The 12-episode series, titled Happy Anding, will air on tvN in South Korea, marking another adaptation of a Nippon TV drama for the Korean market.

Nippon TV announced that Happy Anding, the Korean remake of its Japanese drama series Life’s Punchline, will premiere on South Korean broadcaster tvN on November 6. Produced by Studio Dragon, a subsidiary of CJ ENM, the 12-episode series will air on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. through December 12.

The adaptation follows a struggling comedy trio that decides to disband after a decade pursuing stardom, alongside a devoted fan whose life becomes intertwined with the comedians’ stories. The drama explores failure, personal growth and the challenge of finding a new direction when long-held ambitions do not materialize.

Directed by Jung Jee Hyun (Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Search: WWW) and written by Ahn Areum (Once Again), the series also features Yang Hee-seung (Crash Course in Romance) as creator.

The cast includes Kang Hoon (A Time Called You), Cho Hyun-chul (D.P.) and Kim Jeong-jin as the three members of the comedy trio Asura. Lee E-dam (Daily Dose of Sunshine) plays their devoted fan, while Yoon Ga-i (SNL Korea) portrays her younger sister. Moon-hee (Duty After School) and Lee Seo-hwan (Squid Game) are also part of the cast.

The original Japanese series centers on three 28-year-old comedians who decide to disband after ten years together. Facing limited career prospects and financial uncertainty as their peers settle into more conventional lives, they confront a quarter-life crisis. Their paths cross with those of a disillusioned fan and her younger sister, leading all five characters to reconsider their futures.

The Korean adaptation incorporates elements of Korean comedy, including situational humor and dress-up sketches, while retaining the original’s central themes and character relationships. These include the bonds between sisters, close friends, long-term partners and comedians and their fans.

For Nippon TV, the upcoming premiere further extends the company’s scripted formats business in South Korea. The project follows the Korean adaptation of its award-winning drama Mother, which premiered on tvN in 2018 and was selected for the official competition at the inaugural Cannes International Series Festival (Canneseries).

“We are delighted to bring Life’s Punchline to Korean audiences through this adaptation by Studio Dragon and tvN,” said Sally Yamamoto, Scripted Format Sales & Licensing at Nippon TV. She added that the original series resonated with Japanese viewers through its story of overcoming setbacks and finding hope, conveying the message that life’s failures and detours can ultimately lead to a meaningful new beginning.

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The company will showcase 25 Years of You and Punch-Drunk Woman, two romantic thrillers developed for international adaptation.

Nippon TV will bring two new scripted formats to Mipcom 2026: 25 Years of You and Punch-Drunk Woman(Season 1 and Season 2). Both titles combine suspense and romance and join the company’s international offering with a focus on adaptation potential.

25 Years of You is a romantic thriller centered on a secret bond that has endured for 25 years. The story begins when a childhood kidnapping attempt connects the fates of its protagonists, leading a man to devote his life to secretly protecting his former childhood love.

The series aired in primetime on Nippon TV and averaged 2.4 million views per episode on TVer, Japan’s AVOD platform, across Episodes 1–9. It is also currently streaming internationally on Netflix.

Meanwhile, Punch-Drunk Woman follows a disciplined female prison officer whose life begins to unravel when a mysterious new inmate arrives. Accused of murdering his wealthy father, the prisoner is connected to a traumatic episode in the officer’s past, triggering an increasingly dangerous relationship and a wider conspiracy.

The first season, which aired in primetime on Nippon TV, averaged 1.4 million views per episode on TVer. The story evolves into a prison escape in which the officer crosses the boundaries of her profession to uncover the truth behind the inmate’s murder charge.

“25 Years of You and Punch-Drunk Woman offer high-stakes suspense combined with deep emotional and romantic elements,” said Sayako Aoki, Head of International Sales, Content Business and Distribution at Nippon TV. According to the executive, both formats are built around complex character journeys and shifting perspectives, with stories designed for international adaptation.

In addition to the two new scripted formats, Nippon TV announced three new unscripted formats developed by Gyokuro Studio earlier this month, which will also be part of its Mipcom 2026 offering.

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The Japanese company has appointed former Hulu Japan President Kazuo Takaya to lead the new unit and promoted Satoru Hiramatsu to Executive Vice President of Content Business.

Nippon TV has announced a reorganization of its international operations with the launch of a new Global Strategy division, a unit designed to accelerate the company’s worldwide growth through intellectual property (IP) development, technological innovation, strategic partnerships, and expansion into international markets.

The new division will operate alongside the existing Content Business division, which will continue to oversee international content sales, format remakes, and global distribution of the company’s catalog.

As part of the restructuring, Nippon TV has appointed former Hulu Japan President Kazuo Takaya as President of Global Strategy. In addition, Satoru Hiramatsu has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Content Business, where he will continue to oversee the company’s international sales and marketing operations.

The new division will focus on expanding the global reach of Gyokuro Studio, Nippon TV’s unscripted production label, as well as AiDi, the company’s proprietary AI-powered solution for the media industry.

Takaya brings extensive experience in content production, programming, and streaming. Before leading Hulu Japan from 2023 to 2026, he produced several of Nippon TV’s flagship programs and held senior positions within the broadcaster’s programming division.

“Global Business is becoming an increasingly important driver of Nippon TV’s future growth,” said Takaya. “Through Gyokuro Studio, we aim to develop new unscripted formats for partners around the world, while AiDi enables us to combine our production expertise with advanced technology to create new opportunities for the global entertainment industry.”

Meanwhile, Hiramatsu will continue leading the company’s international content sales strategy, driving the global distribution of formats and titles that have strengthened Nippon TV’s position in the international marketplace.

Under his leadership, the Canadian adaptation of Old Enough! has been renewed for second and third seasons, while drama series Mother recently reached its 11th international adaptation with a Greek version. According to K7 Media, Mother remains the most-remade scripted format originating from Asia.

Nippon TV also noted that it currently ranks sixth worldwide in remake distribution and continues expanding its footprint on global streaming platforms through worldwide Netflix deals for entertainment shows including Golden SixTONES and Monday Late Show.

“Our greatest strength lies in our extensive library of high-quality content created by our in-house teams. We will continue building on that success with new drama series, formats, and entertainment shows while further expanding the international reach of our catalog,” said Hiramatsu.

La entrada Nippon TV Launches Global Strategy Division and Restructures Its International Leadership se publicó primero en TTV News.

From the group’s LA office, he will represent Nippon TV and Gyokuro Studio’s unscripted format catalogue to broadcasters, streamers, and production partners across the region.

Nick Ower has joined Nippon TV LA Business Office as Director of Development & Sales, Unscripted, where he will help drive the company’s format strategy across North America and Latin America.

Reporting to Tom Miyauchi, Head of Nippon TV LA Business Office, Nick will work closely alongside Tom as a client-facing lead, representing Nippon TV and Gyokuro Studio’s unscripted format catalogue to broadcasters, streamers, and production partners across the region.

In his new role, Nick will focus on expanding the reach of Nippon TV’s premium unscripted formats and Gyokuro Studio’s original development, sourcing new opportunities with US and international partners, and accelerating sales and co-development across key territories. His experience bridging creative development and commercial execution positions him as a key driver in bringing Japanese formats to the global stage.

His appointment further strengthens Nippon TV LA’s presence as it continues to grow as a hub for “Creating Global Entertainment.”

“We are delighted to welcome Nick to Nippon TV LA as we expand and build on our footprint in the Americas. He brings a proven track record and a wealth of experience in unscripted development, alongside a strong understanding of the North American market and excellent creative instincts, making him a valuable addition to our growing international strategies. Nick will play a key role in strengthening our development pipeline and deepening our partnerships across the region, as we continue to broaden our presence in the global market,” commented Miyauchi.

Added Ower, “Joining Nippon TV LA at such a pivotal stage of its international expansion is an incredible opportunity. I’ve long admired the company’s reputation for bold, inventive storytelling, and there is an undeniable global appetite for the kind of fresh, high-concept entertainment that Nippon TV and Gyokuro Studio excel at. By combining Nippon TV’s distinct creative spirit with a sharp focus on international scalability, I look forward to working with partners across the Americas to create high-impact content designed to resonate with audiences worldwide.”

Prior to this appointment, Nick worked at ITV America and built his career in unscripted development over the past decade, progressing through the organization to become Director of Development. He was part of the ITV Entertainment label, one of ITV America’s flagship production label behind some of the world’s biggest unscripted series including Queer Eye, Love Island, Hell’s Kitchen, and The Chase.

During his time at ITV America, Nick worked across international format adaptations and original development, with a focus on large-scale, globally scalable formats. He contributed to the development and sale of several high-profile series including Love Island Games and Love Island: Beyond the Villa (Peacock), Twin Love(Prime Video), and My Mom, Your Dad (HBO Max), alongside projects such as Four Weddings (OWN) and the feature documentary Longest Third Date (Netflix).

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The Japanese company will present its Gyokuro Studio lineup, led by the social experiment Majority Rules, along with new formats The Balance and Cooking Rush!.

Nippon TV announced it will attend the inaugural Content Europe 2026 with a new slate of unscripted formats developed by Gyokuro Studio, its in-house production arm.

The lineup is led by Majority Rules, a social experiment that originally aired in Japan in February 2026 and has already generated strong international interest. The format is built around binary visual decisions—between red and blue—that trigger immediate shifts in group dynamics and heighten psychological tension as the game unfolds.

The slate also includes The Balance, a family-oriented studio game show, and Cooking Rush!, a high-speed culinary competition that leans into adrenaline and fast-paced cooking challenges.

“Since its launch last June, Gyokuro Studio has been focused on creating innovative formats with global appeal. At Content Europe, we will present a diverse offering ranging from psychological experiments to family-friendly game shows, a signature of Nippon TV,” said Ken Akiyama, Head of Gyokuro Studio.

Yoko Takashima, Associate Managing Director of Content Business & Distribution at Nippon TV, highlighted the momentum behind the lead format: “We are arriving in Lisbon with strong momentum. Since we previewed Majority Rules in London this past February, buyer interest has been significant. Its strength lies in the simplicity of the concept and its ability to generate immediate tension and engagement.”

With this showcase, the company aims to strengthen partnerships in the European market and expand the international reach of its formats.

La entrada Nippon TV To Showcase New Unscripted Slate at Content Europe 2026 se publicó primero en TTV News.

The Cantonese version of the scripted format is scheduled for 2026 broadcast on ViuTV.

Nippon TV, Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, and MakerVille, the content creation, artiste management, and the events arm of Hong Kong’s PCCW Media, jointly announced today that MakerVille will produce a Cantonese remake of Nippon TV’s scripted format Life’s Punchline.

The Cantonese adaptation is scheduled to air on ViuTV in Hong Kong. Building on the success of the original Japanese series, this marks the first of several international remakes in the pipeline, underscoring the universal appeal of its bittersweet narrative to global buyers and audiences alike.

Nippon TV’s original series, Life’s Punchline (10 × 60′), follows three young men in a comedy trio who, after ten years of chasing stardom, decide to disband at 28. With no careers or savings and their peers moving on to marriage and stable jobs, they find themselves facing what would call failure. Their story intertwines with that of their biggest fan, a young woman working at a diner. Once an elite professional, she fell into despair after burnout and now lives with her younger sister. As the sisters draw hope from the trio’s performances, all five discover the courage to start over.

The series features a unique structure where each episode opens with a comedy skit performed by the main characters as a “play-within-a-play,” which eventually blends into the bigger plots of the drama. Following its 2021 broadcast on Nippon TV in Japan, the show achieved significant digital engagement with almost 14 million total views on VOD within 10 weeks of its release.

Xinrui Yang, Sales & Licensing, Content Business & Distribution, Nippon TV, said: “We are thrilled to partner with PCCW Media to bring Life’s Punchline to Hong Kong. This story of youth and resilience resonated deeply in Japan, capturing the struggle between dreams and reality while proving that passion is never defined by success or failure—the journey itself is life’s greatest medal of honor. We are confident that MakerVille’s exceptional team and cast will create a remake that is just as moving and impactful for local and global audiences.”

Kenneth Kam, CEO, MakerVille, said: “MakerVille has long been dedicated to fostering the development of the creative industry. In addition to supporting local productions, we actively bring in creative and high-quality works from other regions. We are delighted to have obtained the rights to produce the Hong Kong adaptation of Life’s Punchline, and we look forward to bringing even more world-class creative content to audiences in Hong Kong.”

The creative team for the Cantonese remake is led by Executive Producer Lorraine Ho (Infernal Affairs, Initial D, Love in a Puff), a highly respected industry veteran who has participated in the production of over 100 films. Chief Screenwriter Loong Man Hong (Trivisa) is an award-winning writer whose accolades include Best Screenplay at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards. The series is directed by Andy Lo (Happiness, In Geek We Trust), an award-winning filmmaker who received Best Director at the Asian Film Festival Barcelona.

Lokman Yeung, leader of the popular boy band Mirrorand an active actor in film and television, stars in the lead role originally played by Masaki Suda. The other members of the comedy trio are portrayed by Alton Wong (member of Mirror) and Dee Ho (member of boy band Error) in the roles originally played by Ryunosuke Kamiki and Taiga Nakano. Wong was recently honored with an acting award at the Ace Face of Hong Kong Star Awards. The roles of the sisters, originally played by Kasumi Arimura and Kotone Furukawa, will be played by Hanna Chan and Vanora Hui, both of whom were “Best New Performer” nominees at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

La entrada Nippon TV Scores New Adaptation for Life’s Punchline se publicó primero en TTV News.

Nippon TV’s flagship title for this year’s Forum is the suspense thriller The Right to Judge. Escape, another suspense story, will also make its international debut.

Nippon TV announced that it will return to Series Mania Forum and will premiere two new scripted formats for the first time.

The first title, The Right to Judge (10 x 60’), is a suspense thriller that has surpassed 44 million views in its original Japanese version broadcast on Nippon TV. The second title, Escape (10 x 60’), is a continuous suspense story that follows a fugitive heiress and her kidnapper.

In what marks the company’s fifth consecutive participation as the only Japanese company exhibiting continuously at the Forum since 2021, this year’s delegation will include Shinji Enari, Studio Strategy Director responsible for the development and approval of Nippon TV’s scripted series, and Masanori Kobayashi, Director of Global Strategy. Both will attend for the first time to explore new opportunities for the international expansion of the company’s scripted content.

Shinji Enari, Studio Strategy Director, said: “Nippon TV has a strong track record of bringing dynamic stories to global audiences through scripted formats and co-productions. Building on the success of award-winning titles such as Mother, we are proud to present these new formats: The Right to Judge and Escape.”

Masanori Kobayashi, Director of Global Strategy, added: “We look forward to exploring new opportunities to grow our scripted series internationally. Series Mania Forum is the perfect stage to connect with key industry players and foster new global partnerships.”

Flagship Title: The Right to Judge

Nippon TV’s flagship title for this year’s Forum is the suspense thriller The Right to Judge. The original series, broadcast by Nippon TV in 2025, achieved remarkable success, becoming the network’s most-watched drama on the national VOD service, with more than 44 million views.

The story follows a group of former elementary school classmates who reunite 22 years after graduation to unearth a time capsule, only to discover a yearbook in which the faces of a group of bullies have been violently crossed out. Members of the group begin to die in ways that precisely recreate the innocent “When I grow up” drawings they made as children.

To stop the chain of murders, the former class leader — who had been the main bully — forms an uneasy alliance with a successful journalist he once tormented. Together, they must find the killer while confronting the dark sins of their shared past.

The series features a dual-timeline structure, alternating between the present and the characters’ childhoods, and delivers a gripping mystery that challenges viewers to uncover the culprit.

International Premiere of Escape

Escape will also make its international debut as a high-voltage human suspense story that blends intrigue, travel, self-discovery, and romance. The drama follows a sheltered heiress of a pharmaceutical empire who, after being kidnapped on her 20th birthday, chooses to flee with her captor instead of returning to her controlling father.

She hides a secret ability: she can see people’s hidden emotions as “colors” when she touches them, and she is terrified by the cold, dark tones she perceives in her father.

Under constant pursuit by those searching for them, their relationship evolves from “kidnapper and hostage” into a deep and emotional bond. Along the journey, the protagonist is forced to confront the cruel truth about her own birth — a secret that had long been kept from her.

La entrada Nippon TV Returns to Series Mania Forum with Two New Scripted Formats se publicó primero en TTV News.

The broadcaster’s new strategic division leverages expertise from hit series We are Coy Every Day, which amassed over 2.6 billion views, to offer full-scale marketing and IP development solutions.

Japan’s Nippon TV announced the launch of Viral Pocket, a new division focused on the rapidly expanding vertical video market.

Marking Nippon TV’s first vertical announcement in the micro drama arena, this division will transform proven content creation expertise into a strategic partnership model for brands and agencies.

Hirofumi Tanaka, President, Content Strategy, Nippon TV, said: “The momentum behind content born on social platforms has become extraordinary, continually giving rise to new cultural movements and trends. At Nippon TV, we are committed to expanding IP-driven content and deepening our connection with audiences around the world, with the goal of cultivating an even broader fan base. Through Viral Pocket, we will further invest in developing emerging creators and new content formats, accelerating the creation of fresh culture and next-generation trends.”

Viral Pocket will focus on three key pillars to revolutionize the micro drama landscape: Content IP Development: Creating original, platform-native stories; 360 Production & Project Design: End-to-end execution tailored for vertical formats; and Marketing Support: KPI-driven storytelling designed to spark empathy and action.

The establishment of Viral Pocket builds on the unprecedented success of Nippon TV’s micro drama portfolio, which has become a dominant entertainment format for Gen Z. Since its launch in March 2023, We are Coy Every Day, a short-form drama series, has achieved over 2.6 billion organic views, becoming one of Japan’s most recognized social media accounts. Additionally, Nippon TV’s short-form drama, Chokotto Paa-chii averages more than one million views on TikTok, further highlighting the division’s ability to merge broadcast-quality storytelling with data-driven digital production. Most recently, a third title, The Final Lesson – Only Survivors Graduate- received a prestigious award at the 1st Asia Short-Form Drama Awards, underscoring Nippon TV’s excellence in high-impact, short-form storytelling.

Viral Pocket will deliver high-impact “Professionally Generated Content (PGC)” that drives brand engagement. A recent project with Nissui, one of Japan’s leading food brands, showcased this approach. By weaving the company’s egg-free products into an emotional story about food allergies, the video generated over 10 million organic views in just two weeks.

The division’s approach blends Right Brain creativity -social trend-driven storytelling that sparks empathy- with Left Brain data analysis, using retention and drop-off metrics.

La entrada Nippon TV Launches Viral Pocket, New Vertical Video Division se publicó primero en TTV News.