Disney, HYBE content collaboration
July 12, 2022
The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and HYBE have announced a global content collaboration that will see both companies working together to showcase content from South Korea’s music and entertainment industry to the world stage. The agreement includes global distribution of five titles from HYBE, which include two exclusive series featuring K-pop icons BTS that will launch on Disney’s streaming services.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with HYBE to showcase their original content created with powerful artist IP on our global streaming services including Disney+,” said Jessica Kam-Engle, APAC Head of Content, The Walt Disney Company. “This collaboration represents our creative ambition – to work with iconic content creators and top stars in Asia Pacific so their talent can be enjoyed by mainstream audiences in multiple ways. We believe these new titles will captivate consumers worldwide and look forward to introducing more music content on our service.”
“This will be the start of a long-term collaboration, where we present worldwide audiences a wide range of HYBE content for fans who love our music and artists,” added Park Ji-won, CEO of HYBE. “The Walt Disney Company has a long history of franchise building and promoting musical artists, with its unparalleled brands and platforms.”
Three of HYBE’s projects coming to Disney’s streaming services include:
BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage: This exclusive cinematic 4K concert film features BTS’ live performance in Los Angeles’ Sofi Stadium in November 2021. Performing Billboard hit songs Butter and Permission to Dance, this was the first time in two years since the pandemic that the band met fans in person.
In The Soop: Friendcation: An original travel reality show with a star-studded cast including V of BTS, Itaewon Class’ Seo-jun Park, Parasite star Woo-shik Choi, Hyung-sik Park, and Peakboy. The programme features the five friends venturing on a surprise trip and enjoying a variety of leisure and fun activities.
This strategic collaboration will allow Disney to introduce a series of new titles from HYBE over the next few years, as the entertainment platform continues to produce high-quality content based on its music and artists IPs.