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2023.10.1

Business

Creating future where local communities and customers continue to enjoy enriched lives through new technologies and services ―J:COM―

Japan’s largest cable television company, J:COM Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “J:COM”) is a core enterprise company in the media & digital business field of Sumitomo Corporation Group. Currently, J:COM is focusing on the cable platform business while expanding its business in areas such as TV, Internet, telephone, mobile, and energy. J:COM has valued local community-based business model since its launch and has focused on the CSR activities that contribute to the local community. Sumitomo Corporation aims to improve people’s living standards and develop local communities as well as economies through J:COM’s business. Let us introduce our efforts to achieve those goals.

This content was originally published in August 2025.

Offering services to support daily life in a variety of fields

J:COM is a Sumitomo Corporation group company and a facilitator of the group’s media and digital business. J:COM was established in 1995, and now, a quarter-century after its founding, J:COM has dramatically developed into Japan’s largest cable TV operator with the total number of subscribing households up to 5.73 million.

While J:COM offers quality entertainment through cable TV, production of movies and video works, operation of various thematic channels, and many other services, the company also develops lifestyle related services to support many aspects of daily life, including essential telecommunication infrastructure such as Internet, telephone, and mobile phone as well as electricity, and insurance services.

Providing both upstream and downstream services in the TV value chain

As of March 2025, J:COM TV provides services to 3.76 million households, giving it a 50% share of the number of households that subscribe to cable TV multichannel broadcasting services in Japan.

A total of 65 cable TV stations provide services in each region, primarily in the Sapporo, Sendai, Kanto, Kansai, and Kyushu areas.
The service provides access to approximately 120 channels. Programs span the entire range of genres, including movies, television shows, sports, animation, music, and talk shows. In recent years, we have been building partnerships with Internet video services in response to the growing demand for viewing Internet videos. From June 2025, J:COM started "J:COM TV Shin Standard Plus" as a new course. The package combines 60 specialized channels with the video streaming service "J:COM STREAM". It also offers bundle plans with existing packages and services like Netflix and Disney+. . JCOM also offers various services such as "J:COM LINK mini", a dongle-type smart streaming device that allows users to view multiple Internet video services simply by connecting it to their TV.

You can enjoy online videos on large-screen TV. All you need to do is to plug in the J:COM LINK mini dongle.

As a content creator and channel operator, J:COM delivers a wide range of programs to its subscribers. The company covers both upstream and downstream businesses in the value chain of the TV industry, offering content, media, and infrastructure services. This comprehensiveness is what makes J:COM uniquely strong.

In the field of media content, J:COM handles self-produced community channels that are rooted in the local region, and it also operates 3 specialized channels: the CS entertainment channel "Channel Ginga: Historical dramas, Mystery dramas, and Music shows"; golf specialized channel "Golf Network"; and the sports channel "J SPORTS". From August 2023, J:COM expanded its strategic alliance with Warner Bros. Discovery in Japan, and has been operating a total of seven specialized channels , "Movie Plus", "LaLa TV", "Discovery Channel", "Animal Planet", "Cartoon Network", "MONDO TV", and "TABI Channel", through the joint venture Discovery Japan Inc. .
Along with channel operations, Asmik Ace, Inc., is expanding its rights business globally with a focus on video, from production and distribution of theatrical films and animation to overseas licensing sales. J:COM is expanding its business domains with music event planner and manager ANY, and PROOX, a digital video production company for advertising and corporate PR. Delivering a wide range of high-quality services, J:COM is aiming to create a media content business that cannot be found anywhere else.

Through broadcasting and digital media, the three thematic channels directly operated by J:COM offer a wide range of content including sports, movies, and television dramas.

Offering convenient Internet services

J:COM provides a convenient Wi-Fi environment, ensuring connectivity throughout the home.

High-speed and large-capacity Internet access is becoming essential to many people in line with the growing popularity of video streaming and online gaming. To accommodate this trend, J:COM has been working to make its Internet services more convenient, for example, by offering high-speed Internet services with 1Gbps downloads or faster as well as better home Wi-Fi environments.

“J:COM Mesh Wi-Fi” has been available since 2019 as an optional Internet service. It solves problems such as unstable and slow Wi-Fi connections by using AI, tri-band, and other advanced technologies. Since 2022, the company has also been offering a modem with next-generation AI Wi-Fi as a standard feature, enabling expanded in-home coverage through mesh Wi-Fi by adding pods.

Taking on challenges: expanding to new service domains

J:COM’s new services include its insurance business(small amount and short term insurance), which began operations in November 2020. In December 2023, J:COM launched its third product, “Family Smartphone Insurance,” which provides comprehensive coverage for repair and replacement costs of smartphones and tablets, including those used by family members. Since its introduction, "Family Smartphone Insurance" has driven subscriber growth and become a hit product.

Passing down the corporate DNA as a company that takes root in local communities

In general, cable TV operators launched their business as locally rooted media companies. J:COM is not an exception. It also started its business operations in four areas of Nerima, Suginami, Fuchu, and Koganei in Tokyo. The company has been passing down the DNA as a locally rooted company to date.

For example, about 2,500 J:COM salespersons visit each household to propose the services suitable for their lifestyles. For existing subscribers, over 2,300 staff members are dedicated to offering follow-up services and tailored support, such as solutions to daily problems.

J:COM values ties with local communities and enhances them through the creation of programs for local people on the community channel. In the event of a disaster, the company broadcasts a variety of detailed information about the disaster including damage reports, evacuation information, school closures, and different measures to support daily life as well as local government press conferences. J:COM attributes the greatest importance to building up face-to-face relations with local customers.

Our 65 cable TV stations nationwide deliver meticulously tailored services aligned with each region's unique characteristics.
Community channels produce programs tailored to each local area

To be your essential service provider by providing services that resonate with our customers

J:COM’s PR mascot “ZAQ” is beloved and familiar from TV commercials, and related goods like LINE stickers and stationery are also popular.

TV, Internet, telephone, mobile, and electricity services: J:COM provides a comprehensive lineup of services for people’s daily lives. As an integrated lifestyle infrastructure service provider centered around the internet, our vision is to support our customers' living in every aspect.

In addition, to ensure customers and local communities remain prosperous and sustainable into the future, J:COM is also working toward the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by FY2030.

J:COM will pave the way for a better future by evolving "the joy of living" and "the richness of the community" together with each and every customer and local community,

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