TV Asahi Updates TV Programming With Focus on VTubers, Metaverse

Japanese television network TV Asahi has announced new updates on its TV programming, with a greater focus on providing educational and entertainment content related to VTubers and the metaverse. The lineup change is part of a strategy to meet the needs of all generations.

Mantan Web reports the existing shows will be moved to different timeslots for greater reach to children.

The first is the “Voice Actor Park Construction Planning VR Department” (New schedule: Sundays at 10:00am) which first aired in March 2021. The show is composed of comedian duo Pekopa and voice actor Tomokazu Seki. Metaverse Roppongi, a virtual world established by the station, serves as the set for the program. The 30-minute program will be expanded to cover a full hour. A new "VTuber Idol Project" will also be developed.

The second is the “Gariben Girl V” show (New schedule: Saturdays at 6:30 pm), hosted by comedian Eiji Kotoge. In the show, VTuber guests learn lectures from various genres, ranging from marine biology, bodybuilding, to even doing proper exercises.

By moving Gariben Girl V to a Saturday timeslot, TV Asahi hopes many people (including families) will enjoy the program as a new type of intellectual variety show where they can learn more about the VTuber world while also gaining solid knowledge and information.

Japanese TV shows have long accepted VTubers as part of their guest lineup. Pioneer VTuber Kizuna Ai was once a frequent guest of the long-time prime TV show “Downtown DX”, hosted by Downtown (comedians Hitoshi Matsumoto and Masatoshi Hamada).