NBCU Taps Yushita to Lead Pay-TV Rollout in Japan

TOKYO,
December 3: NBC Universal has appointed Shigeo Yushita as the channel director
in Japan for Global Networks Asia, where he will oversee the rollout of pay-TV
channels in the country.

Based in
Tokyo, Yushita will be responsible for launching NBCU’s pay-TV services
in Japan, which are expected to expand in the wake of its agreement to acquire
Jupiter Telecommunications’ subsidiary, JSBC2. The SCI FI Channel will roll out
in spring 2008, becoming the first NBCU channel brand to launch in Japan.

In addition to developing launch and growth strategies for
the upcoming cable and satellite TV rollouts, Yushita will lead sales and marketing
activities for the new channels. He reports to Raymund Miranda, the managing
director of Global Networks Asia, as well as to Taichi Fukuda, the managing
director for Japan at NBC Universal International.

Yushita
most recently served as the general manager of programming for Discovery Japan,
where he was responsible for the strategy and implementation of all
programming for the channel.

“Japan is one of the markets that we’ve identified as key to
our international rollout strategy and we’re pleased to have someone of
Shigeo’s caliber to lead our efforts in establishing a business for the
Japanese audience,” said Miranda.

Fukuda added, “I am excited to have Shigeo in the NBC Universal
Japan team, as I strongly believe that he will greatly contribute to our growth
not only for the channels’ business but also for the entire NBC Universal business
in line with our holistic Japanese strategy.”

—By Ned Berke