New Japanese Animation Channel GONG Launches

LONDON/PARIS, June 26: The U.K.-based on-demand Japanese
animation network GONG has launched in 36 countries across Europe and North
America.

Targeted at teens and adults, the channel is the first
international on-demand and online anime channel in Europe and North America.
GONG is currently available in France on Club Internet and TF1 Vision via their
broadband VOD service and in the U.K. via the download-to-own service BT Vision
Download Store. The GONG Mobile channel is accessible 24/7 on Orange TV in the
U.K. and Poland. GONG is also available from new IPTV platforms such as Joost
and Babelgum; it will soon be accessible on additional Internet portals, VOD
and download-to-own services.

GONG will feature manga and anime series and movies such as The
Slayers, Cosmo Warrior Zero and Gun Frontier. Two former children’s animated television
executives launched the channel: Benoit Runel and André de Semlyen. Runel was
previously the head of acquisitions at TF1 and the executive VP of programming,
acquisitions and co-productions at Fox Kids/Jetix Europe. de Semlyen was
formerly Turner Broadcasting System VP and channel manager for Cartoon Network,
Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies.

In a joint statement, Runel and de Semlyen commented:
“Traditional TV still works but has lost touch with many target groups. TV
consumption behavior has completely changed. Time has come for a new generation
in the new media space. Manga fans and Japanese animation geeks have been
waiting for it.”

GONG aims to
develop the exposure and popularity of anime via broadband Internet and mobile
distribution. It hopes to transform the growing anime market from an
established niche business into a mass-market proposition fuelled by the
explosion of new media platforms.