Seven Japanese broadcasters, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV), TV Asahi Corporation (TV Asahi), Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc (TBS), TV Tokyo Corporation (TV Tokyo), Fuji Television Network Inc., (Fuji TV), and Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and the Japanese government (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications / Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) will make a joint effort to promote Japanese TV formats in overseas markets by holding an All-Japan event, “TREASURE BOX JAPAN ~ NEW FORMATS DINNER” on October 7th, in Cannes, France. (Please refer to attached notes for details on “Program Formats”)

The world’s largest international content market, MIPCOM, is held in Cannes every October. This year on the eve of its opening day, a VIP Gala Dinner will introduce the newest and most spectacular Japanese TV formats. The dinner, co-hosted by the Japanese government and TV broadcasters, will include 120 top personnel representing major TV stations and production companies from around the world. During the event, all of the seven Japanese broadcasters will present their best program concepts, including those from their variety/entertainment shows, in an exciting video presentation. Innovative and original ideas are abundant in Japanese TV formats and those in the TV industry who have been exposed to them call Japan “an unexcavated gold mine”. By presenting the formats directly to the executives of the companies worldwide participating in MIPCOM, the seven broadcasters hope to boost their results at the MIPCOM content market which starts the next day. (* The title of the Gala, “TREASURE BOX JAPAN” conveys the image of the abundance of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered by opening a treasure trove of Japanese content and formats.)

Japanese broadcasters have been attending MIPCOM individually since the 1980s, but their activities so far have never been united into an All-Japan effort. Content companies from South Korea and China have been enhancing their exports through the national policy efforts of their governments in the past few years. The Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Ministry of Economy are also both active in promoting content sales to the international market. The Japanese broadcasters came up with this unique approach, focusing on the strength of Japanese content – innovation and creativity. Treasure Box Japan will be the first joint effort of the Japanese government and the broadcasters of Japan to promote their entertainment content and formats in the international market. The event will also feature a performance by “SIRO-A”, a group from Sendai presenting their techno comedy routine that is gaining popularity world wide.

The Japanese broadcasters plan to continue their cooperative efforts in the future. In the past, the location of their booths at the Mipcom market were scattered throughout the venue, but they plan to move their booths closer together at upcoming markets, creating a “Japan Village,” in the hope of making a stronger presence for content and formats produced in Japan.

■ Event Outline

Title TREASURE BOX JAPAN ~ NEW FORMATS DINNER

Date October 7, 2012 (Sun) 7:30 p.m.〜 (tentative)

Place Intercontinental Hotel Cannes Carlton (Cannes, France)

Hosted by TREASURE BOX JAPAN Organizing Committee (NEP/ NHK, NTV, TV Asahi,

TBS, TV Tokyo, Fuji TV/ FCC, ABC), and Reed MIDEM

Co-Hosted by Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

■ Notes on “TV format” and “TV format sales”:

“TV format” denotes the concept and planning/production know-how of a TV show, while “TV format sales” is a general term used to denote the sales of such concept and know-how as a package.