Local entertainment firm IHQ’s TV lineup is drawing attention as the company has been selected as a business partner of Disney+, a U.S. over-the-top (OTT) player that’s set start service here in the second half of this year.
IHQ’s third-largest stockholder, A&E Television Networks Korea, is affiliated with Disney. IHQ is expected to compensate for Disney+’s weakness, which is a lack of variety in genres.
Disney’s most popular programming includes animated Disney films and Marvel superhero movies. It also owns Pixar, 20th Century Studios and National Geographic ― producers of a great deal of family-oriented content.
IHQ is reportedly planning to produce six TV series. They will either be available on the Disney+ platform or start filming in the second half of this year.
The entertainment firm is home to 10 well-known drama writers such as Kim Do-woo of “My Name Is Kim Sam-soon,” Kim Kyu-wan of “Blade Man” and Park Min-jung of “Ugly Young-ae.”
IHQ has also introduced several popular reality TV shows recently such as “Delicious Guys” and “Shikshin Road.”
“Delicious Guys” is hosted by four comedians who have huge appetites and visit popular restaurants in the country to try popular menu items themselves. IHQ opened an online mall that sells ready-to-eat meals of food that was featured on the reality TV show.
A&E became a shareholder of IHQ in December 2016 when it invested 17.9 billion won. IHQ handled advertising for A&E’s cable television channels such as History and Lifetime while co-producing shows utilizing IHQ’s intellectual properties. Celebrities contracted by IHQ have also appeared on A&E’s television shows.
IHQ is currently in the process of transferring management rights to KH Media from its largest shareholder D’Live. However, the entertainment firm said this contract will not change A&E Television Network Korea’s share in IHQ.
“After a number of global OTT players announced their launches in the Korean market, the status of content provider has improved,” an IHQ official said. “We are consistently offering our original content written by our screenwriters to global players. We will also invest aggressively in producing television series and secure competitiveness in the field.”
