U-Next, NBCU strike Japanese pact spanning streaming, parks and export

Japanese streamer U-Next has inked a wide-ranging partnership with NBCUniversal as the Tokyo-based company looks to build a “new kind of entertainment service that extends beyond streaming.”

Chris Taylor

The companies on Monday unveiled the longterm strategic partnership spanning streaming, theme parks and a commitment to expand the reach of Japanese content globally.

The deal includes the launch of NBCUniversal’s international streamer Universal+ in Japan, in addition to collaborating on experiences at Universal Studios Japan, joint marketing initiatives and working in tandem to export more Japanese-made content. The partnership also includes the development of video content related to Universal Studios Japan.

U-Next, which is part of Usen & U-Next Group, said the pact will “accelerate its evolution beyond a domestic video streaming service, expanding its role into a platform that connects Japanese content with the vast global entertainment market.”

The streamer and aggregator, which launched in 2007, has more than 5.2 million domestic subscribers as of May 2026, making it the second-largest paid streamer in the Japanese market behind only Netflix.

In addition to its new partnership with NBCUniversal, U-Next also carries HBO Max via a branded hub on its service.

“As the entertainment industry evolves beyond traditional, standalone segments such as broadcasting, film and streaming, toward a more IP-centered model spanning digital platforms, live experiences and global distribution, U-Next and NBCUniversal aim to establish a ‘next-generation’ entertainment model in Japan,” said the companies.

Tenshin Tsutsumi

Starting in October, the Universal+ streaming service will be exclusively carried on U-Next, including film franchises like Super Mario Bros, Minions, Jurassic Park and Fast & Furious, series such as The Five Star Weekend and Line of Fire and blockbusters like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day. New series and movies from the NBCUniversal ecosystem will also be offered exclusively on U-Next in Japan, while the service will also promote upcoming theatrical releases.

The partnership also calls for NBCUniversal to expand the reach of Japanese dramas, anime, films and U-Next originals across its global footprint, including via Peacock in the US and Universal+ in Latin America.

Specific details about these various initiatives will be announced in the coming months, said NBCUniversal and U-Next.

“U-Next’s impressive performance, having recently eclipsed five million subscribers, make them an ideal platform for NBCUniversal to align with on this ambitious partnership that includes the first fully-loaded Universal+ launch in Asia Pacific – reinforcing the importance of the Japanese market to our overall business,” said Chris Taylor, who serves as NBCUniversal’s MD for TV distribution, international networks and direct-to-consumer in Asia Pacific.

U-Next’s president and representative director Tenshin Tsutsumi added: “There are unique possibilities that can only be realised by bringing together NBCUniversal, with its worldclass content, IP, global network, and theme parks offering real-world experiences, and U-Next, with more than five million paid subscribers in Japan and a broad range of entertainment offerings. This partnership is the first step toward realising those possibilities. Together, we will build a new kind of entertainment service that extends beyond streaming.”