Chinese Speaking
Alibaba’s payment affiliate Ant Financial is investing $200m in South Korean messaging service Kakao, as part of the Chinese tech giant’s move to build out online payment systems around the world.
Middle East
UK-based streaming platform FilmDoo has acquired TVOD rights to 19 Asian films from distributors including Asian Shadows and Stardust Pictures.
Festivals
Wong Chun’s Mad World, Dain Said’s Interchange and Vijay Jayapal’s Revelations are among the 16 competition films at this year’s Osaka Asian Film Festival.
Korea & Japan
Netflix has unveiled its first Korean original series, Love Alarm, based on the webtoon by Kye Young Chon, one of Korea’s most popular comic authors.
Korea & Japan
Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to South Korean nuclear disaster movie Pandora, directed by Park Jung-Woo and financed by Next Entertainment World (N.E.W.).
Korea & Japan
Tammy H. Nam, CEO of global streaming service Viki.com, explains how the site’s avid community of subtitling fans is helping content to travel and break emerging talent.
Korea & Japan
Amazon is producing a Japanese version of popular romantic reality series The Bachelor, which will stream exclusively on its Japanese platform from spring 2017.
Korea & Japan
Crunchyroll and Funimation, both major distributors of Japanese anime, have signed a partnership to share titles across streaming, home video and electronic sell-through.
Korea & Japan
Hulu Japan is producing original Japanese series, Daisho (Compensation), starring Shun Oguri and Tsutomu Takahashi.
Korea & Japan
Amazon has announced its first Korean original series, a live-action drama based on popular Japanese property The Idolmaster, developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Korea & Japan
FilmDoo co-founder Weerada P. Sucharitkul explains how South Korea has been a world leader in demonstrating how theatrical and VOD distribution can exist side-by-side.
Chinese Speaking
Fan-subbed streaming site Viki.com has signed a multi-territory content deal with China’s Huace Group.