Turner Japan
A former Japanese television company that operated Cartoon Network and other specialty channels before its operations were absorbed into Discovery Japan in 2023.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Turner Japan was a Japanese commercial television company associated with the international operations of Turner Broadcasting and, later, Warner Bros. Discovery. Its business focused on operating and distributing subscription television channels and related content for the Japanese market. The company’s principal consumer-facing service was the Japanese edition of Cartoon Network, which brought Turner’s animated programming portfolio to Japanese pay-television audiences. The company began as Japan Entertainment Network K.K. on 8 May 1997. It was established as a joint venture involving Itochu and Time Warner, the corporate predecessor of WarnerMedia and one of the businesses that later became part of Warner Bros. Discovery. On 1 September 1997, it launched the Japanese version of Cartoon Network on PerfecTV, a satellite television platform that preceded the present Sky PerfecTV Premium Service. This launch provided the foundation for Turner’s long-term presence in Japan’s multichannel television sector. Turner Japan later broadened its portfolio beyond animation. In July 2009, it acquired Japan Image Communications Co., Ltd. from Secom, Fuji Xerox and Hikari Tsushin. Japan Image Communications owned Mondo TV and Tabi Channel, specialty channels associated respectively with mah-jong and lifestyle or travel-oriented programming. The acquired company was merged into Turner Japan on 1 January 2014, bringing those services within the same corporate structure as Cartoon Network Japan. The business also experimented with additional channel brands and digital distribution. On 30 January 2018, it introduced Boomerang, a Cartoon Network spin-off, Tabi Tele, a spin-off associated with Tabi Channel, and Mondo Mah-jong TV, a spin-off of Mondo TV, on NTT Docomo’s dTV Channel over-the-top multichannel television platform. These services were discontinued on 31 March 2022 when dTV Channel itself ended service. The company changed its legal name from Japan Entertainment Network K.K. to Turner Japan K.K. on 1 April 2013. Its corporate structure was subsequently affected by the 2022 combination of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc., which created Warner Bros. Discovery. On 1 August 2023, Turner Japan’s operations were absorbed into Discovery Japan, a Warner Bros. Discovery and J:COM joint venture. This integration rendered Turner Japan inactive as a standalone company. Its final listed operations included Cartoon Network, Mondo TV and Tabi Channel. The company is therefore best understood as a former Japanese channel operator and content-distribution business rather than an independently operating current media brand.
History
Turner Japan originated as Japan Entertainment Network K.K., a Japanese joint venture established on 8 May 1997 by Itochu and Time Warner. The venture was created to bring Time Warner’s television properties into Japan and to operate commercial subscription channels for Japanese viewers. Its first major service was the Japanese version of Cartoon Network, launched on 1 September 1997 through PerfecTV, a satellite television platform that preceded the current Sky PerfecTV Premium Service. Cartoon Network became the company’s central offering and established Turner Japan in the Japanese multichannel television market. The business later expanded into additional thematic channels through the acquisition of Japan Image Communications Co., Ltd. in July 2009. Japan Image Communications owned Mondo TV and Tabi Channel, giving Turner Japan access to specialty programming beyond children’s animation. The acquisition involved the previous shareholders of Japan Image Communications, including Secom, Fuji Xerox and Hikari Tsushin. On 1 January 2014, Japan Image Communications was merged into Turner Japan. The corporate name changed on 1 April 2013, when Japan Entertainment Network K.K. became Turner Japan K.K. The renamed company continued to operate Cartoon Network and the channels obtained through the Japan Image Communications transaction. Its portfolio reflected a combination of internationally recognizable entertainment programming and niche Japanese subscription channels, including Mondo TV and Tabi Channel. Turner Japan also pursued a digital distribution strategy. On 30 January 2018, it launched three additional services on NTT Docomo’s dTV Channel OTT multichannel platform: Boomerang, an extension of the Cartoon Network brand; Tabi Tele, related to Tabi Channel; and Mondo Mah-jong TV, related to Mondo TV. These channels were designed for the dTV Channel environment rather than as permanent replacements for the company’s principal linear services. They closed on 31 March 2022 when dTV Channel discontinued operations. The company’s final corporate transition followed the April 2022 merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. The combination created Warner Bros. Discovery and led to a reorganization of its international businesses. In Japan, Turner Japan’s linear television operations were absorbed into Discovery Japan on 1 August 2023. Discovery Japan was described as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Discovery and J:COM. The absorption made Turner Japan inactive as a standalone company. Its final operations were identified as Cartoon Network, Mondo TV and Tabi Channel. Turner Japan’s history consequently spans the launch of a major international children’s channel in Japan, expansion into locally distributed specialty services, experimentation with OTT channel distribution, and eventual consolidation within the post-merger Warner Bros. Discovery structure.
- 2023
Operations move to Discovery Japan
[1]Turner Japan’s operations were absorbed into Discovery Japan on 1 August, leaving Turner Japan inactive as a standalone company.
- 2022
dTV Channel-related services close
[1]The three spin-off channels ended on 31 March when dTV Channel terminated its service.
- 2018
Three channels launch on dTV Channel
[1]Boomerang, Tabi Tele and Mondo Mah-jong TV launched on NTT Docomo’s dTV Channel platform on 30 January.
- 2014
Japan Image Communications is merged into Turner Japan
[1]The acquired company was formally merged into Turner Japan on 1 January.
- 2013
Corporate name changes to Turner Japan
[1]Japan Entertainment Network K.K. officially adopted the Turner Japan K.K. name on 1 April.
- 2009
Japan Image Communications is acquired
[1]Turner Japan acquired Japan Image Communications, bringing Mondo TV and Tabi Channel into its portfolio.
- 1997
Japan Entertainment Network is established
[1]Japan Entertainment Network K.K. was established on 8 May as a joint venture between Itochu and Time Warner.
- 1997
Cartoon Network launches in Japan
[1]The Japanese version of Cartoon Network began broadcasting on PerfecTV on 1 September.
Products and positioning
A Japanese operator and distributor of international and specialty subscription television channels, combining Turner’s global entertainment properties with locally distributed lifestyle and thematic programming.
Children's television channel · 1997
Cartoon Network Japan
Cartoon Network Japan was Turner Japan’s foundational and best-known service in the country. It launched in September 1997 on PerfecTV and carried Cartoon Network programming for Japanese subscription-television audiences. The channel represented Turner’s principal children’s and animation offering in Japan and remained among the company’s final operations before the 2023 absorption into Discovery Japan.
Specialty television channel
Mondo TV
Mondo TV was a Japanese specialty channel acquired through Turner Japan’s 2009 purchase of Japan Image Communications. It formed part of the company’s expansion beyond Cartoon Network and was associated with programming centered on mah-jong and related entertainment interests. The channel was among Turner Japan’s final linear operations before the company’s activities were absorbed into Discovery Japan.
Travel and lifestyle television channel
Tabi Channel
Tabi Channel was a travel- and lifestyle-oriented Japanese specialty channel obtained through the acquisition of Japan Image Communications. It broadened Turner Japan’s portfolio into thematic programming aimed at audiences interested in travel and related leisure content. Tabi Channel remained part of the company’s final channel operations before the 2023 corporate integration.
Children's television channel · 2018
Boomerang
Boomerang was introduced by Turner Japan on dTV Channel in January 2018 as a spin-off associated with Cartoon Network. It extended the company’s children’s and animation proposition onto an OTT multichannel television platform. The service ended on 31 March 2022 when dTV Channel discontinued operations.
Travel and lifestyle digital television channel · 2018
Tabi Tele
Tabi Tele was a dTV Channel service launched in 2018 as a spin-off of Tabi Channel. It adapted the travel-oriented channel concept for NTT Docomo’s OTT multichannel platform. The service was discontinued on 31 March 2022 alongside the closure of dTV Channel.
Specialty digital television channel · 2018
Mondo Mah-jong TV
Mondo Mah-jong TV was a dTV Channel spin-off of Mondo TV launched by Turner Japan in January 2018. It carried the Mondo brand into the OTT multichannel environment and focused on the channel’s mah-jong-related specialty positioning. It closed on 31 March 2022 when dTV Channel ended service.
Brand decisions
2023
Integration into Discovery JapanM&ABackground
The WarnerMedia and Discovery merger created Warner Bros. Discovery and prompted changes to the group’s international operating structure.
Action taken
Turner Japan’s operations were absorbed into Discovery Japan on 1 August 2023.
Aftermath
Turner Japan became inactive as a standalone company, while Cartoon Network, Mondo TV and Tabi Channel were identified as its final operations.
2018
Expansion onto the dTV Channel OTT platformProduct launchBackground
Turner Japan used NTT Docomo’s dTV Channel platform to distribute additional thematic services through an over-the-top multichannel model.
Action taken
It launched Boomerang, Tabi Tele and Mondo Mah-jong TV on 30 January 2018.
Aftermath
All three services ended on 31 March 2022 when dTV Channel terminated its service.
2013
Adoption of the Turner Japan corporate nameStrategyBackground
The company had operated since 1997 under the Japan Entertainment Network name while developing Turner-related television services in Japan.
Action taken
It changed its legal name to Turner Japan K.K. on 1 April 2013.
Aftermath
The new name more directly aligned the Japanese company with the Turner international media identity.
2009
Acquisition of Japan Image CommunicationsM&ABackground
Turner Japan sought to expand its Japanese channel portfolio beyond Cartoon Network through the purchase of Japan Image Communications, which owned Mondo TV and Tabi Channel.
Action taken
Turner Japan acquired Japan Image Communications from Secom, Fuji Xerox and Hikari Tsushin.
Aftermath
The acquired company was merged into Turner Japan on 1 January 2014, consolidating the channels within Turner Japan.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/turner-japan · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled