Former Amuse executives Hisashi Yamamoto and Takaomi Deguchi have launched a film and TV production outfit, Asia Content Center (ACC), with an innovative financing model backed by its ties to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

NHK has first option to pre-buy ACC productions for up to 80% of each project's budget in return for Japanese TV rights. Meanwhile ACC's international team will handle sales of all other rights.

'The first window is likely to be NHK's BS platform, but some of the content will also receive a theatrical release in Japan,' explained ACC executive vice president Shoji Udagawa, who is heading up international for the company.

NHK's BS high-definition platform currently has a subscriber base of around 20 million people across Japan.

Shareholders in ACC include Japan's Avex Group Holdings, along with a range of companies that control distribution platforms such as Ken Media (DVD), JSAT (satellite), WOWOW (pay-TV), Broadmedia Studios (broadband & TV) and Egg Box (arcade games).

Udagawa said the company aims to produce original content, for Japanese and global markets, as well as acquire remake rights to popular US and other international TV shows.

ACC's first projects include two original Japanese TV series that are likely to be spun off into movies - Wild Life, based on the hit manga about flying vets, and historical drama Stars Of Destiny, based on a best-selling novel by Jiro Asada.

The company is also developing a Japanese-language TV series based on 1991 hit Point Break, to tie in with Singapore-based RGM Entertainment's planned Asian-themed sequel to the film.

Udagawa, a former JVC Entertainment and Kadokawa executive, is also business affairs advisor for entertainment consultancy Filosophia Entertainment Alliance

Peter Anshin, president of Asia Entertainment Finance Associates (AEFA), is also working with ACC as executive advisor.

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