TokyoPop is teaming up with iaTV, the Only 24/7 Network in the U.S. for Asian Pop Culture, for broadcast of its properties and some advertising opportunities.

From the press release:

Programming acquired by iaTV from TOKYOPOP includes two popular Japanese anime series – Initial D and Psychic Academy – and anime film Spring and Chaos have also been acquired, with Initial D being televised Monday through Friday, beginning September 1, at 5:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. PT and Psychic Academy joining the network’s Tuesday primetime A-Pop lineup at 10:30 p.m. PT on September 9. Also coming to iaTV are several short-form (three- to four-minute) ‘iManga’ series: bite-sized programs based on TOKYOPOP’s top manga titles, combining animation with still art, music and English voiceovers. In addition, iaTV has acquired the hardcore FMW Wrestling, which will air Fridays at 10 p.m. PT starting September 12, leading out of Pancrase: Legends of Mixed Martial Arts, and creating of a two-hour primetime block of male skewing sports entertainment.

The bit about the iManga shorts is interesting. TokyoPop has been pushing their iManga (a hybrid of manga and still animation with voiceovers) on their official YouTube channel, with some rather disappointing results according to the view numbers. Maybe they’ll do better with the iManga on broadcast TV.

TokyoPop’s been having a lot of trouble recently, as I described in detail in my IGN Anime article, TokyoPop’s Challenges. This seems to be another new tactic in their overall strategy to recreate their business. Hopefully it works out for them.

You can read the entire press release for the TokyoPop-iaTV venture here

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