CJ E&M to Put $39.5 Million Toward New Originals

SEOUL: CJ E&M is planning to invest 450 billion Korean won ($39.5 million) this year in new original programs.

For 2017, CJ E&M’s tvN has lined up the new originals Tomorrow, With You, Here Comes Trouble 3, Chicago Typewriter and The Dynamic Duo. The Mnet music channel will feature variety shows such as I Can See Your Voice 4 and Show Me the Money 6. M2, the digital channel of Mnet, will also present new music content.

The movie channel OCN will premier six original productions, including Voice, Tunnel and Dual, marking its highest-ever investment in its contents. Channel CGV is expected to launch a social movie magazine targeting those 20 to 39. The Olive TV, On Style and XTM channels will provide customized content to target audiences in terms of age and gender as well.

DIA TV, Asia’s first MCN TV channel for YouTube creators, plans to strengthen its brand power and specialize in live broadcasts. The channel will also increase partnerships with creators from 1,100 teams to 2,000.

CJ E&M plans to create marketing synergy by hosting on-ground festivals, including Olive Festival and SIA (Style Icon Asia) Festival, targeting each channel’s audience.

Starting from Singapore, tvN Movies expects to launch in other major Southeast Asian territories, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Indonesia in 2017. tvN Movies offers more than 200 titles a year. tvN Asia, which is distributed to around 6.5 million households in nine countries, plans to make new original programs for Asian viewers.

The company said in a statement: “CJ E&M pursues happiness to viewers through our distinguished content. With our strategic analysis on target audience, we will continue to be a pioneer in the media industry, expanding into Southeast Asia, North America and Europe.”