insight with Nippon TV’s original format ideas,” he continued, adding that the partnership “marks a meaningful step in our efforts to deliver distinctive Japanese creativity with both local and global sensibilities to audiences around the world.”
Hornburg said: “Blue Ant Studios and Nippon TV share a like-minded vision for broad, four-quadrant entertainment formats with global resonance.
“As our streaming and network partners continue to ask for ambitious, high-impact content, this collaboration supports our strategic focus on scalable IP with international potential. Piloting innovative ideas in select global markets before introducing them to North America is a model we see gaining traction and one we’re excited to build upon.”
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