Media & Entertainment

WhatsApp's rivals, Signal and Telegram, have seen a record-breaking amount of downloads in recent days after WhatsApp dismayed many users by rewriting its terms of use. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Technology

Asians dump WhatsApp for Signal and Telegram on privacy concerns

Facebook risks losing top markets as users look for more-secure alternatives

14 January 2021
Luigi's Mansion 3, developed by Next Level Games for the Switch console, has sold 7.83 million copies through September. (Photo courtesy of Nintendo)
Business deals

Nintendo to buy Luigi's Mansion developer in rare acquisition

Canada-based Next Level Games brings strength in action titles

6 January 2021
An 18-meter kinetic sculpture based on the “Gundam” animated series is unveiled at the opening ceremony of the Gundam Factory Yokohama complex in Yokohama on Dec. 18. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Media & Entertainment

Bandai Namco takes page from Sony to leverage intellectual property

Toymaker eyes subscription-based services as it moves on from plastic models

3 January 2021
Apple purges games from its China app store to fall in line with Chinese regulations.
Media & Entertainment

Apple removes 39,000 game apps from China store to meet deadline

Dropped titles include the popular Assassin's Creed Identity and NBA 2K20

31 December 2020
Japanese entertainment enjoyed a year of strong demand, thanks to an increase in homebound consumers following the coronavirus pandemic, with games and anime turning out to be the perfect cure for boredom. (Source photos by Nintendo and Koyoharu Gotouge/Shueisha/Aniplex/ufotable)
Media & Entertainment

From Animal Crossing to Demon Slayer: Japan titles roared in 2020

Analysts see further demand even as vaccines spur hope for less time at home

31 December 2020
A paid virtual concert by South Korean pop sensation BTS drew more than 990,000 viewers from 191 countries and regions.
Business trends

Asian consumption goes digital amid 2020 pandemic

'Live commerce' and virtual concerts become new norms: Nikkei survey

27 December 2020
The Football Association of Malaysia wants more teams to join Johor Darul Ta'zim in becoming privately owned entities.
Media & Entertainment

Efforts to modernize Southeast Asian soccer collide with COVID

Malaysia hopes to follow Thailand's lead in weening teams off of state support

27 December 2020
YunBo started developing its motion capture technology in 2017 to reduce the burden on producers of computer graphics. (Photo courtesy of YunBo)
36Kr/KrASIA

Chinese company develops sensorless motion capture technology

YunBo lets people at home stream moves into increasingly popular virtual idols

25 December 2020
Hundreds of thousands of fans bought tickets for an online concert by BTS in June.
Media & Entertainment

BTS' global stardom gives K-pop exports a big boost

Online concerts for cooped-up fans help double CD and DVD sales

25 December 2020
Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai is escorted to a prison van on Dec. 12, after being charged under the national security law.
Politics

Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai unexpectedly wins bail

Tycoon banned from tweeting, meeting foreign officials and giving interviews

23 December 2020
Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos at an opening ceremony for the new headquarters of The Washington Post in January 2016.
Media & Entertainment

Washington Post follows NYT in picking Seoul for Asia hub

South Korean capital, not Tokyo, to play major role in 24-hour digital news cycle

23 December 2020
After first establishing itself as China's leading web portal, Sina launched microblogging service  Weibo which launched a new era for social media in the country.
China tech

Sina, New York's first Chinese internet stock, prepares to depart

Weibo parent pioneered workaround copied by Alibaba and Tencent

22 December 2020
There are a number of performances involving the Gundam statue at a newly opened attraction in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Media & Entertainment

18-meter moving Gundam robot towers over Yokohama port

Japan's Bandai anime character also coming to Shanghai in 2021 in bid for new fans

19 December 2020
The Philippines is gearing up to expand its online gambling industry despite public wariness toward the industry. (Source photos by Akira Kodaka)
Media & Entertainment

Philippines bets on online casinos, e-cockfights as Chinese flee

Regulator opens up virtual betting, sparking concerns over money laundering

18 December 2020
Tencent is collecting donations for erecting lights on mountain paths through a WeChat game of walking to and from school in the dark in a mountainous area. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
Media & Entertainment

Tencent placates Beijing with 'public interest' games for China

Other Chinese developers also try to ease concerns over young players' addiction

16 December 2020
A journalist with i-Cable News Channel in Hong Kong leaves the broadcaster's office after being laid off on Dec. 1. Forty editorial staff members were dismissed by the pay-TV operator.
Politics

Hong Kong journalists face fresh political pressures in reporting

Newsrooms navigate through new guidelines amid tightened controls over media

15 December 2020
Jimmy Lai has been in pre-trial detention since Dec. 3 over a fraud allegation as authorities prepared to file other charges.
Politics

Publisher Jimmy Lai charged under Hong Kong national security law

China critic faces possible life term if convicted of collusion with foreign forces

12 December 2020
Sony will make Crunchyroll a fully owned subsidiary by purchasing all its shares from parent AT&T. (Photo by Akira Kodaka) 
Business deals

Sony acquires US anime-streaming service Crunchyroll for $1.175bn

Deal with AT&T gives Japanese company access to 90m customers around the world

10 December 2020
Dentsu Group expects to save over $530 million from staff reductions and other cost-cutting measures. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Media & Entertainment

Ad agency Dentsu to slash 6,000 jobs from overseas operations

Japanese group to consolidate 160 brands to six as revenue dips

8 December 2020
"It's now or never" for Rajinikanth, who told fans three years ago he would segue into politics.
Politics

Indian superstar Rajinikanth steps up to political stage

'Dancing Maharajah' has his doubters as he plays role of 'natural ally' to Modi

6 December 2020
Although the final book of the "Demon Slayer" serial hit bookstores in Japan on Dec. 4, the ripple effects it is having on the country's economy are expected to keep going strong.
Media & Entertainment

'Demon Slayer' set to bestow nearly $2bn on Japan's economy

Manga series creates boom that proves impervious to the COVID crisis

5 December 2020
NiziU, a nine-member all-female pop group, made its debut on Dec. 2.
Media & Entertainment

K-pop recipe for success drives NiziU to quick fame

All-girl group takes leaf from BTS and other South Korean idol bands

5 December 2020
Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was arrested on Dec. 2 after reporting to the police station as required under the terms of his release in August. 
Politics

Outspoken Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai denied bail in fraud case

Former pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui seeks exile in UK

3 December 2020
Fans of South Korean boy band BTS have been dreading the looming military service facing its members.
Media & Entertainment

South Korea paves way for BTS to delay military service

Culture minister given power to nominate pop stars for 2-year deferment

1 December 2020
The animated film "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" has grossed over 25 billion yen. (Photo by Shihoko Nakakoka) 
Media & Entertainment

'Demon Slayer' anime franchise continues to roll

Companies cash in on marketing tie-ups with blockbuster brand

28 November 2020