SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - South Korean streaming platform, TVING, said Tuesday it has formed a partnership with Disney+ to enter the Japanese market.
TVING said it will launch the “TVING Collection on Disney+” in Japan, offering a curated lineup of original Korean series, including Transit Love, Pyramid Game, and Yumi’s Cells, along with other popular titles from CJ ENM, its parent company.
Japan is one of the world’s largest and most competitive streaming markets. According to market research firm Precedence Research, Japan’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming market was valued at about $8 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow by 22.5 percent annually through 2034. Japanese audiences are also among the most active consumers of Korean dramas and reality shows in Asia.
Disney+ held a 9 percent share of Japan’s streaming market last year, up 34 percent from 2022, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency. It trails Netflix (21.5 percent), local platform U-Next (17.9 percent), Amazon Prime Video (13.1 percent), and sports streaming service DAZN (9.4 percent).
Instead of launching its own platform in Japan, TVING adopted a “shop-in-shop” model, integrating its content within Disney+ to increase exposure and reduce financial risk — a strategy similar to its earlier collaboration with Apple TV. Industry analysts say the approach allows TVING to expand its global footprint without the heavy costs of operating an independent service abroad.
For Disney+, the partnership reflects a growing emphasis on localization and regional storytelling. Celebrating its fifth anniversary in Japan this year, the company has sought to attract younger and more diverse audiences by pairing its blockbuster franchises with popular Asian originals.
“Partnering with Disney, a company with a long and storied legacy, offers an opportunity to showcase TVING’s content effectively to Japanese viewers,” said Choi Joo-hee, TVING’s chief executive. “We aim to bring compelling Korean stories to audiences around the world, beyond our domestic success.”
Tamotsu Hiiro, CEO of the Walt Disney Company Japan, said the collaboration “marks an important milestone” as Disney+ broadens its content mix.
“By combining Korean storytelling with Disney’s global blockbusters and local hits, we hope to deliver a richer viewing experience for Japanese audiences,” he said.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
