TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Japan's TBS, Index in Internet TV Joint Venture


Japan's TBS, Index in Internet TV Joint Venture


Reuters News Wire (reuters@telecom-digest.org)
Mon, 26 Dec 2005 12:03:00 -0600

Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. (TBS), Japan's third-biggest TV
broadcaster, said on Monday it will form a joint venture with mobile
content provider Index Corp. and others to air TV programs over the
Internet.

The move, first reported by media last month, is the latest between
Japan's Internet companies and TV broadcasters, many of which have
become takeover targets as Internet firms seek to use advances in
communications technology to deliver content via the Web.

TBS, Index and satellite TV broadcaster Sky Perfect Communications
Inc. said they would form a joint venture in January and plan to air
2006 FIFA World Cup programs for which Index has broadcasting rights
over the Internet and cellular phones.

The three firms would also ask other nationwide TV networks, including
Japan's biggest broadcaster Fuji Television Network Inc., to
participate in the joint venture, they said.

TBS last month managed to fend off a merger proposal from Rakuten
Inc., Japan's biggest Web shopping mall operator, which sought to
create a media-Internet company after acquiring nearly 20 percent of
TBS.

TBS agreed to discuss business tie-ups with Rakuten in four areas, including
TV and e-commerce, after Rakuten placed half of its stake in TBS in trust.

Shares in TBS closed unchanged at 3,050 yen before the
announcement. Index finished up 12.2 percent at 184,000 yen, while Sky
Perfect was up 1.49 percent at 88,400 yen.

The benchmark Nikkei average rose 1.04 percent.

Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited.

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