WOWOW & TBS to Co-Produce and Broadcast New Series MOZU

Continuing to ramp up its original production activity and co-production partnerships, WOWOW, Japan's leading premium pay TV broadcaster, is teaming with Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), to co-produce and broadcast a new drama series titled "MOZU."

The co-production is the second such collaboration between WOWOW and TBS, following the highly successful drama "Double Face," an award-winning series based on the Hong Kong thriller "Internal Affairs" (later adapted into Academy Award winning film "The Departed"), co-produced by the two companies.

Created by the same team that produced "Double Face," "MOZU" is based on the popular novel Mozu no Sakebu Yoru by acclaimed Japanese author Go Osaka.

The legendary hardboiled novel is now taking the form of a drama series by the two networks. Director Eiichiro Hasumi, who directed "Double Face" and "UMIZARU" ("Sea Monkey"), will direct all of the episodes of "MOZU" himself.

Much like "Double Face," "Infernal Affairs," and "The Departed," "MOZU" is centered on two main characters in a thrilling and intense game of cat and mouse.

Employing a unique broadcast model that lends itself to significant, mutually beneficial cross-promotion, the first season of "MOZU" will air on TBS in Japan in April 2014, while the second season will air on WOWOW Prime in summer 2014.

Season 1 of "MOZU" will go beyond traditional TV drama in its scale. Kuraki (Hidetoshi Nishijima) is the ace of public security, who lost his wife in a bomb incident. Kuraki, Detective Osugi (Teruyuki Kagawa) and Miki (Yoko Maki) are also from the police security team and have a key to solve the mystery of the bombing incident. The three of them have investigated the mystery of a contract Killer named Mozu (meaning Butcher-bird) - a tragedy ignited by a secret mission by police security, and a trick which shakes the nation.

Season 2 will be a nonstop action suspense under the frame of theatrical movie. The story progresses with depth and psychology. As Kuraki challenges crimes, he faces conspiracy beyond the borders. As they fight against international terrorist, a shocking truth hidden behind peaceful society is revealed.

WOWOW continues to produce original content and deliver the highest quality entertainment under the concept of their corporate message "Always a new encounter." Among the new documentary projects currently Being produced by WOWOW (with international co-production partners) are "Cathedrals of Culture," directed by Wim Wenders and Robert Redford, and "Cameron Carpenter: The Rebirth of Majesty," directed by Thomas Grube.

WOWOW will continue to develop new co-coproduction projects with companies worldwide.

About WOWOW

WOWOW is Japan's leading premium pay TV broadcaster with about 2.6 million subscribers and the first 24/7, 3 channel, full-HD broadcaster in Japan. With a focus on quality entertainment and exceptional customer service, WOWOW has seen seven years of continuous net growth in subscribers. As of July 2011, all of the company's subscribers are now on a digital subscription, which includes WOWOW's groundbreaking members on demand channel.

Listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock exchange, WOWOW's offering includes 3 premium Full-HD channels and a subscription streaming service:

WOWOW Prime covers a wide range of genres, including 7 popular overseas TV series per week along with our original series, movies, and documentaries. WOWOW Prime is also the official channel of both the Oscars and the Grammy Awards in Japan.

WOWOW Live brings exclusive live broadcasts of the world's greatest sports events along with live concerts and stage performances. Sports featured on WOWOW Live include the NBA, La Liga Española, LPGA, UFC, and more.

WOWOW Cinema carries output contracts with all major studios and a lineup of approximately 1400 movie titles from all over the world. WOWOW Cinema provides an experience to the world of cinema through a selective collection of movies.

WOWOW Members On Demand offers subscribers the ability to view our quality programming anywhere and anytime. The streaming service features live events and sports as well as popular series and movies.

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