NBCUniversal, U-Next Strike Japan Streaming, Theme Park Deal — SkimNews
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- NBCUniversal and U-Next entered a multi-year strategic partnership spanning streaming, theme parks and global distribution, with Universal+ rolling out in Japan as an exclusive offering on U-Next beginning October 2026
- U-Next is Japan's second-largest subscription video-on-demand platform behind Netflix, with more than 5.2 million paid subscribers as of May 2026 according to GEM Partners, combining movies, TV, anime, Premier League sports, live music and e-books in one app
- Universal+'s Japan launch marks NBCUniversal's first fully-loaded Universal+ rollout in Asia Pacific, carrying catalog from Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, Universal Studio Group and Sky, including franchises like "Fast & Furious," "Jurassic Park" and "Minions"
- Beginning spring 2027, U-Next will offer major NBCUniversal theatrical releases shortly after their cinema runs and first-run NBCUniversal series on a rolling exclusive basis, with the studio's 2026 slate including Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" (Japan opening Sept. 11) and Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" (Oct. 1)
- The second pillar ties streaming to Universal Studios Japan, with U-Next and USJ exploring joint live music events, exclusive subscriber experiences and park-themed video content, timed to USJ's 25th anniversary in 2026
- The third pillar creates outbound distribution for Japanese dramas, anime, films and U-Next originals through NBCUniversal's Peacock service in the U.S. and Universal+ in Latin America, with plans to expand into additional markets over time
- Chris Taylor, NBCUniversal's managing director for Asia Pacific, called the deal the first fully-loaded Universal+ launch in Asia Pacific, while U-Next president Tsutsumi Tenshin said the platform aims to evolve "beyond a service for simply watching video content" into a hub for discovery and real-world experiences
Why it matters: The deal gives NBCUniversal a direct line into Japan's second-largest SVOD platform — 5.2 million paying subscribers — and pairs its first full Universal+ Asia-Pacific launch with Universal Studios Japan's 25th-anniversary year, while opening a new outbound channel for Japanese content on Peacock and Universal+ in Latin America, reflecting the industry's shift toward IP ecosystems that span streaming, live experiences and global distribution.
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