TBS outlines Legendary and CJ ENM partnerships at TIFFCOM in Tokyo

Mixed · 2TBS Holdings executives presented the Japanese broadcaster's strategy at TIFFCOM, the content market of the Tokyo International Film Festival, on 29 October, focusing on its tie-ups with Legendary Entertainment and South Korea's CJ ENM. 1 2 Mixed · 2Deadline reports that in January 2026 TBS acquired a $150M minority stake in Legendary and signed a non-exclusive agreement to source and develop Japanese IP; Variety describes it as a $150 million equity investment earlier this year. 1 2 Mixed · 2Katsuaki Setoguchi, executive officer of TBS Holdings' global business division, said the two companies' "needs matched each other perfectly": Legendary is watching Japanese IP closely and is willing to fund big-budget live-action adaptations, while TBS has long-standing relationships with creators and says its relationships with major Japanese publishers are "neutral". 1 2

Centre · 1Deadline lists Legendary's Japanese-IP projects as including Godzilla, Street Fighter, Gundam and Drops of God Season 2, and says that from this month TBS staff will work from desks in Legendary's Los Angeles offices. 1 Mixed · 2In Asia, TBS has launched a production joint venture, Studio Monowa, with CJ ENM and Japanese streamer U-Next; Deadline says announcements on the first projects are expected soon, and Variety says it combines TBS with CJ ENM's "global standard production capabilities". 1 2 Mixed · 2Setoguchi said the goal is to lift Japanese live-action drama to the global recognition of K-drama, noting that anime and manga are popular worldwide but J-content is not accepted on the same level. He said he sees his mission as establishing a new genre of J-content rather than generating profit for TBS. 1 2

Mixed · 2He recalled that Japan's drama industry was once far stronger than Korea's, citing the 2002 TBS–MBC drama Friends, and said Japan chased domestic ratings while Korea looked to global markets; Variety quotes him saying that, "to my embarrassment," he had not foreseen Korea's influence. 1 2 Mixed · 2The session also covered the Ninja Warrior format. Variety, citing Shinya Watanabe, president of TBS Holdings' global business division, reports local adaptations in 25 countries, reach in 170 countries, and American Ninja Warrior renewed through Season 20. Partners Banijay, ITV Studios and RTL spoke by video, and Banijay's James Townley said the show would be a major focus across Europe next year. 2 1 Mixed · 2Variety adds that TBS is developing new IP such as the skateboarding show Kasso, has ambitions for The Seven studio through 2030 and 2040, including in Africa, and plans European bases. TIFFCOM runs 28–30 October at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center. 2 1