TIFFCOM 2026 Unveils First Conference Wave: Nippon TV, TBS, and BEAJ to Headline Tokyo Content Market
TIFFCOM, Tokyo's annual content market, has announced the first wave of speakers for its 2026 conference program — and three of Japan's biggest broadcasters are taking the stage to talk global expansion.
Nippon Television Network Corp., Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, and the Broadcast Program Export Association of Japan (BEAJ) will each headline a session at TIFFCOM 2026, running October 28–30 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho. Visitor registration is already running roughly 20% ahead of the same point last year, according to Variety. The early-bird discount closes September 10.
Now in its 23rd edition, TIFFCOM runs alongside the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, which opens October 26. The market's long-running seminar series was relaunched this year under the "Conferences" banner, covering AI, IP strategy, international co-productions, and market trends across roughly 20 sessions, as previously reported.
Nippon TV's session, titled "Nippon TV's Journey to Becoming a Global Content Powerhouse," examines the broadcaster's approach to co-developing and distributing dramas and entertainment formats internationally. It includes a case study of the Disney+ series Merry Berry Love, a co-production with CJ ENM Japan, and a look at AiDi, Nippon TV's AI-powered video solution. Speakers include Kazuo Takaya (president of global strategy), Ken Akiyama (head of Gyokuro Studio), Shinji Enari (executive vice president of content business), and Gi Young Choi (CEO of CJ ENM Japan).
TBS will present its partnership with Hollywood's Legendary Entertainment and the formation of StudioMonowa, a venture co-established with South Korea's CJ ENM and U-Next Holdings. The session also covers Kasso, described as a skateboarding spin on the long-running obstacle show Sasuke, and the worldwide rollout of Sasuke/Ninja Warrior, which recently returned in Australia and Vietnam. TBS has also formalised an arrangement with UIPM for obstacle racing, newly added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics programme. Katsuaki Setoguchi and Shinya Watanabe of TBS Holdings' global business division will present, with anchor Maoko Hibi as MC.
BEAJ's session, "Japan's IP Frontier 2026: Beyond Broadcasting," spotlights regional broadcasters pushing their content beyond traditional media. Fuji Television plans to take variety hit Run for Money into VR location-based entertainment. San-in Chuo Television will discuss its self-funded Dopamine Project. Hokkaido Television Broadcasting will introduce its Local Content Bank, launched a year ago. Panelists include Ryohei Aoki (Fuji TV), Yu Kawanaka (San-in Chuo TV), and Yuki Akutsu (Hokkaido TV), with BEAJ executive director Aki Harazono moderating.
For context on the market's scale: TIFFCOM 2025 reported 4,600-plus participants, 46 countries and regions represented, and 7,700-plus business meetings, per the official site. Exhibitor registration for 2026 has already closed.
What stands out across the three sessions is how each broadcaster is mapping a different route out of Japan. Nippon TV is leaning into AI tools and streaming co-productions. TBS is tying Hollywood studio deals to an Olympic-level sport format. Regional broadcasters, through BEAJ, are testing VR and local IP banks. For anyone tracking where Japanese content goes next, the answers start taking shape on October 28.
