Paramount+ is expanding its reach in Asia with a new launch in Japan. The popular streaming service has announced a deal with local operators J:COM and Wowow, which will make Paramount+ available as a free addition to their on-demand services starting from December 1. J:COM is one of Japan’s leading cable television operators and internet providers, while Wowow has been a prominent premium pay channel in the market for many years.
This marks the second launch for Paramount+ in East Asia, following a similar partnership set up last year in South Korea with TVing, a streaming service owned by Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM. Moreover, Paramount+ recently entered the Australian market in August through a similar collaboration.
As part of the deal, subscribers of J:COM and Wowow will gain access to a wide range of Paramount+ originals, including popular titles like “Tulsa King,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” The streaming service will also offer a vast library of films and TV series, such as “Mission: Impossible,” “Bumblebee,” “G.I. Joe,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “NCIS,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “South Park,” “Dexter,” “Ray Donovan,” and MTV’s music shows and young-adult series, including the MTV Video Music Awards Japan.
Marco Nobili, Executive Vice President and International General Manager of Paramount+ International, expressed the significance of the Japanese launch, stating, “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.”
The partnership with J:COM and Wowow builds upon existing relationships between Paramount Global and the two Japanese companies. J:COM has been licensing MTV and various movies and dramas from Paramount for years, while Wowow has consistently acquired titles from the studio and has been Japan’s top movie channel for over two decades.
Both partners expressed their enthusiasm for the deal. Yoichi Iwaki, President and Representative Director of J:COM, remarked, “We are pleased to bring Paramount’s diverse content to the people of Japan through this new partnership.” He highlighted the popularity of Paramount’s drama series, such as “NCIS” and “CSI,” among their customers. Akira Tanaka, President and CEO of Wowow, also expressed excitement about offering a large volume of content from Paramount+ and expressed interest in exploring further collaborations with the company in the future.
The launch of Paramount+ in Japan demonstrates the streaming service’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and providing a wide range of entertainment options to audiences worldwide. With its extensive library of films, TV series, and original productions, Paramount+ is poised to make a significant impact on the Japanese streaming market.
