Canal Plus, France's largest pay TV operator, is planning to enter the Japanese market through its subsidiary Multithematiques, a Japanese multichannel operator said Feb. 28.
Jupiter Programming Co. President Ryuichiro Uno said the firm is currently negotiating with Multithematiques to provide European television programs on cable TV and digital satellite broadcasting in Japan. Jupiter Programming currently operates four channels over cable TV channels and PerfecTV, Japan's first digital satellite TV service. It will also start operating a channel in May for Singapore-based Asia Business News, the only 24-hour news and business channel specializing in Asia, Uno said.
The recent deregulation in the broadcasting sector enabled the creation of multichannel pay TV system operators and channel operators, but such companies are sure to have difficulty making profits unless they manage to attract viewers with interesting programs. "We want to provide channels that are genuinely different from existing broadcasting channels," said Jupiter Programming's Chief Operating Officer Darryl Dorrington, adding that the key to success is strong marketing and targeting specific audience groups.