Korea’s CJ To Launch CJ ENM Studios With Focus On K-OTT Content

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefCinemas in South Korea received the good news last week that anti-COVID measures, including reduced seating capacity and bans on consumption of food and drink, were to end. But audiences reacted gingerly.“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” led the box office for a second weekend with $1.63 million, a drop of 44% from its opening weekend, and a 12-day cumulative of $6.55 million.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefFurther underlining Asia as a bright spot for Netflix, following the company’s otherwise disappointing global results this week, the streamer has strengthened its position as the SVOD leader in Taiwan, according to a new report.Consultancy, Media Partners Asia’s latest analysis of the Taiwan video market ‘Taiwan Online Video Consumer Insights & Analytics’ shows that total paying SVOD subscribers in Taiwan reached 4.1 million at the end of 2021. Netflix was the clear leader with 850,000 subscribers or a roughly 21% market share.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed Korean filmmaker Kim Yong-hwa, one of the most important figures in the Korean screen industry.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” dominated the South Korean box office on its opening weekend.The “Harry Potter” spinoff franchise film earned $2.94 million between Friday and Sunday, accounting for 72% of theatrical business in Korea, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Over the five days since its Wednesday opening, the film grossed $4.09 million.The film’s debut was strong enough to lift the nationwide weekend aggregate to $4.07 million. That was the first time in eight weeks that the total had exceeded $4 million.There were thin pickings for other titles.

SEOUL, South Korea -- State media anchor Ri Chun Hi is one of North Korea’s most famous voices after announcing the country's major events of past decades — among them nuclear and missile tests and the death of a leader — in a resounding, booming voice filled with emotion.The anchor dubbed abroad as the “pink lady” for her bright, traditional attire was the topic of official North Korean media herself Thursday after leader Kim Jong Un gave Ri a luxurious residence and asked her to continue to vigorously serve as the voice of his ruling Workers’ Party.Experts say Kim is trying to boost his support from elite North Koreas while the country deals with pandemic hardships and a diplomacy stalemate.“(Kim) said it is the sincerity of the party that there is nothing to spare for the treasures of the country like her who has worked as a revolutionary announcer for the party for more than 50 years since her girlhood,” the official Korean Central News Agency said. Kim expressed “expectation that she would as ever vigorously continue her work in good health as befitting a spokeswoman for the party.”Kim met Ri at a newly built riverside terraced residential district that was inaugurated Wednesday in Pyongyang.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe success of Korean shows “Vincenzo” and “Squid Game” and Japanese anime such as “Attack on Titan” are justifying Netflix’s heavy spending on Asian film and TV content.The streaming giant is forecast to grow its revenues in the Asia-Pacific region by 24% in the current year as subscriber numbers swell by 20%, according to new research, from Singapore based consultancy Media Partners Asia.That optimism stands in contrast to investment sentiment in January when Netflix announced its December quarter and 2021 full year data and a spooked the financial community with a cautious (global) first quarter outlook. Media Partners Asia’ latest note on the company indicates that Netflix could grow APAC revenues by 24% in the current year to December, to $4.1 billion.

According to South Korean law, every eligible male  aged 18 to 28 must serve a minimum of 18 months in the military, and have until age 28 to do so.

According to South Korean law, every eligible South Korean male must serve a minimum of 18 months in the military, and have until age 28 to do so.

EXO member Lay Zhang has parted ways with his long-time label SM Entertainment.Today (April 8), which is also notably the 10th anniversary of EXO debut, the Chinese K-pop idol took to his personal social media accounts with handwritten letters, in both English and Korean, to announce his departure from long-time label SM Entertainment.Lay captioned his posts with, “This decade is one of the greatest gifts I could’ve ever received,” and expressed his gratitude towards his fellow EXO bandmates, SM Entertainment staff and fans for their support throughout his 10 years at the companyThis decade is one of the greatest gifts I could’ve ever received. pic.twitter.com/7Cmpyygprg— Lay Zhang (@layzhang) April 8, 2022Despite his departure from the company, which he wrote now marks a “new beginning” for himself, he reassured that his support for EXO will never waver.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefKC Global Media has assembled a selection of Korean, Japanese and U.S. content for the second quarter across its portfolio of linear channels AXN Asia, Animax, GEM and ONE. Animax gets a second season of reality competition show, “American Ninja Warrior Junior,” season 4 of Dick Wolf’s “FBI,” season 3 of “FBI: Most Wanted” and “FBI International.” Continuing the crime theme, it will also play season 13 of “NCIS: Los Angeles” from May.

Rebecca Souw Korean media conglomerate, CJ ENM Tuesday announced the launch of a new production arm. It is expected to focus on producing content for exclusively streaming platforms in Korea and overseas.The unit, named CJ ENM Studios, will be the group’s third TV production hub after drama production powerhouse Studio Dragon (“Crash Landing on You,” “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” and “Sweet Home”) and U.S.-based premium global content firm, Endeavor Content, acquired earlier this year.CJ ENM also controls the Tving streaming platform that sees itself as a challenger to Netflix within Korea and which also has ambitions to ride the Korean wave and build a significant overseas presence.

IZ*ONE leader Kwon Eun-bi has made her comeback with a brand-new solo single ‘Glitch’, from her sophomore mini-album ‘Color’.In the gorgeous new visual, the idol dons a series of extravagant gowns as she runs through a deserted city, her surroundings glitching in and out of existence. Later, accompanied by backup dancers, she dances to the song’s sharp choreography, which incorporates elements of vogueing.“I come and go, like a glitch / Stealin’ and getting people crazy, I’m that snitch / And move it like a glitch,” she sings in the chorus.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefBanijay has picked up multi-territory format rights to two Korean reality shows which it will begin pitching this week at the MipTV market in Cannes.From Korean broadcaster and producer MBC, Banijay has picked up format rights to competition show “Bloody Game” in France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands. From CJ ENM, it has acquired rights in the Nordics, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Australia to relationship format, “EXchange.”“Bloody Game” launched in Korea in November last year, helping draw subscribers to Wavve, a joint venture streaming platform, in which MBC is a partner. The show is nominated for a C21 Format Award, with the winner revealed during MipTV.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefSix new films were released in South Korea in the past week, including Sony’s Marvel franchise title “Morbius,” but none were able to relieve the current malaise afflicting the Korean theatrical industry. “Morbius” was released on Wednesday and ran off with more than half of the nationwide business, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).