After Japanese comedy duo DownTown's comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto was embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal in late 2023, he announced a hiatus from entertainment activities in early 2024. He then pursued legal action against Shukan Bunshun, the magazine that broke the story, with both parties reaching a settlement in November 2024.
But hold up! Yoshimoto Kogyo, Matsumoto's agency, just dropped a bombshell: they're launching a brand-new paid video streaming service, "DownTown Channel" (tentative name, ダウンタウンチャンネル), starting November 1st this year. This platform will be exclusively dedicated to content featuring their iconic comedy duo, DownTown. Naturally, this announcement has sparked massive speculation among netizens, all wondering if this signals Hitoshi Matsumoto's return to the entertainment world.
According to Yoshimoto Kogyo's official website announcement, "DownTown Channel" is a completely new, proprietary streaming system. It will operate on a subscription model, accessible across mobile devices, PCs, and TVs, and will even incorporate new interactive features for viewers.
What's more, all new programs and content on "DownTown Channel" will be produced using a content fund established by the company and co-funded by Japanese and international enterprises. This ensures a steady stream of high-quality, diverse entertainment. Other artists are also slated to join the platform in the future. Details regarding the platform's official name, subscription plans, and specific program lineup will be announced once confirmed.
(Note: The content fund was established with billions of Japanese Yen from both domestic and international sources, aiming to span a wide array of entertainment fields, including variety shows, films, anime, dramas, concerts, reality shows, vertical short dramas, webtoons, games, and even AI-powered content.)
Since Hitoshi Matsumoto announced his hiatus in January 2024, the golden duo of DownTown's Hitoshi Matsumoto & Masatoshi Hamada has barely appeared together. Interestingly, the concept for this new platform was actually hinted at in Matsumoto's interview back in late 2024. He even suggested that if he were to make a comeback and perform comedy again, this platform might just be his first stage.
Naturally, all eyes are on whether Hitoshi Matsumoto will use this platform as his official comeback stage. And will DownTown gradually make their way back to mainstream TV through this venture? Only time will tell how Yoshimoto Kogyo plays its cards.
via： おたくま経済新聞