The Story Lab Ties Up with Fuji TV

The Story Lab and Japan’s Fuji Television Network have entered into a strategic alliance to co-create IP for the global marketplace.

The new partnership will see the two companies jointly develop and produce original unscripted formats that will initially launch on Fuji TV in Japan before being distributed internationally by The Story Lab.

Development is currently underway on a new studio-based entertainment show. The Story Lab is bringing in the U.K. producer and long-term partner Rumpus Media to support adaptation and roll out in key markets. Scheduled to launch on Fuji TV at the end of March 2021, the show will be taken out to the international market by The Story Lab in April.

Fotini Paraskakis, executive VP of entertainment for The Story Lab, commented: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Fuji TV to develop scalable entertainment formats that will combine global appeal with Japanese-inspired innovation. This partnership is the latest example of The Story Lab leveraging its global network and relationships to serve the ever-growing market demand for exciting and distinctive unscripted content.”

Yuki Matsumoto, producer for Fuji TV, said: “Japanese entertainment shows are among the most innovative and unique formats in the world. Our partnership with The Story Lab will allow us to leverage this creative edge by developing IP that is tailored for global audiences while retaining the exciting elements that make our shows stand out from the rest.”

Ryuji Komiya, head of format and producer for global business at Fuji TV, added: “Joining forces with The Story Lab will allow us to further build on the success of our formats around the world while strengthening our business internationally. The combination of The Story Lab’s global expertise and Fuji TV’s creative perspectives will help both parties to develop IP we may never have come up with on our own.”