OUR MISSION
The best times, any time,
and only for you.
We take pride in our responsibility to meet the entertainment needs of each and every one of our subscribers, offering a diverse range of the highest quality and most entertaining content tailored to evolving tastes, constantly reevaluating and perfecting our service, and will continue to lead the industry in providing a comprehensive 360° entertainment distribution service.
CORE VALUES
1
All needs answered.
Our ears are firm to ground to answer the specific needs of all our subscribers, covering every genre from the most niche to the mainstream.
2
All for one.
U-NEXT is uniquely positioned to tackle any challenge with all business divisions situated in-house (be it content acquisitions, system engineering, customer support, PR and marketing, and more), all under one unified, comprehensive team.
3
All about fun.
We at U-NEXT look toward new challenges and embrace dynamic industry changes with optimism and energy, never forgetting that joy and fun are critical to optimizing an entertaining experience for all.
MESSAGE
Since U-NEXT started its service in 2007, we have been a pioneer in video distribution services in Japan and have achieved remarkable growth in terms of market share and the number of titles handled.
While today's market environment is changing both rapidly and drastically, with foreign SVOD services added to the competition, our mission at U-NEXT has been and will always be the same: to develop an easy-to-use service for everyone and answer our every subscriber's needs by providing a wide range of contents for them to enjoy—it's as simple as that.
Driven by the curiosity to explore the essence of things and determined to turn our aspirations into reality, we, together with our diverse team from around the world, will continue to take on the challenge of creating entertainment media at its best.
Tenshin Tsutsumi
President and Representative Director
HISTORY
2023
- Roll out of sports distribution service "SPOTV NOW".
- Launch of "WHO'S NEXT DYNAMIC GLOVE on U-NEXT", a new format of the boxing program Dynamic Glove.
- Entered into a multi-year partnership agreement with the mixed martial arts organization "UFC" for distribution in Japan.
- Entered into a comprehensive exclusive SVOD agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. to extend and strengthen existing partnership
- Entered into a business partnership agreement with TV Tokyo
- Announced the intergration of streaming platform Paravi
- Service compatibility with the the all-in-one VR headset "PICO"
2022
- Entered into a content license agreement with NBCUniversal Media to distribute DreamWorks Animation series, including several exclusive titles.
- Entered into a partnership with Pottermore Publishing.
- Selected as the domestic distribution partner of the PGA Tour, the world's largest golf tour.
- Entered into a domestic distribution partnership agreement with Muay Thai fighting organization operator BOM Promotions.
- Launched "U-NEXT Comic," an original comic book label.
- Entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with CSI SPORTS, operator of FIGHT SPORTS™, for distribution in Japan.
- Launched audiobook versions of original book IPs exclusively on Audible
- Incorporated U-NEXT button in TV remote controls from Iris Ohyama.
- Entered into a distribution partnership agreement with kickboxing organization "GLORY" for distribution in Japan.
- Started point collaboration between U-NEXT and Theatre Cinema Group, enabling users to purchase movie tickets with U-NEXT points at affiliated movie theaters.
- Became one of the first companies globally to integrate Media CDN, a new content delivery network by Google USA.
- Opening of U-NEXT Asia ONLINE STORE, an online store that sells DVDs and Blu-ray discs of Korean and other Asian productions,
- Start of point collaboration between U-NEXT and TOHO CINEMAS, enabling users to purchase movie tickets with U-NEXT points at almost all major movie theater chains.
2021
- Service compatibility with the "Quest 2" VR headset
- Signed a distribution partnership agreement with "BELLATOR," a U.S. martial arts tournament, for distribution in Japan
- Entered into a business partnership agreement with Korean entertainment agency CUBE Entertainment
- Began cooperation with movie website Eiga.com
- Concluded a comprehensive content license agreement with Viacom Networks Japan
- Incorporated U-NEXT button in TV remote controls from all major device manufacturers.
- Entered into an exclusive partnership with WarnerMedia for SVOD distribution, premiering new titles from HBO and HBO Max original programs for the first time in Japan.
- Partnered with Kansai Electric Power to launch a subscription plan combining U-NEXT and electric bills.
2020
- Surpassed 2 million paying subscribers.
- Renewed U-NEXT brand. Introduced the “U-NEXT Original” logo.
- Offered original books within U-NEXT’s e-book service.
- Launched live music distribution with “Southern All Stars” live concert.
- Began offering Hollywood features in 4K, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, the first OTT platform in Japan to provide this service.
- Launched a new initiative providing free infrastructure for organizers to host spectatorless events
2019
- Launched first nationwide TV commercial
- "U-NEXT Button" is equipped on remote controls for TOSHIBA's REGZA series.
- Integration of video distribution app and e-book app into one application.
2018
- Operation of "LDH TV" provided by LDH JAPAN Inc. commences.
- Launch of VOD services in cooperation with OPTAGE Inc. as options for "mineo" and "eo HIKARI".
- "U-NEXT Button" is equipped on remote controls for Sony's BRAVIA 4K series.
2017
- Through management integration with USEN trade name changes to USEN-NEXT HOLDINGS Co.,Ltd., with five of the primary businesses being succeeded by U-NEXT Co., Ltd., established on December 1, 2017.
- Cooperation with movie theaters operated by TOKYU RECREATION CO.,LTD. (109 CINEMAS) commences.
2016
- Offering of NHK On Demand on U-NEXT commences.
- Launch of "Theater in Pikara with U-NEXT", a VOD service in cooperation with STNet, Inc.
- Cooperation with movie theaters operated by Shochiku Multiplex Theatres, Ltd. (Shinjuku Piccadilly, MOVIX, etc.) commences.
- Cooperation with movie theaters operated by UNITED CINEMAS CO.,LTD (UNITED CINEMAS, CINEPLEX) commences.
2015
- Operation of "Unlimited Anime" provided by SoftBank Corp. commences.
- Launch of "U-NEXT for So-net" and "U-NEXT for NURO", VOD services in cooperation with Sony Network Communications Inc.
- Launch of "U-NEXT for BIGLOBE", a VOD service in cooperation with BIGLOBE Inc.
- Shares change listing to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
2014
- Support for streaming via smart devices (iPhone, iPad, Android phones/tablets, Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, etc.).
- Launch of e-book service.
- Launch of "Commufa Hikari Video (U-NEXT)", a VOD service in cooperation with CHUBU TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO.,INC.
- Cooperation with movie theaters operated by T-JOY CO.,LTD (Shinjuku Wald 9, Yokohama Burg 13, T-Joy branches) commences.
- Shares listed to the Mothers market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
2013
- Launch of "AEON CINEMA Web Screen powered by U-NEXT", a VOD service in cooperation with AEON ENTERTAINMENT CO.,LTD
- Launch of "BBIQ Unlimited Video U-NEXT", a VOD service in cooperation with QTnet,Inc.
- Launch of "MEGA EGG Theater with U-NEXT", a VOD service in cooperation with Energia Communications,Inc.
2012
- Support for multi-screen distribution including PC browsers.
- Support for TV/STB streaming in cooperation with major manufacturers.
2010
- Spin-off of "U-NEXT Business" from USEN through an absorption-type split.
2009
- Service name changes from "GyaO NEXT" to "U-NEXT".
2007
- Launch of video distribution service "GyaO NEXT" (current name: "U-NEXT").
Company Profile
Corporate Name:
U-NEXT Co., Ltd.
Head Office:
Meguro Central Square
3-1-1 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, 141-0021 Tokyo, JAPAN
Representative:
Tenshin Tsutsumi, President and Representative Director
Board Members:
Yasuhide Uno, Chairman
Toshihiko Honda, Director / COO
Tatsuo Sugai, Director
Yosuke Kobayashi, Auditor
