🌏 Asian Content Conquers the Global Market
Executives from major media giants—Netflix, Prime Video, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery—converged on a unified consensus at the APOS 2026 conference: Asian content and localized storytelling have ceased to be merely regional products. Today, they stand as the most valuable global assets within the streaming industry.
During the event, top managers discussed overarching growth strategies. Minyoung Kim (Netflix) noted that capital expenditure in South Korea, Japan, and India remains a foundational pillar, while audiences within Asia are demonstrating an increasing appetite for international franchises. Gaurav Gandhi (Prime Video) detailed their market-specific localization approaches; for instance, the platform is betting heavily on live sports broadcasting in Japan. Tony Zameczkowski (Disney) emphasized the critical role of strategic partnerships, citing their alliance with Hulu Japan, while James Gibbons (WBD) highlighted the immense scale of local fan bases, using the traction of Harry Potter in China and Japan as an example.
Looking ahead, experts agreed that Japanese live-action adaptations and Thai drama series are poised to become the next major global hits. Additionally, industry leaders identified premium dramas and the rapid evolution of vertical video formats as defining upcoming trends.
Source: Variety