iaTV Inks Content, Ad Deal With Tokyopop
Deal Gives Asian-Targeted Net Access To Popular Anime Series
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 8/19/2008 1:13:00 PM
Asian-targeted network iaTV Tuesday said it has reached a program acquisition and strategic ad sales partnership with Los Angeles-based production company Tokyopop representing the company’s animation/magna-oriented entertainment.
On the content side, the deal provides iaTV with access to two popular Japanese anime series—Initial D and Psychic Academy—and the anime film Spring and Chaos, according to the network, which recently rebranded itself as a broad, urban-targeted network featuring Asian-themed programming.
The network will also distribute several short-form (three- to four-minute) ‘iManga’ series from Tokyopop, as well as a hardcore FMW Wrestling ring series.
On the ad sales side, iaTV’s ad sales team will represent the advertising sales activities for Tokyopop’s digital assets including www.Tokyopop.com; brand integration within original and user-generated video content, mobile advertising and other applications.
The Tokyopop.com Web site averages more than 5 million page views per month and over 400,000 unique visitors, according to Google Analytics.
“We are thrilled to be in business with Tokyopop,” said Adam Ware, president of iaMedia in a statement. “It further establishes iaTV as the television leader for Asian Pop Culture. Tokyopop’s digital assets—including their unique library of Manga animated series—represent a unique opportunity for iaTV to offer advertisers a fully integrated cross-platform solution to reach the millions of Asian pop culture fans in the U.S.”
