The first phase of the collaboration will see a total of 662 episodes from globally popular IPs such as CoComelon and Blippi launch on a local SVOD service in Japan for the first time
SINGAPORE, 15 MARCH 2024 - Moonbug Entertainment, a part of Candle Media, today announced an agreement with U-NEXT, a pioneer in SVOD services in Japan, that will bring a variety of Moonbug’s popular IP to U-NEXT’s streaming platform. On 15th March, 325 episodes from global hit shows such as CoComelon, Blippi, Little Angel, Morphle and Little Baby Bum will premiere on the local Japanese SVOD service, with additional content scheduled to be released on a weekly basis afterward.
Moonbug is an award-winning global entertainment company inspiring kids everywhere to laugh, learn and grow. The company is behind some of the biggest kids’ entertainment brands in the world including CoComelon, the most watched preschool entertainment franchise in the world with more than 4 billion monthly views across platforms, including Netflix and YouTube.
Each of Moonbug’s shows support the growth and development of essential life skills for kids. Available both in English and Japanese, Moonbug’s content has been carefully created to put families at the forefront, supporting parents and carers throughout their daily routines, whilst providing fun and educational entertainment for little ones.
This first phase of the collaboration will focus on the expansion of the content via the SVOD distribution platform. This will be followed by a second phase which looks to explore brand new collaborative business opportunities beyond content streaming.
“Our partnership with U-NEXT solidifies our commitment to the Japanese market. As we continue our expansion across the APAC region, we are looking forward to engaging with new and existing fans via our beloved characters and storylines,” said Yasmin Zahid, Head of Distribution and Brand Partnerships, APAC at Moonbug Entertainment.
The partnership also highlights the growing demand for high-quality, family-friendly content and the immense potential for enriching experiences through digital platforms.
Tenshin Tsutsumi, President & Representative Director at U-NEXT Co., Ltd., commented, “We are delighted to become the first local platform to bring Moonbug's globally popular franchises to Japanese audiences. In our efforts to continuously secure high-quality kids content from around the world, Moonbug's IP, which encourages learning and supports children in their development, will play a vital role in our efforts to create not only a safe, reliable, and fun environment for children to enjoy, but aid us in becoming a premiere destination to help guide our youngest viewers in their growth process as part of our "U-NEXT LEARN" lineup. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Moonbug in the future."
For more information on Moonbug, visit www.moonbug.com.
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About Moonbug Entertainment
Moonbug is an award-winning global entertainment company inspiring kids everywhere to laugh, learn and grow. The company is behind some of the biggest kids’ entertainment brands in the world including CoComelon and Blippi. Moonbug believes every child should have access to entertaining and enriching content, making its shows available on more than 150 video platforms globally including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and YouTube Kids. The company is also a global leader in pre-school music and audio experiences, available on 100+ audio platforms globally. Moonbug brands extend far beyond the screen to include streaming music, consumer products and live events. Moonbug is part of Candle Media, an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises. By bringing together elite talent operating at the intersection of content, community, and commerce, it helps to position leading entertainment businesses for accelerated, sustainable growth in the current market and beyond. Candle is run by its Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs, leading entertainment executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, and backed by investment capital from funds managed by Blackstone’s flagship private equity business.
About U-NEXT
U-NEXT is Japan’s leading video streaming platform, currently providing the largest volume of SVOD content in Japan (Source: February 2024, GEM Partners). In addition to the over 360,000 movies, live-action, and animated series available for on-demand streaming, U-NEXT also provides a variety of real-time live streaming of music concerts, stage productions, and top-level sports events ranging from soccer, baseball, golf, to martial arts. With a selection of over 1,010,000 manga, e-books and e-magazines. U-NEXT provides a unique entertainment experience amongst Japan’s digital platforms, giving subscribers the opportunity to seamlessly enjoy electronic publications, video content, sports, concerts, and more within a single application. Through the service integration of Paravi in July 2023, a vast selection of the latest, best, and most-watched local variety and scripted dramas from Japan’s leading terrestrial channels TBS and TV Tokyo as well as an extensive library of terrestrial TV programming was added to U-NEXT’s lineup, further solidifying the service’s position in the market for strong local content.
