Nippon TV expands VTuber's business overseas with VShojo

Nippon TV, Japan's leading cross-platform entertainment powerhouse, announced today that it is bringing what was a new business venture into full swing. The company is expanding V-Clan, its VTuber (Virtual YouTuber) business, overseas to develop and produce VTuber content. A VTuber is a YouTuber avatar created with 2D or 3D illustrations.

As part of its efforts to expand the network internationally, Nippon TV is partnering with VShojo, a leading VTuber talent agency in North America. As part of this new partnership, eight VShojo VTubers who have worked primarily in North America will join Nippon TV's V-Clan Network. The announcement was made today by Motoyuki Ooi, New Business, President's Office of Nippon TV.

Officially launched in 2018 with the vision "to take VTubers to the next stage", Nippon TV's VTuber business managed V-Clan Network, which supports VTubers' businesses through TV programs, streaming events, brand partnerships and other initiatives ; and V-Clan Studio, which produces shows, streaming events and branded content with VTubers. The network currently boasts over 300 VTuber participants and approximately 8 million subscribers.

Additionally, this new partnership with VShojo paves the way for international content creation, leveraging Nippon TV's production experience to show VTubers, as well as English-language programs starring VTubers belonging to the V-Clan Network.

"VTubers are growing at an astonishing rate not only in Japan but globally and I am confident that they will continue to grow as a new genre in entertainment," said Motoyuki Ooi, New Business, President's Office, Nippon TV. “V-Clan will use the development and production skills that Nippon TV has acquired from program creation and will also draw on the experiences and knowledge gained from running the VTuber business, to deliver content that will delight fans around the world. Our partnership with VShojo is a significant step in that direction and I look forward to leveraging each other's strengths to undertake new initiatives that transcend borders ”.

Justin “theGunrun” Ignacio, CEO of VShojo Inc. commented, “As the VTubing industry matures, I appreciate the learning and respect of the people who led the way. At VShojo, we recognize Japan as the forefather of the culture we wish to grow internationally. By partnering with Nippon TV, we see an opportunity to work with someone who respects the creative freedom we offer our talent and supports our broader vision. As Nippon TV is a powerhouse in the Japanese market and we are very successful in the US, this collaboration will allow both of our companies to thrive on a global scale while setting important milestones in the VTuber industry.

Among the most distinctive content that Nippon TV has produced in this realm are VILLAS, a paid live streaming event that created an enormous amount of buzz and ranked sixth in global Twitter trends, and VTuber Fez. UnderLine Powered by COMP, a sponsored live streaming music event that mobilized over 60.000 people in one day to put together a show big enough to warrant a stadium.

In addition, the company promotes its VTuber business into its core business of producing content for television. In July 2021, the Nippon TV program Project V put real-life entertainers and famous VTubers in the same space to deliver a new TV experience of real and virtual guests coming together to take on battles and games.

In the future, V-Clan plans to take the promotion of programs and events and the production of music and content featuring famous VTubers to higher levels. In addition, V-Clan will launch media initiatives focused on the broadcast of the television series Project V, with VTubers as the main cast and Up-Station, a website that specializes in all things VTuber.