BS Yoshimoto = Sumida Media Lab Open!

■ BS Yoshimoto = Sumida Media Lab Open!

The IU Film Studio "Sumida Media Lab" has opened on the IU campus.

It operates in collaboration with the broadcasting station "BS Yoshimoto." 

This studio produces and broadcasts/distributes programs and video content in a large-scale shooting and streaming studio, thus equipping the university for content creation.

"BS Yoshimoto" is based on the concept of "regional revitalization," featuring comedians living nationwide, YouTubers working in various regions, film directors, journalists, and local residents to broadcast programs like local attractions or news that offer hints for revitalizing areas and solving regional issues.

Through the national broadcast network, this station will become one venture that aims to create channels with the goal of "one broadcast, one business started," where programs generate new businesses and employment opportunities. 

"We've emulated IU's 'everyone an entrepreneur,' motto" says Yoshimoto's chairman Osaki. 

This is a challenge to create a broadcasting station that generates business without depending on advertisers.

BS Yoshimoto is primarily owned by Yoshimoto Kogyo, but it is also a digital consortium with capital investment from UUUM, J-Stream, Transcosmos, and Mixi. 

It aims to go beyond broadcasting and communication convergence to offer data-driven services that blend virtual and real elements.

IU will utilize this facility to the fullest for education and research.

1.　To be leveraged for a creative educational approach.

Students will be involved in video production and distribution, and it will serve as a tool for entrepreneurship related to regional revitalization.

IU's research institute "B Lab" will also be integrated to use it as a platform for broadcasting joint research with industry-academia collaboration.

2. To create university-centered content.

Web, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok...

While IU is already promoting itself through various media, by having its own studio, broadcast station, and also setting up a physical base, it aims to demonstrate a model where "the university becomes the media."

Shōnen Knife became famous worldwide when they topped the charts for colleges on a U.S. college-based FM radio station. This goes to show that college broadcast stations have impact.

FM Tokyo was created by Tokai University. Radiko is a project started by my lab at Keio University. There aren't many other university-originated media in Japan yet.

3. To serve as a regional collaboration hub.

The studio is located on university grounds, adjacent to a vast vacant grass lot.

We're keeping the area open without fencing, accessible to everyone.

The Chiba University Department of Architectural Design is also adjacent for shared use.

We plan to use the entire area to launch events like festivals and markets.