TV Asahi Holdings announced its new four-year management strategy, “START UP TV ASAHI!! MANAGEMENT PLAN 2026–2029,” outlining ambitious growth targets ahead of its 70th anniversary in 2029, with anime positioned at the centre of that expansion.
The plan, revealed on February 12, sets aggressive financial goals and makes it clear that anime will play a major role in driving future revenue growth.
Financial Targets for 2029
Under the new plan, TV Asahi HD aims to grow over the next four years:
- Consolidated revenue: From ¥336 billion to ¥400 billion
- Operating profit: From ¥24 billion to ¥33 billion
The company plans to achieve this growth through:
- Activation of the large-scale event venue Tokyo Dream Park in Ariake
- Strengthened IP creation
- Deeper collaboration with ABEMA
- M&A targeting startup companies
- Expanded use of AI technologies
But among all strategic pillars, anime stands out as one of the most emphasized growth drivers.
Anime Output to Be Doubled
One of the boldest announcements in the plan is the doubling of the number of anime titles the company will develop and deploy by 2029.
TV Asahi HD plans not only to increase the number of works it invests in, but also to expand the number of titles for which it serves as the lead production committee company (幹事作品). The goal is to increase anime-related revenue by 1.5 times within four years.
To support this, the company aims to build a vertically integrated structure covering Planning and development, Investment, Production, and Overall project production.
The strategy envisions a fully integrated anime business model that manages projects from upstream planning to downstream commercialization.
Late-night terrestrial broadcasting will become a key platform for strategic content incubation.
TV Asahi HD intends to:
- Increase the number of late-night anime slots
- Use those slots as a testing ground for profitable IP development
- Expand anime volume through broadcast-driven growth
- To secure strong source material, the company plans to strengthen strategic alliances with major publishers.
Additionally, TV Asahi will explore synergy between anime and its established strengths in sports and music programming, potentially expanding cross-media development opportunities.
Strengthening Studio Partnerships
Anime expansion will require deeper production infrastructure collaboration.
A central pillar of this effort is Shin-Ei Animation, TV Asahi’s wholly owned subsidiary studio. Shin-Ei already produces major long-running franchises such as Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan, and its role is expected to grow further under the new strategy.
At the same time, TV Asahi HD plans to deepen ties with Toei Animation, Japan’s largest animation studio. The relationship is already financially strong:
- TV Asahi HD is the largest shareholder of Toei (Toei Animation’s parent company).
- It is also a major shareholder of Toei Animation itself.
- Toei Animation is treated as an equity-method affiliate.
This capital relationship gives TV Asahi significant strategic leverage in expanding collaborative anime production initiatives.
Anime will also serve as a key driver in TV Asahi HD’s global strategy. The company plans to:
- Expand overseas program sales
- Develop proprietary global anime distribution
- Establish overseas operational bases
India is identified as a priority growth market, building on the success of Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan in the region.
The company is also investing in animation-related startups, including a stake in HIKE Holdings, which operates in both anime production and event production.
With its 70th anniversary approaching in 2029, TV Asahi HD is positioning anime as a cornerstone of its future growth. The strategy signals increased production volume, Greater ownership of IP, Stronger vertical integration, and expanded global ambitions.
If executed successfully, this plan could significantly reshape TV Asahi’s role within Japan’s anime industry, transitioning from a broadcaster-investor model toward a more fully integrated anime IP powerhouse.
The coming years will determine whether the company can meet its ambitious targets — but one thing is clear: TV Asahi HD is betting heavily on anime.
Source: Animation Business Info
