Naver Webtoon is joining hands with Japanese terrestrial broadcaster TBS to expand its IP value chain in earnest.
Naver Webtoon announced on the 12th that it would establish a joint venture (JV) for a webtoon studio called ‘Studio Toon’ in Korea with TBS and Japanese webtoon production company Shine Partners.
Studio Toon, established by the three companies, is a webtoon specialized production studio that plans to begin producing and videotaping original webtoons through Naver Webtoon’s global services and network, Shine Partners’ webtoon production know-how, and TBS’ video production capabilities. The joint venture is scheduled to be established in Korea in May and will secure key personnel to create competitive works.
TBS is a comprehensive media group representing Japan centered on TBS TV, one of Japan’s five major terrestrial broadcasting stations, and produces and broadcasts a wide range of video content, including reports, dramas, entertainment, sports, and animation. This is the first time that TBS is establishing a joint venture in Korea.
Original webtoons produced by the joint venture will be serialized on Naver Webtoon’s global service, and TBS will film them and present them to the Japanese content market. Naver Webtoon’s goal is to establish a content business partnership with TBS and strengthen its IP business in Japan.
Naver Webtoon entered the Japanese market in 2013 through the Japanese language service Line Manga and is currently strengthening its position in the Japanese digital comics market by securing approximately 700,000 works. It recently acquired e-book service E-book Japan, becoming Japan’s No. 1 e-comic service in terms of transaction volume, encompassing the web and apps. It plans to strengthen its original Japanese webtoon lineup in earnest this year and increase its competitiveness by working on the IP business.
Kim Jun-gu, CEO of Naver Webtoon, said, “Webtoon is recognized around the world as a source IP that leads the content business,” and added, “Through the establishment of this JV, we will showcase fun and diverse content by collaborating with Japan’s TBS, which has excellent production capabilities.” .
TBS President Takashi Sasaki said, “TBS is challenging the new field of webtoons,” adding, “I am happy to join Naver Webtoon, the world’s No. 1 webtoon operator, in this challenge. “Please look forward to TBS’ video works based on webtoons.”
Source: Pangyo Techno Valley Official Newsroom
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