VICE, Hulu Japan announce programming deal
Details
Joseph O'Halloran
| 24 January 2019

In a partnership that will deliver 250 hours of original content to Japanese screens, global youth media company VICE have announced a content licensing and co-production deal with online streaming service Hulu Japan.

In 2019, Hulu Japan will bring 250 hours of VICE programming to its Japanese platform — with content from the multiplatform company’s TV channel VICELAND and digital channels including VICE News, Munchies (Food) and Noisey (Music).

The agreement covers shows Gaycation, the Emmy-nominated LGBTQ travel series hosted by Ellen Page and her best friend Ian Daniel; Black Market, the Michael K. Williams crime series; rapper-chef Action Bronson’s F*ck, That’s Delicious food series; the high-end Most Expensivist with 2 Chainz; and VICE Essentials, a selection of VICE’s best digital features.

The youth-focussed content will join over 50,000 titles on an SVOD player with almost one point eight million Japanese subscribers, sitting alongside a catalogue of movies, dramas, variety shows, animations, sports and music programmes. VICE, through its award-winning VICE Studios, will also enter into drama and anime co-productions with Hulu Japan, with further details to be announced. Hulu Japan will promote VICE content together with its parent company Nippon TV.

Other shows coming to Hulu Japan under the deal include, The Pizza Show, Abandoned, The Hunt For the Trump Tapes, Cyberwar, Hate Thy Neighbor, Huang’s World, among others.

Commenting on the deal, Hosi Simon, VICE CEO Asia Pacific said, “Offering more VICE content to an expanding Japanese audience is a key part of our continued growth across Asia, and an ongoing commitment to bring original, culturally relevant content to as many young viewers as we can, wherever they are, and whatever the screen.”

Kazufumi Nagasawa, chief content officer, Hulu Japan add, “We are thrilled to be able to introduce VICE's highly distinctive programme line-up to our users who, we believe, are the most discriminating group of viewers in Japan. We are really looking forward to announcing upcoming projects through deeper collaboration with VICE shortly.”