Japanese broadcasters team up for formats blitz

A raft of Japanese broadcasters have teamed up with the hope of boosting the country’s format exports and are launching an event at MIPCOM.

Broadcasters including Fuji TV, TV Asahi, Nippon TV, TBS, Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), TV Tokyo and public network NHK have joined together with the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to launch Treasure Box Japan in Cannes.

The companies hope to replicate the success of Japanese formats including Dragon’s Den, which was remade by the BBC and US network ABC, Hole In The Wall, which was remade by Fox and the BBC and Iron Chef, which was sold to The Food Network in the States as well as UK’s Channel 4 and Australia’s Seven Network.

“Treasure Box Japan will be the first joint effort of the Japanese government and the broadcasters of Japan to promote their entertainment content and formats in the international market,” the companies noted in a statement.

The event will take place on Sunday October 7 in Cannes at the Intercontinental Carlton Hotel and will feature a performance of techno comedy troupe Siro-A.