Executive Dossier
Viacom takes full ownership of MTV Japan
MUMBAI: US network MTV has agreed to acquire the remaining interest in joint venture MTV Japan from private equity firm H&Q Asia Pacific (H&QAP). This will give MTV a 100 per cent ownership in MTV Japan.
The acquisition will be MTV’s largest in the Asia-Pacific region and will enable the broadcaster to accelerate growth in Japan and facilitate cross-pollination of innovations across the region and worldwide.
In addition to the MTV Japan joint venture, MTV currently owns and operates Nickelodeon and the digital media brand Flux in the market. Upon completion of the deal, MTVN will combine MTV Japan with Nickelodeon and Flux into one cohesive business where the assets of each brand can be optimised across the entire operation. Prior to this agreement, MTV held a minority stake in MTV Japan.
MTV’s parent Viacom president and CEO Tom freston says, “Japan is a huge and important market with a very advanced digital infrastructure. By taking sole ownership of MTV Japan we can now seamlessly operate all of our companies there on a multi-platform basis, putting us on a path to significantly grow our Japanese business.”
MTV US chairman and CEO Judy McGrath says, “This deal represents an important step forward in our strategy to drive international growth. Japan is one of the most dynamic media markets in the world, and we are now positioned to lead the Asia-Pacific region in terms of delivering innovative entertainment content to young adult consumers across all platforms.”
H&QAP chairman Dr. Ta-lin Hsu says, “The success of MTV Japan underscores the acceptance of the brand and its importance across emerging economies in Asia. At H&Q Asia Pacific, we are proud to have played an integral role in helping MTV Japan establish a leading market position.
“This transaction demonstrates our ability to migrate consumer brands to the Asia-Pacific region.”
H&QAP says that it was instrumental in bringing the MTV brand to Japan in 2001. H&QAP acquired Japan’s music channel Vibe from Pioneer in 2000 and subsequently created a new joint venture partnership with MTV that became MTV Japan in 2001.
Capturing the potential growth in Japan’s cable
and satellite TV industry and seizing the emerging Internet & mobile opportunities by leveraging MTV’s strong brand in cable and satellite TV, MTV Japan was created to provide multi-platforms for audiences and sponsors.
MUMBAI: Game faces on, pressure high India’s gaming ambitions are levelling up. Good Game, billed as the world’s first as-live global gaming reality show, has officially launched in India with a bold mission: to crown the country’s first Global Gaming Superstar.
Blending esports with mainstream entertainment, the show brings together competitive gaming, creativity and on-camera performance in a format that tests more than just joystick skills. Contestants will be judged on gameplay, screen presence and their ability to perform under pressure, reflecting how gaming has evolved from pastime to profession and pop culture currency.
Fronting the show are three high-profile ambassadors: actor and entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant, and gaming creator Ujjwal Chaurasia. The winner will take home Rs 1 crore ($100,000) among the largest prize pools for any Indian reality show along with the chance to represent India on a global stage.
Backed by a planned annual investment of up to Rs 100 crore, Good Game is also courting brand partners, promising a minimum reach of 500 million among India’s core youth audience. The creators position the show as a bridge between entertainment and interactive culture, offering long-format content, community engagement and commercial scale.
Auditions are now open to Indian citizens aged 18 and above, inviting amateur and professional gamers, creators and performers alike. Shortlisted candidates will be called for in-person auditions in Mumbai on 14 and 15 February, and in Delhi on 28 February and 1 March 2026.
With big money, big names and even bigger ambition, Good Game signals a shift in how India views gaming not just as play, but as performance, profession and prime-time spectacle.
