CJ ENM has signed two distribution agreements that put 10 K-drama titles on CME-owned channels in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, expanding the Korean studio’s footprint in Central and Eastern Europe.
The deals cover TV Nova in the Czech Republic and TV Markíza in Slovakia, both part of Central European Media Enterprises (CME). That gives CJ ENM a single negotiation window into two national markets.
What the slate includes
The 10-title package mixes established hits with newer titles that have already built streaming fanbases. The channels get:
- Signal
- Encounter
- Her Private Life
- Hotel Del Luna
- True Beauty
- The Witch’s Diner
- Doom At Your Service
- Twinkling Watermelon
- Lovely Runner
- Guardian: The Lonely And Great God
That is a broad selection spanning romance, fantasy and mystery, giving each broadcaster a mix of demographics to test.
Why CEE is on K-content’s map
Sebastian Kim, Head of Content Distribution Business at CJ ENM, said the region offers strong potential for further growth. The company plans to keep building partnerships with local broadcasters and platforms.
“CEE is a market where we see strong potential for further growth. We will continue to strengthen our partnerships with local broadcasters and platforms, while expanding our content offerings and creating more opportunities for audiences to discover and enjoy K-content.”
For media planners, the signal is practical: K-dramas are moving from streaming-only discovery into scheduled linear slots. That creates new ad inventory around appointment viewing, often with younger, female-leaning audiences who are already primed by social fandom.
The business logic for both sides
For CME, library K-dramas are low-risk schedule filler with proven audience pull in Asia and growing traction in Europe. For CJ ENM, a linear deal in CEE is a low-cost way to seed demand, gather local viewing data and strengthen its negotiating position for future platform deals.
The playbook is familiar in international TV: use territorial library licensing to test a market before committing to bigger local production or exclusive streaming deals. That makes the CME agreement less about immediate ratings and more about building a beachhead.
Fan activations in Poland
CJ ENM also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and the Korean Cultural Center in Poland during the 2026 Poland-Korea Brand Week. The event included interactive fan booths for Lovely Runner and The Legend Of The Kitchen Soldier, along with a screening and producer panel featuring CJ ENM Chief Producer Kim Tae-hoon.
Those B2C moments give marketers an early read on which titles resonate locally before larger campaigns are spent, and they help convert casual viewers into loyal fans.
Source: Deadline
