Paramount+ is expanding its reach in East Asia with the launch of its streaming service in Japan. The popular streaming platform will be available as a no extra-charge addition to cable and internet provider J:COM’s platform and pay-TV service Wowow. The launch is scheduled for December 1st, and it will mark the first time Paramount+ originals, including “Tulsa King,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” will be available in Japan.
This move comes after Paramount’s successful launch in South Korea last year, where it partnered with dominant Korean entertainment group CJ ENM. In South Korea, Paramount+ operates as a free tier on local streaming platform TVing. Additionally, Paramount+ has partnerships with SKY in Italy, the U.K., and Germany, as well as Canal+ in France.
Marco Nobili, executive VP and international GM of Paramount+ International, sees this expansion as an important milestone for the streaming business. He expressed excitement about the collaboration with J:COM and Wowow, stating that it will offer their audiences incredible content from iconic studios and beloved brands.
The partnership with J:COM and Wowow is equally beneficial for the cable and internet providers. Iwaki Yoichi, president and representative director of J:COM, acknowledged Paramount’s track record of delivering quality content to their customers. He emphasized the popularity of Paramount’s drama series like “NCIS” and “CSI” among J:COM customers and expressed excitement about bringing Paramount’s diverse content to the people of Japan through the new partnership.
Wowow, a pay-TV service, has been delivering Hollywood films and drama series from Paramount Global for the past 20 years. Tanaka Akira, representative director, president, and CEO of Wowow, sees the partnership as an opportunity to offer a large volume of wonderful content from Paramount+, including films and international dramas, through Wowow on demand.
With the launch of Paramount+ in Japan, audiences can look forward to a wide range of content from Paramount’s iconic studios and brands. The streaming service’s expansion into East Asia demonstrates its commitment to providing global audiences with high-quality entertainment.