Press Release
ABEMA to Produce New Seasons of Hit Romantic TV Series “Who is the Wolf” and “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” Streaming Exclusively on Netflix
ABEMA, the TV for the Future, announces to become a content partner to video streaming service Netflix. ABEMA will produce new seasons of hit romantic TV series “Who is the Wolf” and “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” for worldwide exclusive streaming on Netflix.
Recently, there has been growing attention on how the spread of video streaming services has brought quality content from an assortment of genres to viewers around the world. Given this background, this project was launched based on the common goal of Netflix, which seeks to stream diverse content to its members worldwide, and ABEMA, which has produced original, cutting-edge content that keeps up with the trends of the time, to provide the broader public with quality Japanese video content that resonates with global audiences.
For this project, ABEMA will produce new seasons of the two hit series. The “Who is the Wolf” series has gained a lot of attention especially from young women since ABEMA’s launch. It has grown into a hit program whose audience includes over 70% of women in their teens and 20s in Japan.*1 “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” has elicited a huge response from 20s to 30s female viewers. Around early summer of 2023, Netflix will begin streaming a new season of “Who is the Wolf” to audiences in Japan and then later worldwide. A new “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” season will stream on Netflix globally in fall 2023. *2 The Netflix versions will have a different look and feel from the series currently streaming on ABEMA.
“I am honored that ABEMA can start a project with Netflix as a content partner. The romantic TV series “Who is the Wolf” and “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” portray love and friendship among young people who are each finding their way in life. We are hoping to encourage young audiences through the series. Fortunately, they’ve been incredibly popular on ABEMA for a long time, especially among women,” says Yuka Yokoyama, Producer, ABEMA. “The new series that will stream exclusively on Netflix will be designed to appeal in a different way from the previous series on ABEMA. Working with Netflix, we strive to produce shows that entertain audiences in Japan and around the world.”
“Streaming has unlocked a broader variety of titles and genres than ever before, and reality television is an enduringly popular format for audiences around the world. Today, we are humbled to partner with ABEMA in developing two of their most popular series, right here from Japan. With this collaboration, Netflix will expand our lineup of must-watch unscripted television and bring joy to fans of reality shows worldwide,” says Mitsuko Kobayashi, Live Action Creative, Manager, Netflix.
As the TV for the Future aiming to be the social infrastructure that connects anytime, anywhere, ABEMA works hard to provide appealing content for Japanese audiences and create more convenient services. Meanwhile, ABEMA takes advantage of our ability to produce original content that keeps up with trends, our production capabilities, and our technology enabling reliable streams of high-quality video, in our quest to be Japan’s leading video streaming service. Delivering original ABEMA works, live streams of sports and other content overseas are among the actions the company will take for ABEMA’s global expansion.
1. Based on ABEMA research targeting female viewers aged 10-29 who watched the “Who is the Wolf” series in January 2018 or later (overlaps omitted). Derived from Japan’s total population of women aged 10 to 29. Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau “Population Estimates.”
2. Start dates and countries for streams are subject to change.
Recently, there has been growing attention on how the spread of video streaming services has brought quality content from an assortment of genres to viewers around the world. Given this background, this project was launched based on the common goal of Netflix, which seeks to stream diverse content to its members worldwide, and ABEMA, which has produced original, cutting-edge content that keeps up with the trends of the time, to provide the broader public with quality Japanese video content that resonates with global audiences.
For this project, ABEMA will produce new seasons of the two hit series. The “Who is the Wolf” series has gained a lot of attention especially from young women since ABEMA’s launch. It has grown into a hit program whose audience includes over 70% of women in their teens and 20s in Japan.*1 “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” has elicited a huge response from 20s to 30s female viewers. Around early summer of 2023, Netflix will begin streaming a new season of “Who is the Wolf” to audiences in Japan and then later worldwide. A new “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” season will stream on Netflix globally in fall 2023. *2 The Netflix versions will have a different look and feel from the series currently streaming on ABEMA.
“I am honored that ABEMA can start a project with Netflix as a content partner. The romantic TV series “Who is the Wolf” and “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” portray love and friendship among young people who are each finding their way in life. We are hoping to encourage young audiences through the series. Fortunately, they’ve been incredibly popular on ABEMA for a long time, especially among women,” says Yuka Yokoyama, Producer, ABEMA. “The new series that will stream exclusively on Netflix will be designed to appeal in a different way from the previous series on ABEMA. Working with Netflix, we strive to produce shows that entertain audiences in Japan and around the world.”
“Streaming has unlocked a broader variety of titles and genres than ever before, and reality television is an enduringly popular format for audiences around the world. Today, we are humbled to partner with ABEMA in developing two of their most popular series, right here from Japan. With this collaboration, Netflix will expand our lineup of must-watch unscripted television and bring joy to fans of reality shows worldwide,” says Mitsuko Kobayashi, Live Action Creative, Manager, Netflix.
As the TV for the Future aiming to be the social infrastructure that connects anytime, anywhere, ABEMA works hard to provide appealing content for Japanese audiences and create more convenient services. Meanwhile, ABEMA takes advantage of our ability to produce original content that keeps up with trends, our production capabilities, and our technology enabling reliable streams of high-quality video, in our quest to be Japan’s leading video streaming service. Delivering original ABEMA works, live streams of sports and other content overseas are among the actions the company will take for ABEMA’s global expansion.
1. Based on ABEMA research targeting female viewers aged 10-29 who watched the “Who is the Wolf” series in January 2018 or later (overlaps omitted). Derived from Japan’s total population of women aged 10 to 29. Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau “Population Estimates.”
2. Start dates and countries for streams are subject to change.
About “Who is the Wolf” Series
“Who is the Wolf” is the original ABEMA romantic TV series airing since the service launched and is especially popular among young women. Men and women have been brought together to find their soul mates as they go on dates and join group projects. Among the members trying hard to find “true love” are “lying wolves” who will not be involved in any love. The series’ biggest highlights are the unpredictable game of love, as well as the men and women who engage in love and come to know their real selves as they seriously face their feelings.
About “Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama” Series
With the theme “Can co-starring in a romantic drama lead to real love?” this original ABEMA romantic TV series follows young actors who find true love while shooting a romantic drama where they appear in a kissing scene in every episode. Only one actor and actress will be selected to play the leading roles in the program’s romantic drama. The highlight of the series includes the kissing scenes that keep viewers guessing whether that scene was acting or real love deriving from unscripted behind-the-scenes romance.