Japan’s U-Next integrates ex-rival Paravi following merger

Japanese streamer U-Next has integrated programmes aired on the Paravi service it acquired into its own offering and has begun migrating Paravi subscribers to U-Next.

U-Next said that over 10,000 programme episodes on Paravi would now be available via U-Next, including shows from broadcasters TBS and TV Tokyo and archive shows.

U-Next merged with Premium Platform Japan Co, which operates Paravi, at the end of March.

U-Next subscribers can check a list of available Paravi content by clicking on a Paravi button on the home page of U-Next.

U-Next recently passed the milestone of three million paying customers. The U-Next service launched as GyaO Next in June 2007 before changing its name two years later. It reached two million subscribers at the end of August 2020.

The integration of Paravi  will boost the number of paying subscribers to over 3.85 million and will create the largest video distribution platform in Japan, ithe annual sales of more than , with annual sales of more than ¥80 billion.

U-Next has said its strength in movies, anime, western and Korean drama and live content will be complemented by Paravi’s line-up of drama and variety shows with content supplied by broadcasters TBS, TV Tokyo and affiliated stations.