NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in September: Manga Behind the Scenes

2 September 2025

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in September: Manga Behind the Scenes

Manben: Behind the Scenes of Manga with Urasawa Naoki

Otomo Katsuhiro September 13 Sat. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) Otomo Katsuhiro is celebrated as a man who revolutionized Japanese manga, and he joins us for an in-depth discussion with Urasawa Naoki. Admired by today’s top creators, Otomo’s work redefined realism, movement, and spectacle in manga. We look through original drafts to reveal the secrets of his innovative style, from striking perspectives to unforgettable destruction scenes. Urasawa revisits Domu, the masterpiece that impacted him even more than Akira. Watch to find out what’s coming next!
IMPACTS: Climates Change the World September 27 Sat. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) Asia’s Double Global Warming The WMO’s latest report revealed warming in Asia to be twice the global average in 2024. Among record high sea surface temperatures and marine heatwaves, we examine the reasons for these phenomena.
Journeys in Japan Tuesdays 0:30/5:30/10:30/15:30/21:30 (UTC) Explore a different side of Japan. Meet the locals and discover traditions and cultures not usually found in guidebooks!

Bundesliga International lands historic three-year deal with MBC GROUP for the MENA region

22 August 2025

Bundesliga International lands historic three-year deal with MBC GROUP for the MENA region

Bundesliga International strikes deal with MBC GROUP, becoming the first European league to be shown on their linear and digital channels
MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in MENA, and will offer fans the opportunity to watch multiple games per matchday free-to-air
Alongside live matches, both organisations will work together on joint-marketing strategy to continue the growth of the Bundesliga in a locally relevant way

The Bundesliga will be available to millions of football fans throughout the Middle East and North Africa region, after a three-year partnership was struck with media powerhouse MBC GROUP. The move comes as part of the Bundesliga International’s global growth strategy to ensure maximum exposure in a rapidly growing fanbase.

Recognised as the largest and leading media conglomerate in MENA, and present in every Arab-household, MBC GROUP will now bring the Bundesliga to its core sports offering as the first European league to be broadcasted.

The deal, which begins immediately, ensures that the millions of German football fans across the region can watch Bundesliga matches without restriction, starting with this Friday’s season opener between reigning champions FC Bayern München and RB Leipzig (kick off 20:30 CEST).

Three matches a week will be available on free-to-air (FTA) channel MBC ACTION, while the opening match will air on the flagship channel MBC1 to celebrate the launch of the new season. All matches will be available on Shahid – the world’s leading Arabic streaming platforms. Together, Bundesliga International and MBC GROUP will develop a joint-marketing strategy, ensuring that the partnership goes way beyond the live matches.

“We are proud to work with the region’s leading player, and one that is committed to bringing the Bundesliga closer than ever before to millions of football fans,” said Peer Naubert, CEO of Bundesliga International:

“As one of the fastest growing regions for football fandom, and in particular within the female demographic, the Middle East and North Africa is central to our global growth strategy, and our partnership is built on a 360-degree, localised approach that will ensures we are telling the stories that matter in a relevant and engaging way. From the world-class product on the field, to our unique and unrivalled clubs and fans, MBC’s phenomenal reach and position as a media and entertainment superpower will ensure that together we deliver the best of the Bundesliga day-in and day-out.”

The Bundesliga has been active across the MENA region, at all levels of football development. In April 2025, Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig hosted an all-female coaching delegation from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), sharing expertise and providing opportunities for the young coaches to lead training sessions at their elite academies.

Furthermore, the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga has hosted leagues for knowledge exchange workshops on areas such as broadcast technology and league administration. As part of a comprehensive growth strategy, the league is also active on the ground to bring the Bundesliga closer to fans. Alongside coaching exchanges and fan visits, Bundesliga International hosted its first Iftar in Jeddah in April 2025, with Bundesliga fans gathering to a Ramadan Iftar and watching a Bundesliga match.

“We are proud to partner with the Bundesliga, bringing the next three seasons of the German Premier League to the MENA region exclusively across MBC broadcast and streaming platforms. Our partnership will extend beyond broadcasting rights to also include marketing and promotion, as well as exchanging comprehensive technical expertise, and much more,” said Mike Sneesby CEO of MBC Group.

“This new agreement is part of our strategic objective to bring the best international sports to millions of fans across the Arab world and the entire region and will allow them to enjoy all the magic of German football,” concluded Sneesby.

[Source: MBC press release]

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in August: The Pursuit of Peace

4 August 2025

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in August: The Pursuit of Peace

The Pursuit of Peach – Searching for Answers

Animation Documentary Iwata’s Grandma August 1 Fri. 1:30/6:30/12:30/17:30/22:30 (UTC) August 5 Tue. 19:00 (UTC) Why does Iwata’s Grandma refuse to be in photos? This animation documentary is based on a picture book about the atomic bomb tragedy but conveys kindness and hope rather than fear and anxiety.
Documentary 360 KAMIKAZE: An Untold History August 9 Sat. Ep.1 August 10 Sun. Ep.2 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) On the Pacific front towards the end of World War II, Japan’s imperial armed forces launched “kamikaze” attacks, or suicide missions by aircrafts laden with bombs. It was a mad operation with no hope of returning alive. But the nation went wild, and the attacks continued for ten months, literally until the very last day of war. About 4,000 crew lost their lives. How could this happen? Utilizing 15 years-worth of extensive interviews with both US and Japanese former military personnel as well as experts, combined with a detailed “hometown map” created from the data of each and every life lost, and the latest analysis of archival footage and documents, the program delves into the mechanism of how a crazed madness swept through an entire nation.
BOSAI: Science that Can Save Your Life Saturdays 5:40/11:40/17:40/22:40 (UTC) Mondays 1:15 (UTC) Tuesdays 8:45 (UTC) Japan has a long history of natural disasters. BOSAI explores how to overcome them and save lives with the power of science.

MBC GROUP joins forces with Netflix

28 July 2025

MBC GROUP joins forces with Netflix

MBC GROUP, the largest and leading media organisation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), announces a groundbreaking new regional partnership with Netflix, one of the world’s leading entertainment services.

This first-of-this-kind partnership for Netflix in the Middle East and North Africa will give customers of MBCNOW – the recently launched entertainment service aggregator by MBC GROUP – seamless access to the full Netflix service. The newly created bundle will combine Netflix alongside Shahid, the world’s Arabic streaming platform, in addition to Linear TV channels, in one simple subscription.

This exciting new offering – bringing together two streaming giants under one roof – has never been seen before in MENA and promises to cater to the varied viewing preferences of families from the GCC, wider Arab world, and beyond. Featuring an extensive variety of content, including critically acclaimed series, documentaries, films, and more, there’s something for everyone this season with MBCNOW.

Fadel Zahreddine, Group Director of Emerging Media at MBC GROUP, commented: “This groundbreaking partnership is one for the books. To have two streaming giants – Shahid and Netflix – come together under one platform is something never seen before in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and wider MENA, and we’re very excited for what’s to come.”

“We’re thrilled to have MBC GROUP join forces with Netflix to bring its content to our audiences under the convenience of a single subscription. This collaboration is part of our ongoing commitment to provide unparalleled global and local experiences for our audiences in the region. This is definitely the future of streaming and content consumption.” added Bhanu Chaddha, Director of Distribution and TV Products at MBC GROUP.”

On his part, Mohammed Al Kuraishi, Head of Business Development and Partnerships, Middle East and Africa at Netflix said. “We are delighted to partner with MBC GROUP to bring our members in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the region easy access to our service and an incredible variety of international and Arabic shows, movies, documentaries, kids content, stand-ups, Live- events, and games. This partnership brings unparalleled entertainment offering to our members and puts them at the heart of the entertainment experience.”

Launched February 2025, MBCNOW offers an unmatched approach to content consumption for Saudi and wider Arab audiences. Transcending traditional TV viewing, MBCNOW has been designed to seamlessly bridge the gap between digital streaming and traditional broadcast television – bringing together MBC’s award-winning channels, as well as Shahid, all in one destination.

With the new Netflix agreement, MBC GROUP brings forward a distinctive bundle through MBCBNOW:

Shahid + Netflix Pack: Combines the best of Arabic and international content, featuring Shahid’s vast library of award-winning Arabic TV shows, films, and documentaries, along with Netflix’s full catalogue. This bundle features a saving of more than or 21% compared to individual subscriptions.

Now available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia across all major retailers and eCommerce stores, MBCNOW is the go-to hub for all entertainment needs. For more information on MBCNOW’s offers, options, and availability, as well as its brand-new bundle with Shahid and Netflix, please visit: mbc-now.net.

[Source: MBC press release]

US District Court Orders USAGM to Pay RFE/RL for Rest of Fiscal Year

19 July 2025

US District Court Orders USAGM to Pay RFE/RL for Rest of Fiscal Year

Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has granted Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)’s request for a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

In his ruling, the judge ordered USAGM to timely disburse RFE/RL’s remaining congressionally appropriated funds for fiscal year 2025, concluding that the agency’s conditioning of funds on the imposition of onerous new grant terms and failure to engage in good-faith negotiations with RFE/RL violate the law.

Judge Lamberth wrote: “As far as this Court is aware, it is unprecedented for an agency to demand that entirely new terms govern its decades-old working relationship with a grantee entity and then stop responding, particularly when the agency is statutorily obligated to grant yearly congressional appropriations to that specific entity by name.” The Court stated that “USAGM’s flagrant disregard for its funding responsibilities” has caused RFE/RL to suffer “mass furloughs, cancelation of programming, and inevitable damage to the global influence that RFE/RL has built over decades.”

President and CEO Stephen Capus said:

“Today’s ruling by the Court is the culmination of relentless legal efforts to compel USAGM to release the funding necessary to carry out RFE/RL’s vital mission. Time and again, the Court has ruled in our favor on the basic issue of the release of our congressionally appropriated funds.

This victory provides our journalists with the momentum necessary to continue reaching the nearly 47 million people each week who rely on our journalism for the facts and to counter malicious propaganda from authoritarian governments. Now more than ever, we cannot cede the information space to tyrants.

With this ruling, RFE/RL can continue to advance U.S. national security interests.”