Dentsu teams with Japanese TV broadcasters for Internet TV

Japanese advertising agency Dentsu is teaming up with five of Japan's major broadcasting companies to explore the development of broadband TV in the country. Dentsu will work with Nippon Television Network, Tokyo Broadcasting System, Fuji Television Network, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo. Together they look to form a joint operation that will develop and distribute an interface similar to TV that would enable customers to easily choose and view video content using a broadband connection. Users will be able to access the broadcasting companies' free and pay on-demand content via the Internet. The companies did not release specific details of the new operation.

Following the announcement, Fuji TV and TBS increased their stakes in Dentsu to 1.37 percent and 1.44 percent, respectively. Softbank was in talks with Dentsu and the broadcasters earlier in the year for an Internet TV offering, but the company said it is not involved with the latest joint venture.

For more on Dentsu's Internet TV plans:
- see this article from Japan Today