<h2>Netflix&#8217;s user base increased by 30% as a result of its WBC broadcasts</h2>
<figure id="attachment_469739" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1417px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-469739"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="3399fae1"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/06/5efe5c551a5c2812be50fd7a3b23e78c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469739" class="wp-caption-text">Netflix reportedly recorded a 30% increase in its domestic subscriber base through its WBC broadcasts, with more than 30% of those new subscribers continuing their subscriptions after the tournament.</figcaption></figure>
The investment of approximately ¥15 billion appears to have paid off.
In August 2025, streaming giant Netflix acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights for the 6th World Baseball Classic (WBC), held in March of this year. The broadcasting rights for the 5th WBC, in which Samurai Japan claimed its third championship, reportedly cost around ¥3 billion. Netflix invested five times that amount, signaling its full-scale entry into the sports streaming market.
According to research firm GEM Partners, the WBC broadcasts increased Netflix&#8217;s user base by 30 percent.
<figure id="attachment_469740" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1688px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-469740"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="64c45868"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/06/4408d2b0de4e35e75145819cdbeb9bc0.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469740" class="wp-caption-text">The 2021 series &#8220;Squid Game&#8221; became a social phenomenon in Japan, with a monument dedicated to the show even being displayed at Shibuya Station.
&#8220;During the breaks between innings of Samurai Japan&#8217;s games, promotional spots featuring Erika Toda (37), the star of the drama &#8216;You&#8217;ll Go to Hell,&#8217; which began streaming at the end of April, were inserted. Various efforts were made to prevent subscriber numbers from dropping after the tournament ended.
&#8220;The key to the subscription business is, above all, customer retention. Netflix will likely continue pursuing a strategy of acquiring viewers through nationally significant events and keeping them subscribed with provocative original content,&#8221; said Masanao Kawakami, professor at the Faculty of International Business and Economics at the University of Hyogo.
Last year, Japan&#8217;s subscription video streaming market reached a record estimated ¥601.7 billion, but the largest user demographic remains women in their teens through thirties, with usage declining as age increases. As a result, this comparison focuses on finding the best streaming service for men in their 40s and 50s, a demographic companies are now eager to attract.
Naturally, the first service to examine is Netflix, which boasts the largest market share not only in Japan but worldwide. It offers three pricing plans: an ad-supported plan for ¥890 per month (tax included), a standard ad-free plan for ¥1,590, and a premium plan for ¥2,290, which offers higher picture quality and more simultaneous viewing devices.
&#8220;Netflix&#8217;s greatest strength lies in its original productions, including hit titles such as &#8216;The Land Swindlers, You&#8217;ll Go to Hell,&#8217; and &#8216;Squid Game.&#8217; The company originally started in the United States as a DVD rental-by-mail service and became an industry pioneer by launching its subscription streaming platform in 2007.
&#8220;It has attracted viewers with original productions that are more provocative and creatively unrestricted than conventional television, which operates under strict broadcasting standards. The symbolic example is the 2013 series &#8216;House of Cards,'&#8221; explained media journalist Soichiro Matsutani.
The series follows a U.S. congressman who uses political manipulation and intrigue in his quest for the White House, featuring explicit sexual scenes and drug use that would be difficult to broadcast on traditional television.
As mentioned earlier, Netflix has strengthened its lineup for middle-aged male viewers by exclusively streaming events such as the WBC.
&#8220;The comedy-drama variety series &#8216;Talk Survivor!,&#8217; produced by former TV Tokyo producer Nobuyuki Sakuma (50), became a major hit thanks to its generous budget and creative freedom unavailable on television. Netflix has also secured hitmakers such as Yuji Sakamoto (59), well known for writing &#8216;Tokyo Love Story,&#8217; under exclusive contracts,&#8221; said entertainment writer Yasuyuki Takei.
The service that once came closest to challenging Netflix for industry supremacy was Disney+, operated by Disney, with subscription plans ranging from ¥1,250 to ¥1,670 per month.
&#8220;After launching in 2019, Disney+ quickly gained attention with productions such as the &#8216;Star Wars&#8217; spin-off series &#8216;The Mandalorian,&#8217; achieving one of the fastest subscriber growth rates in streaming history. By the autumn of 2022, it had surpassed 160 million subscribers worldwide, threatening Netflix, which then had 220 million subscribers. However, after shifting its strategy to place greater emphasis on theatrical releases, subscriber growth has since stagnated,&#8221; said entertainment sociologist Atsuo Nakayama.
Disney+&#8217;s greatest advantage is undoubtedly its extensive library built around Disney-owned intellectual property. On the other hand, it may be less appealing to viewers who have little interest in Disney content.
&#8220;In recent years, Disney+ has attracted attention through exclusive releases such as &#8216;SHOGUN&#8217; and &#8216;Gannibal.&#8217; Having signed an agreement with a production company affiliated with the TBS Group, it is expected to place even greater emphasis on original Japanese dramas going forward.
&#8220;It is also expected to make a serious push into sports broadcasting, including NBA coverage scheduled to begin with the 2026–27 season,&#8221; Takei added.
</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_469742" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1417px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-469742"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="86b331b2"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/06/43d05dbed61f3a771a238b89ed24def0.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469742" class="wp-caption-text">In addition to its own IP, Disney+ offers a rich library of titles acquired through its 2019 purchase of 21st Century Fox, as well as a wide selection of Korean dramas.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_469743" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-469743"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="6f4f3ecc"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/06/7ec4307cafe3871d448d2c7f136fbb09.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469743" class="wp-caption-text">The Disney+ original &#8220;SHOGUN&#8221; swept awards ceremonies around the world. Pictured are lead actor Hiroyuki Sanada (65, left) and fellow cast members.</figcaption></figure>
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<h2>Masterpieces and adult content alike</h2>
Like Netflix and Disney+, Prime Video, operated by e-commerce giant Amazon, produces a large amount of original content.
Series such as The Boys, which depicts the battle between corrupt superheroes consumed by greed and ordinary humans without special powers, and the post-apocalyptic sci-fi epic Fallout, set on an Earth devastated by nuclear war, have attracted passionate fan bases around the world.
&#8220;By subscribing to Amazon Prime (¥600 per month), which includes benefits such as free shipping on Amazon purchases, unlimited access to select e-books, and streaming of 100 million songs, users also gain access to Prime Video. Its biggest strength is live coverage of MLB games, including Los Angeles Dodgers matches, and the &#8216;Ohtani effect&#8217; has helped raise its profile in sports streaming.
Unlike Netflix, Prime Video also offers a large selection of titles that can be rented for an additional fee outside its unlimited viewing catalog, making it a very user-friendly service,&#8221; says journalist Soichiro Matsutani.
In terms of low monthly cost, bundled benefits, and the breadth of available genres, it may even surpass Netflix.
A different kind of value-for-money service is U-NEXT, Japan&#8217;s homegrown streaming platform. Although its monthly fee of ¥2,189 is nearly as expensive as Netflix&#8217;s Premium plan, depending on how it&#8217;s used, it can be one of the best bargains available.
&#8220;Subscribers receive 1,200 points each month that can be used for e-books or movie tickets. U-NEXT has also become particularly strong in sports, exclusively streaming the English Premier League and all four overseas men&#8217;s golf majors. It has also invested heavily in combat sports, offering unlimited viewing of every UFC event.
U-NEXT follows a department store strategy, providing a broad range of content on a single platform, including overseas dramas, anime, films, manga, magazines, books, and adult content,&#8221; explains entertainment writer Yasuyuki Takei.
In 2023, U-NEXT merged with Paravi, the streaming service offering past programs from TBS and TV Tokyo. As a result, subscribers now enjoy unlimited access to popular shows such as Wednesday Downtown, King of Conte, and God Tongue.
Another major advantage is its extensive library of classic films that are often unavailable on Netflix or Prime Video. Works by legendary directors such as Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu can be watched without additional charges—a feature unique to U-NEXT. For viewers who are more interested in timeless masterpieces than original productions, and who also enjoy adult content and e-books, it may offer the best overall value.
&#8220;The other major commercial broadcasters also operate streaming services featuring their program archives. Nippon TV has Hulu (¥1,026), TV Asahi has TELASA (¥990), and Fuji TV offers FOD Premium (¥976). Fans of each network&#8217;s programming tend to subscribe to the corresponding service, but their long-term growth potential is questionable. Going forward, they are likely to be absorbed into larger platforms, much like Paravi,&#8221; Matsutani predicts.
There are many other streaming options tailored to specific interests, including ABEMA Premium (¥680 with ads or ¥1,180 without ads), operated by internet broadcaster ABEMA and known for its news programming, and d Anime Store(from ¥660), which offers unlimited access to more than 7,200 anime titles. Consumers should compare the available services to find the one that delivers the best value for their own viewing habits.
<figure id="attachment_469744" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4252px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-469744"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="4675443d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/06/09166602cc1d86df1e4a9ea838724b82.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469744" class="wp-caption-text">Prime Video&#8217;s commercials feature Kazunari Ninomiya (42) of Arashi. The photo is taken from Prime Video&#8217;s official X account.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_469745" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1417px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-469745"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="aad62a13"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/06/1b106c3bec0fa4ed396c4e07829d631e.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-469745" class="wp-caption-text">U-NEXT&#8217;s commercials star actresses Maika Yamamoto (28) and Aoi Morikawa (30). The photo is taken from the company&#8217;s official website.</figcaption></figure>
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From the June 5 and 12, 2026 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221;

 AFLO Kyodo News

 A thorough comparison of prices and contents of 5 subscription video services for men in their 40s and 50s, including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and U-NEXT, whose membership is dramatically increasing. Find the best solution for you.

Which Streaming Service Gives You the Most for Your Money? The Ultimate Guide for Men Over 40

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