2021
11.22
Nippon TV heads to this year's ATF with new scripted format “Guilty Flag”
Company to introduce drama format at ATF's online event
“Treasure Box Japan”
TOKYO, JAPAN - November 22, 2021 – Nippon TV, Japan's leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, announced today the launch of a new scripted format titled Guilty Flag (20 × 60'). From the creators of hit suspense drama series Your Turn To Kill and conceptualized by Yasushi Akimoto, Guilty Flag incorporates the latest trend of the enticing guessing game element where viewers can join in the excitement of guessing the true culprit following the story arc. Airing from October 2021 on Nippon TV, the premiere topped the viewer market share across target audiences including children, teenagers, and the elusive 20-to-34-year age group. In addition, Nippon TV will unveil Guilty Flag at “Treasure Box Japan”, an online event to introduce the latest Japanese content at this year's ATF. The announcement was made by Mikiko Nishiyama, Managing Director, International Business Development, Nippon TV.
“With a thrilling premise where all the characters are suspects, Guilty Flag has gone viral on social media where viewers can speculate on the true culprit each time it airs on Sunday nights here in Japan. All the way to the end of the 20 episodes there are clues to the truth of the case keeping the viewers on their toes,” commented Nishiyama. “Guilty Flag depicts the harsh reality of today's internet society where everyone can be a source of information, or worse, misinformation, and stories are created based on what may or may not be true. I am convinced that it is the perfect drama series for those of us living in this age.”
Even in a peaceful country, thousands of people go missing every year. Guilty Flag follows a man whose wife and kids suddenly disappear. He frantically searches for them but has no leads. To convince the police to start an investigation, he uses the power of social media to bring their disappearance to the public's attention. However, speculative minds begin to think that maybe he is the “real” culprit, and all eyes are focused on him as he gets driven into a corner. At the same time, as if to hint the abduction of his wife and kids, their belongings are inexplicably found one after another, which sway him, the police and everyone watching this case while he tries to find answers to the hidden truth.
About Nippon TV
Nippon TV is Japan's leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse and ratings champion broadcaster as well as owner of streaming giant Hulu in Japan. One of the biggest successes for the nation's finest producer of all genres of programming is the Emmy Award-winning Dragons' Den/Shark Tank, a globally successful business show format that has 45 versions in 186 territories across all continents of the world. Following closely are the successes of scripted formats Mother and Woman -My Life for My Children-, whose Turkish versions have become mega-hits that have gone on to air in almost 50 territories around the world, a first for a format from Japan. Mother has also been licensed to South Korea, Ukraine, France, Thailand, China, Indonesia and Spain, making it one of the most exported formats out of Asia. The Chinese remake of Mother won the Best Drama and Best Actress of the 2020 Best Internet Content Ranking at the 2020 Shanghai International Film&TV Festival Shanghai Internet Summit. The company is also achieving great success with gameshow formats BLOCK OUT, an action-packed game show format that has been sold to Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Spain and Holland, as well as the award-winning show Mute it!, and Sokkuri Sweets, both sold to WBITVP and produced in the Netherlands. Sokkuri Sweets has also been adapted by The Roku Channel in the US, UK, and Canada. Over 90% of its content IP is fully owned by Nippon TV, in addition to well-established businesses that span VOD/live-streaming engineering, animation/film production, fitness clubs, eSports, and android creation/digital mixed reality technology. Nippon TV is leveraging its coveted platform to revolutionize digital media and solidify its brand as a global media leader.