MIPCOM Spotlight: CJ E&M Corporation

CANNES: The hosts of the food-themed reality show Three Meals a Day, which CJ E&M Corporation is presenting to international buyers at MIPCOM, use whatever ingredients they can find in the secluded countryside to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner on a daily basis.

Another highlight for Cannes is Oh My Ghost, about a timid girl who finds romance after being possessed by a spirit. The scripted series combines a “supernatural ghost-possession element with sweet romantic comedy,” says Diane Min, the company’s senior sales manager.

There is also Show Me the Money, the fourth installment of the popular rap competition series that takes place every year. “This much-anticipated hip-hop competition show has much to lure international audiences,” says Min. She adds that the company is “focusing on format titles and OTT sales, which are in line with the changes that are evident in today’s media industry. We were a [latecomer] in the format business, but our titles are beginning to gain a reputation and attention.”

Another top title is Get It Beauty, a lifestyle program that airs on CJ E&M’s OnStyle channel for women. Get It Beauty “has been beloved as the best original beauty bible by female audiences, and given the international recognition of Korean beauty, it has much to offer to today’s more demanding audiences around the world,” says Min.

The company’s scripted catalogue includes Second 20s, in which a wife and mother who decides to go back to school is the central character. “Fans will welcome the return of beloved actress Choi Ji-woo in Second 20s,” Min states.

Then there is My First Time, which stars Choi Min-ho from the popular South Korean boy band SHINee. “Deviating from the typical Korean drama, our scripted titles have proven their uniqueness with catchy and fresh plots,” says Min. “For scripted titles, we are introducing more remakes and hope to showcase more volume in the future.”

Also on the company’s slate is the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). “The biggest annual K-pop music awards show returns to Mnet, and K-pop fans surely will not [want to] miss this grand event,” says Don Kang, CJ E&M’s senior sales manager.

He adds: “We are still seeing steady growth [in AsiaPac] with many new exciting opportunities: emerging OTT platforms, formats and co-productions.”