BBC Studios Strikes Korean Content Partnership

BBC Studios has struck a new deal with a South Korean agency to expand production, investment, and distribution of Korean television content.

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The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) unveiled the agreement with BBC Studios and Southeast Asian streaming platform Viu to address the limitations and challenges in the domestic broadcast and video content production environment – such as the rising production costs of television dramas and a decrease in documentary programming.

KOCCA plans to secure “genre diversity in K-content and facilitate stable overseas expansion through cooperation with these two organizations, which possess exceptional production expertise and global [streaming] platforms.”

BBC Studios, a subsidiary of the U.K.’s public broadcaster BBC, is responsible for content production and distribution with its 55 channel feeds worldwide. Viu is a streamer operating in 16 countries across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, offering both ad-supported video-on-demand and subscription video-on-demand services.

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Ryan Shiotani, senior vp of content at BBC Studios Asia, said: “BBC Studios is delighted to partner with KOCCA to bring factual K-Content to audiences across Asia and beyond, via our network of linear and streaming channels. South Korea is a dynamic creative industry and we know there are lots of brilliant Korean stories waiting to be told to a wider audience. Our new collaboration with KOCCA to develop, co-produce and distribute Korean documentaries will contribute to the future of the global broadcast and video content industry.”

Viu chief operating officer Lofai Lo added: “K-content is one of the core content offerings on the Viu platform. We are very pleased to further strengthen our long-standing relationship with the Korean entertainment industry through our collaboration with KOCCA, and to provide our viewers with high-quality Korean programs. This agreement goes beyond mere business cooperation; it represents a long-term partnership aimed at leading the future of the global broadcasting content industry.”

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