CJ ENM's 'EXchange' Expands Global Territory with Remakes in Japan and Brazil

CJ ENM's dating reality program 'EXchange' is accelerating its expansion into the global market as remake versions are being produced in Japan and Brazil.

Japanese 'Love Transit' targeting ages 35+ to be released in October

CJ ENM announced that 'Love Transit', the Japanese remake of 'EXchange', will introduce a new series titled 'Love Transit 35+' following the success of its three seasons. This new work is scheduled to be released worldwide through Amazon Prime Video on October 22.

This new series is characterized by being composed only of participants aged 35 and older for the first time in the series. In particular, divorced former partners will join, reflecting the changing perceptions of marriage in Japanese society. The participants will consist of 10 adult men and women who have experienced major life turning points such as marriage, divorce, family, and career, and they plan to cover more in-depth, realistic moments of choice than previous seasons.

'EXchange's global competitiveness and market expansion

'EXchange', which first appeared as a TVING original in 2021, has established itself as a core IP for CJ ENM. In particular, 'EXchange 4' proved an unusual target expansion for a dating variety show, with the viewership proportion of male users in their teens increasing by 180% and female users by 93% compared to Season 1. Furthermore, it proved its global competitiveness by being nominated for prestigious global awards such as the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA) and ContentAsia Awards.

Brazil remake confirmed and global distribution network expansion

The influence of K-content extends to South America. CJ ENM has confirmed the production of a remake of 'EXchange' in Brazil. The Brazilian version of 'Love Transit' will be directed by the famous local TV director Boninho, and Amazon MGM Studios and Formata will participate in the co-production.

This expansion coincides with the high demand for Korean content in the region. According to the 'Brazil July Cultural Trends' from the Korean Cultural Center Brazil, K-dramas accounted for 28% of reports related to Korean culture in major local media, recording the second-highest proportion after K-pop. Additionally, at the 'K-Content Biz Week' held in Rio de Janeiro last May by the KOCCA Brazil Business Center, a total of 195 export consultations and contract achievements worth approximately 7.13 million dollars were recorded.

Kim Do-hyun, head of the CJ ENM Content Distribution BU, explained, "'Love Transit' has established itself as a global hit format by effectively combining the strong format of the original 'EXchange' with the culture and emotions of each region. The launch of this new Japanese work and the confirmation of the Brazil remake are representative achievements showing that K-variety is expanding its influence across the world, transcending language and borders, and leading global trends."

CJ ENM is expanding its distribution network to major markets such as India based on a strategic partnership with Amazon Prime Video. Since last July, it has already released six Thai dramas produced by the local joint venture True CJ Creations through Amazon MX Player, and plans to sequentially supply a total of about 100 pieces of content, including 26 new works, to the Indian market over the next two years.