There’s word from Google Japan today that its Youtube Original Channels initiative has finally hit Japan. In total, there are 13 prominent Japanese content companies on board, producing 17 channels for YouTube.
It’s great to see big name partners come aboard, including media giants Fuji TV, TBS, and TV Asahi. Crypton Future Media is also on board; readers may recall that these are the folks behind the famous virtual idol Hatsune Miku. There’s also a channel from entertainer/model Kyary Pamyu Pamyu called Harajuku Kawaii TV (check the video below) which Japanophile fashionistas the world over can enjoy.
We’re told that for these Original Channels, YouTube provides an advance on advertising revenues in order to help facilitate the creation of these channels, and improve the offerings in Japan’s online video space.
The YouTube Original Channels initiative was first launched in the US just over a year ago, and then in Europe this year. This announcement today should pave the way for more online streaming content in Japan, and indeed around the rest of Asia as well, particularly Korea.
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