Television Archives - Susan von Seggern

PARAPOD FESTIVAL BRINGS CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS PARANORMAL TO SANTA CLARITA MARCH 31 AND APRIL 1

02/13/2023 by Susan von Seggern

The Weekend’s Events Include Paranormal Podcast Awards, Expert Lectures, Metaphysical Workshops, Native American Dance, Ghost Town Tour, Film Screenings, Stargazing

(February 7, 2023 – Santa Clarita, CA) What is paranormal? According to the Oxford dictionary, the paranormal is defined as events or phenomena beyond the scope of common scientific understanding. It is a broad genre encompassing everything from UFOs and aliens to ghosts and hauntings, Bigfoot and other cryptids to psychics, and spiritual studies to ancient mysteries. Paranormal topics lack a definite demographic, as men and women of all ages across all socioeconomic grids show interest in these strange and unusual subjects.

Parapod Festival is excited to bring a two-day celebration of the paranormal to Santa Clarita on March 31 and April 1, with events at Santa Clarita’s Mentryville Park and the Hyatt Regency Valencia.

A surprisingly vast number of YouTube channels, TikTok and Instagram accounts, and websites are devoted to the paranormal genre. The amount of content available is astounding, from documentaries to web series to podcasts. No one knows this more than festival director Tony Sweet, whose paranormal video podcast Truth Be Told Paranormal has been in the top 5% of podcasts worldwide for the past decade.

“Although paranormal content is abundant with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of views, we never really see these creators –podcasters, investigators, filmmakers– being honored,” states Sweet. “That is why I wanted to develop a platform where all forms of paranormal content could be celebrated.”

Tony Sweet’s Parapod Festival will take place Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, 2023, in the Santa Clarita Valley, just North of Los Angeles, featuring the one-of-a-kind ParaPod Awards Ceremony to honor podcasters and other paranormal content creators as well as the FilmFreeway Gold film festival for paranormal documentaries.

On Friday the festivities will begin with the daytime film festival screenings of paranormal documentary feature finalists in the Mentryville School House, sponsored by WriterDuet; evening activities include a tour of the haunted Mentryville Mansion with white witch and medium Patti Negri (Ghost Adventures) and spirit circle and star gazing led by Ben Hansen (Fact or Faked Paranormal Files) .

Saturday will be a full day at the Hyatt Regency Valencia in Santa Clarita, featuring expert lectures, workshops, and activities, including Native American ceremonial dance, a seance, meditation, sound bath, breathwork, and shamanism. The vendor marketplace, with crystals, books, tarot cards and other collectibles, is also available for shopping on Saturday. The festival’s ParaPod Awards, celebrating all genres of paranormal podcasts and pioneers in the field of paranormal studies, will close out the event on Saturday evening.

Former Santa Clarita mayor and city council member Marsha McLean will officiate the ribbon-cutting for the grand opening of ParaPod Fest, presenting certificates from the city to all event speakers.

The master of ceremonies for the ParaPod Festival will be Jimmy Church, host of the popular Fade to Black podcast. Best-selling author, research scientist, producer, and entrepreneurial impresario Billy Carson (4biddenknowledge with Billy Carson) will receive the festival’s Pioneer Award, and Emmy and Peabody Award-winning investigative journalist Linda Moulton Howe (Ancient Aliens, Truth Hunter) will be receiving the festival’s Media Legend Award.

Sweet has drawn a roster of internationally recognized paranormal experts for the conference, including ancient Egypt theorist and geologist Dr. Robert M. Schoch (Ancient Aliens), white witch Patti Negri (Ghost Adventures), Ben Hansen (Fact or Faked Paranormal Files), author and great-great-grandson of Hunkpapa Lakota Chief Sitting Bull Ernie Lapointe, celebrity psychic Char Margolis (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Ronny LeBlanc (Expedition Bigfoot), psychic crime solvers Colby Rebel and Jennifer Shaffer, numerologist Glynis McCants, vampire impresario Father Sebastian, documentarian Caroline Corey, author Craig Campobasso, radio host and spiritualist Sheena Metal, breathwork specialist Bryant Wood (The Circle), social media influencers Jason Horton and Rebecca Leib (Ghost Town podcast), and host of Heart Starts Pounding podcast Kaelyn Moore. More details at https://parapodfestival.com/schedule

“My goal is to spotlight the content creators working in the non-fiction paranormal genre,” says Sweet. “It is a dream come true to give awards to podcasters, filmmakers and investigators who continue to move the paranormal genre closer to the mainstream.”

Tickets to ParaPod Festival start at $25 for individual events at Mentryville; Saturday’s General Admission is $35, and the VIP Weekend Pass includes all events on both days for $175. Parking at both locations is free. For more information about the festival and to purchase tickets, please visit www.parapodfestival.com.

Documentary and short films for the film festival awards can be submitted online via FilmFreeway through February 24, 2023. Podcasts can be submitted for the podcast awards via the secure link on the festival website.

Sponsors and Vendor spots are available; contact info@parapodfestival.com

KOCOWA Brings New K-Pop Reality Show from SM STUDIOS “welcome to NCT Universe” Exclusively To The Americas

12/12/2022 by Susan von Seggern

Los Angeles – November 16, 2022 – With the increasing popularity of K-Pop, along with K-Pop fans who are always hungry for new content, the number 1 all-Korean content streamer KOCOWA is excited to announce that, as part of a new content deal, it will be the exclusive provider of SM STUDIOS’ first global show “welcome to the NCT Universe,” in the Americas, with many more to come.

“welcome to NCT Universe” is a 10-episode reality show that debuts globally on November 16. NCT stands for “Neo Culture Technology” and is a worldwide group that recruits members freely, and…there is no limit on the number of members in the group! Currently, there are 23 active members in the NCT main group and its subunits, which include: the Billboard top 10 and platinum-selling NCT 127, teen-oriented and Billboard 21 under 21 named NCT DREAM, and Chinese boy band WayV.

A reality show, the “welcome to NCT Universe” story unfolds when SMROOKIES receive a mysterious invitation that opens the door to a special NEO CITY tour. Starting their NEO CITY exploration with professional guides SHOTARO and SUNGCHAN, viewers can follow SMROOKIES as they embark on their SMTOWN concert journey with NCT and travel with special friends.

Fans who can’t get enough of NCT can watch over eight other shows from SM C&C’s library featuring the group, including newcomers to the platform “NCT LIFE in Gapyeong” (filmed in 2021) that starts streaming on KOCOWA on November 24 and “WayVision 2” on December 28.

In addition to being the premier destination for many K-Pop stars, KOCOWA will be exclusively adding SM C&C-produced library titles and new shows with SM Entertainment artists in the upcoming months.

Yea Jee Lee, the Executive Producer and SM C&C Contents Business Unit Division Director note, “We are very pleased to partner with KOCOWA on the distribution of these shows across North, Central, and South America, as their audience of millions of K-Pop and Korean entertainment lovers truly hits our sweet spot of NCT fans. They’ve already had success with all seasons of NCT LIFE, so we’re excited to see their audience’s response to these new shows.”

KOCOWA CEO KunHee Park added, “As KOCOWA becomes more and more established as the top destination for Korean programming in the Americas, it’s exciting to work with SM Entertainment and SM C&C, such important leaders, to bring the latest in K-Pop TV to our audience. With these new shows, and our large library of K-Pop idols’ reality, behind-the-scenes, and concert shows, we are thrilled to be the streamer with the most content for dedicated K-Pop fans.”

Since its inception in 2017, KOCOWA has provided thousands of hours of fresh and classic K-Pop performances and reality shows featuring all the favorite idols to satisfy every type of fan. Some of the content includes:

Live Performances – KOCOWA streams three weekly live performance events and concert series that showcase the top shows, songs, and bands of that week. The latest K-Pop debuts and highly anticipated comebacks appear on “Music Bank K-Chart,” “Music Bank World Tour,” “Inkigayo,” and “Show! Music Core.” While these shows are new each week, KOCOWA also has a huge catalog of performances and interviews with favorite K-Pop bands for fans to explore.

Behind the Scenes Shows – KOCOWA has shows that take fans behind the scenes with the top K-Pop idols on tour, shows that feature idols as career coaches, plus auditioning, traveling, and more! Now that BTS has committed to serving in the military, their fans might love to enjoy shows like “Rookie King” where BTS offers a deeper dive into the band’s beginnings, interviews, rehearsals, and more in their absence. Other reality titles include EXO’s “Travel the World on a Ladder,” JYP and Psy’s “LOUD,” and more.

Reality Shows – Many of KOCOWA’s shows feature K-Pop fan favorite idols in everyday life, or as guest stars who play games and compete in challenges with a regular cast. Shows like the long-running, international hit “Running Man,” “Home Alone,” “The Manager,” “Idol Sports Athletic Challenge,” and others feature top music celebrities from South Korea like BTS, BlackPink, aespa, and many others.

KOCOWA’s popularity in Latin America is driven by this K-Pop programming, along with K-Dramas subtitled in Spanish. In the US, KOCOWA’s audience is 27% Latino, which is significantly overrepresented than their 19% of the US population.

About SM C&C (SM Culture & Contents)
SM C&C is a media production company that produces a variety of headline-grabbing, profitable high-quality content for local and overseas TV channels and OTT platforms by collaborating with top-tier local celebrities and artists, and strives to be No.1 in the global content business.

About wA and KOCOWA
wA is a joint company between the top three Korean broadcasters – KBS, MBC, SBS, plus SK Telecom. wA launched KOCOWA, a subscription video streaming platform in the Americas, in 2017 with primary audiences in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Brazil. KOCOWA provides a robust lineup of over 20,000 hours of Korean Dramas, Reality, and K-Pop content in multi-languages on its direct platform. For more information please visit: www.kocowa.com

KOCOWA Announces New Content for December

12/12/2022 by Susan von Seggern

Eagerly Awaited “The Forbidden Marriage,” Beloved Annual Music Festival “Gayo Daejeon,” “aespa’s Synk Road” and Much More!

Los Angeles, CA – KOCOWA, the top all-Korean content streamer, is excited to announce several shows coming to the platform in December. Since KOCOWA is a joint company between Korea’s top three broadcast networks, it airs the shows just hours after they appear in Korea, a must for dedicated K-Drama and K-Pop fans!

The highly anticipated K-Drama “The Forbidden Marriage” will debut on KOCOWA on December 9. The period romance drama is based on screenwriter Chun Ji Hye’s own popular novel and webtoon of the same title. Set in the historical Joseon period, the show follows the story of King Lee Heon, who issued a marriage ban while grief-stricken after the death of his crown princess seven years earlier. Park Ju Hyun, who audiences may recognize from “Extracurricular” and “Zombie Detective,” plays a fearless con artist who claims that she can be possessed by the late crown princess’ spirit. This epic drama will air on Fridays and Saturdays and stars Kim Young Dae, who appeared in fan favorites like “Extraordinary You,” “The Penthouse,” and most recently, “Shooting Stars” and Kim Woo-Seok from “Rookie Cop” and “Voice” seasons 2-4.

On December 24th SBS’s Gayo Daejeon will stream just in time to help celebrate a K-POP Christmas! SHINee’s Key, ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo, and IVE’s An Yu Jin will host this Idol-studded show. The confirmed lineup for performances includes KOCOWA K-POP reality show stars like aespa, NCT 127, NCT Dream and other fan favorites like Stray Kids, (G)I-DLE, ATEEZ, ITZY, TXT, aespa, ENHYPEN, IVE, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans. This show is sure to get every K-POP fan’s holiday off to an exciting start!

Debuting on December 28, “aespa’s Synk Road” adds even more K-POP content to the over 9,100 hours currently available on KOCOWA. aespa, a fourth-generation K-POP girl group, stars in their first reality travel show. Their first destinations on the Synk Road are Gangwon’s East Sea, a popular beach destination, and the mountainous site of the 2018 Winter Olympics, Pyeongchang. Throughout the trip, the band members go on various missions where they must earn or find hidden ae-key cards to complete the Synk Road as they enjoy their trip. Can aespa successfully complete the first Synk Road and open the door to the next Synk Road?

aespa consists of four members: Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. They debuted on November 17, 2020, with the hit single “Black Mamba.” The group has really blown up this year, including a performance at Coachella, inclusions in Time magazine’s Next Generation Leaders list, and on Forbes’ 30 Under 30. They also signed with Warner Records, and they spoke and performed at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2022.

Other new shows launching in December include two new K-Dramas, and new reality shows featuring K-POP Idols, and six awards shows celebrating the best entertainment of 2022:

More K-Dramas:
“Recipe for Farewell,” launched December 1st, is about a family whose sweet working mom finds herself unable to eat while suffering from cancer. Her husband, who has never cooked before, begins cooking to take care of her health and the family’s meals. He handpicks the ingredients and tries to develop healthy recipes to make each meal precious and healing. Although he may be clumsy, he begins to realize how he treasures the time spent cooking and having meals together with his family.

“Red Balloon,” premieres on December 17th. Seo Ji Hye from the hit “Crash Landing On You,” stars alongside Lee Sung Jae, Hong Soo Hyun, and Lee Sang Woo in a story about four people trying to quench their desires and apprise their heartbreaks in this slice-of-life dramedy.

More Reality Shows featuring K-Pop Idols:
On the 11th, “Adventure By Accident,” a reality show, features Kian84 and Lee Si Eon from the popular reality series “Home Alone” as they travel around South America. This has been called “a travel show like never seen before!”

“K-Idol Goods Tour Paradaro” debuts December 22nd. This show features WEi and fromis_9, two of the most popular idol groups in Korea, as they go on a trip for two days and a night to sell specific goods. In each episode, they play hilarious games or are forced to barter with the production crew to get items essential for survival, selling, and enjoying this exciting and fun-filled trip.

More Year-end/Awards Shows:
“KBS Song Festival” kicks off the year-end award shows on December 16th. This show will be hosted by comedian Kim Shin Young, “Music Bank MC” host Jang Won Yeong, and “2 Days and One Night” star Na In Woo. The show celebrates the musical hits of the year and features favorite songs, performances, and pop-culture moments, and it is known to consistently deliver an experience that is beyond fans’ wildest imaginations!

“SBS Entertainment Awards” streams December 17th, and will be hosted by the 2021’s winner of “Variety Entertainer of the Year” Tak Jae Hoon. This awards show celebrates and recognizes the stars and the variety shows they are on. Always entertaining with lots of appearances from fan favorites from the year’s top shows!

“MBC Entertainment Awards” debuts December 29th – A recap of all of the trending moments in entertainment that defined the year featuring fans’ favorite moments, idol appearances, and lots of fun! It will be hosted by Jeon Hyun Moo from “Home Alone,” and “Idol Track and Field Championships,” Lee Yi Kyung, who has become popular on “How Do You Play?” and singer, actress, and entrepreneur Kang Min Kyung.

“MBC Music Festival” debuts December 31 – This will be hosted again by three popular hosts – Lee Jun Ho (singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor,) Yoona (part of the hit band Girl’s Generation and an actress considered as one of the top Idol-actresses today,) and Jang Seong Gyu (a popular host and personality). This show is a celebration of all things K-POP.

Finally, the “MBC Drama Awards” debut on December 30thst – Top South Korean TV host Kim Seong Joo will be the sole MC for the third consecutive year. From dramas with various genres and characters, such as “Tracer,” “Witch’s Game,” and “FanLetter, Please,” which were greatly loved on MBC in 2022, to “The Forbidden Marriage,” the most anticipated show at the end of the year, all the dramas that made viewers stop everything they were doing to watch in 2022 will be celebrated and awarded. Who will be the main character to take the glory in 2022?

About wA and KOCOWA
wA is a joint company between the top three Korean broadcasters – KBS, MBC, SBS, plus SK Telecom. wA launched KOCOWA, a subscription video streaming platform in the Americas in 2017, with primary audiences in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. KOCOWA provides a robust lineup of over 25,000 hours of Korean Dramas, Reality, and K-POP content in multi-languages on its direct platform. For more information, please visit: www.kocowa.com

Korean Content Streamer KOCOWA Celebrates Their 5th Anniversary by Releasing Five of the Top Korean TV Shows Available Exclusively on KOCOWA

08/09/2022 by Susan von Seggern

Los Angeles, CA – The number one 100% Korean content streamer KOCOWA is excited to celebrate its 5th Anniversary this summer by offering its dedicated audience of K-culture fans five popular Korean TV shows exclusively on the KOCOWA app and on their channel on select partners such as Prime Video, Roku and Comcast.

In addition to KOCOWA Exclusives hits like It’s Beautiful Now and Tracer, the five new exclusive shows are Merry Queer, the very first Korean LGBTQ+ reality dating show; Boar Hunt, a new drama about all of the secrets brought to light as a mountain village searches for a missing child; No, Thank You, a show about a new wife learning to deal with her traditional in-laws; High Kick!, a beloved ensemble sitcom in a vein similar to Modern Family; and Dopojarak: Story of Homme the K-Wanderer, that features huge stars like Kim Jong Kook from Running Man, Noh Sang Hyun from Pachinko, Ji Hyun Woo from the recent hit Young Lady and Gentleman, Joo Woo Jae from Love Naggers, and Olympian Hwang Dae Heon, as they travel around the world introducing people to all things Korean.

KOCOWA has been on a fantastic trajectory since its 2017 launch with 40% YOY growth. In addition to the app and device partners Apple, Google, Roku, Samsung, LG Smart TVs, etc., KOCOWA has also set up B2B deals with a number of partners including MVPDs Comcast Xfinity X1, Flex + Cox Communications, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, OnDemandKorea, among others, with more to come.

In addition to having a solid presence in North America with English and Spanish subtitled content KOCOWA is also available in Central and South America, and in Brazil with Portuguese subtitles. KOCOWA is also responding to its large Spanish-speaking fan base by doubling the amount of its hit shows now available with Spanish subtitled content.

CEO of waave Americas, the parent company of KOCOWA, KunHee Park notes, “leading the wave of Korean content going global has been exceptionally gratifying these past five years. Being able to bring a diverse array of content to our audiences is very important to us. Seeing the ever-increasing subscriber base for KOCOWA, along with other Korean global hits, and pop stars like BTS, show the world is very interested in Korean content. We are excited to bring some of the best and most diverse Korean TV to a global audience as we continue to expand to new territories and offer programming subtitled in more languages.”

Truly the ultimate destination for Korean entertainment, on KOCOWA customers can watch select shows on the same day they air in Korea, like their favorite idols on music chart shows, and dig into thousands of high-quality library titles. Discovery is easy, as audiences can immerse themselves in award-winning relatable comedies and dramas, and hilarious reality competitions. For fans of K-pop, there are more than enough idols’ moments to binge on.

KOCOWA makes Korean TV accessible to new viewers by showcasing the Top 10 current series, featuring an impressive lineup of addictive hits, including It’s Beautiful Now, Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-joo, The Penthouse, Hwrang: Warrior Poet Youth, and long-time fan favorites like Running Man and Home Alone. BTS recently performed their latest single live on the popular Korean show Music Bank K-Chart, and fans worldwide were able to see it via the KOCOWA app.

As the service provider in the Americas with the largest library of Korean content, KOCOWA has quickly risen as an international platform since 2017. KOCOWA’s millions of viewers are diverse, with 90% of viewers of non-Korean ancestry, in the prime under 44 age demographic, and female. Programming is available in real-time after broadcast airtime in Korea, making KOCOWA the preferred destination for fans to watch new series, and award-winning library titles, or to discover new and exciting Korean content available only on KOCOWA.

About wA and KOCOWA
wA is a joint company between the top three Korean broadcasters – KBS, MBC, SBS, plus SK Telecom. wA launched KOCOWA, a subscription video streaming platform in the Americas in 2017, with primary audiences in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. KOCOWA provides a robust lineup of over 25,000 hours of Korean Dramas, Reality, and K-Pop content in multi-languages on its direct platform. For more information please visit: www.kocowa.com.

Korean Content Streamer KOCOWA and The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) to Host an immersive K-Drama and Running Man Booth at KCON Los Angeles on August 19-21, 2022

08/09/2022 by Susan von Seggern

KCon Collage of images Los Angeles – Korean content streamer KOCOWA and The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), a South Korean governmental agency that oversees and promotes the advancement of the Korean content industry, are teaming up to host a booth themed around fan favorite K-Dramas and the top-rated and long-running Korean TV show, Running Man, at the 10th Anniversary KCON LA 2022 event taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from August 19-21, 2022.

KOCOWA is a joint company between wavve Americas (wA), and the top three Korean broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS, along with SK Telecom. KOCOWA’s international service allows customers to access new authentic content from Korea daily via their mix of K-Dramas, K-Pop, K- Reality, and K-Variety, in addition to thousands of hit and highly rated library titles.

“With Korean content’s mainstream wave in the Western Hemisphere breaking recently, we are excited to be the only streamer 100% dedicated to Korea’s fresh storytelling and diverse programming,” said wA CEO KunHee Park. “As a niche streaming service with broad reach, KOCOWA is well-positioned to be competitive in the battle among streaming services by super-serving fans of Korean-produced content. We are looking forward to meeting our viewers in person and providing them some fun at KCON LA 2022.”

“The love and demand for Korean content is by no means secret but has become a global sensation with record-breaking content and K-Pop artists such as Squid Game and Parasite, to BTS and Blackpink,” says Sung Ho Ju, the director of KOCCA USA. “KOCCA is excited to be part of this year’s KCON LA 2022. We look forward to meeting and celebrating all things Korean with Hallyu fans at the event. We will continue to support the Korean content industry so that more audiences around the world will have a chance to fall in love and to engage with Korean culture and content.”

KCON LA 2022 is the world’s largest fan celebration of Korean culture and music. The event launched in Los Angeles in 2012. It features an entire convention center to explore K-Pop, K-Drama, K-Beauty, K-Food, and beyond through engaging panels, an expo overflowing with innovative products and idol appearances, KCON LA 2022-exclusive programs, and artist engagements giving fans a chance to meet their favorite K-Pop stars—along with star-studded “M COUNTDOWN” concerts featuring K-Pop legends alongside the hottest rookies in the industry.

Running Man is a reality-variety show that stars Yu Jae Seok, Kim Jong Kook, Haha, Jee Seok Jin, Song Ji Hyo, Lee Kwang Soo, Jeon So Min, and Yang Se Chan. In each episode, they must complete missions at various places to win the race. Each mission is action-packed and hilarious as each member tries to beat the others using their wits and skills. Each week is filled with fun that includes trust and betrayal, knowledge and skills, physical strength and outrageous penalties. Sometimes, they work as a team and cooperate for one common goal. Other times, they betray each other throughout the race in order to win all the honor and glory for themselves. Viewers can be brought to tears each week from laughing at their silly antics!

With its global success, Running Man has welcomed appearances from Hollywood actors like Jackie Chan (episode 135), Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Henry Cavill (episode 410), Ryan Reynolds (episode 482), and K-pop stars, including BTS. All seasons of Running Man are available to view on KOCOWA. The show has also made its stars Yoo Jae Suk, Haha, Jee Seok Jin, Kim Jong Kook, Song Ji Hyo, Jeon So Min, and Yang Se Chan into globally recognized stars as well.

At the KOCOWA x KOCCA booth, fans will be able to play games from the show and insert themselves into their favorite K-Dramas and pose with beloved characters selected by the fans themselves. They will also be giving away collectible dolls and items from their hottest shows signed by the stars. Between KOCCA and KOCOWA, stars and idols have been known to stop by the booth for photos, so KCON LA 2022 attendees should check the booth often to see who they might meet!

As the service provider in the Americas with the largest library of Korean content, KOCOWA has quickly risen as an international platform since 2017. Programming is available in real-time after broadcast airtime in Korean, making KOCOWA the preferred destination for fans to watch new series and award-winning library titles or to discover new and exciting Korean content only available on KOCOWA.

About wA and KOCOWA
wA is a joint company between the top three Korean broadcasters – KBS, MBC, SBS, plus SK Telecom. wA launched KOCOWA, a subscription video streaming platform in the Americas, in 2017, with primary audiences in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. KOCOWA provides a robust lineup of over 17,000 hours of Korean Dramas, Reality, and K-Pop content in several languages on its direct platform. For more information, please visit: www.kocowa.com

About KOCCA
As the umbrella government agency for South Korea’s content industry, the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) supports creating and maintaining the content industry ecosystem in Korea. KOCCA supports a wide range of creative industries, including game, animation, character licensing, K-Pop, fashion, and broadcasting. KOCCA actively supports these industries via production support, marketing, global expansion, talent development, funding support, cultural technology development, and policy research. For more information, please visit: www.kocca.kr/en.

Korean Content Streamer KOCOWA is now available via Prime Video Channels in the US

07/15/2022 by adminbolhuis

As the demand for Korean content reaches new heights, KOCOWA adds thousands of hit K-dramas, K-pop, K-variety, and library titles to Prime Video Channels.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 16, 2022 – wavve Americas (wA), a joint venture between the top three Korean broadcasters KBS, MBC, SBS, along with SK Telecom, will deliver KOCOWA’s premium entertainment programs to Prime Video channels customers in the US starting today. KOCOWA’s international service allows customers to access new authentic content from Korea daily via their mix of K-dramas, K-pop, K- reality, and K-variety, in addition to thousands of hit and highly rated library titles.

“Korean content has become so much more mainstream recently, and we are excited to offer Korea’s fresh storytelling with our diverse programming package on such an influential, global streaming service like Prime Video through Prime Video Channels,” said wA CEO, KunHee Park. “As a niche streaming service with broad reach, KOCOWA is well-positioned to be competitive in the battle among streaming services by super-serving fans of Korean-produced content. It will now be even easier for viewers to watch new shows coming out of Korea at home, fully subtitled in English. I am happy that viewers will be able to discover us and enjoy Korea’s world-renown brand of entertainment.”

On KOCOWA customers can watch select shows the same day they air in Korea and dig into thousands of high-quality library titles. Discovery is easy, as audiences can immerse themselves in award-winning relatable comedies and dramas, and hilarious reality competitions. For fans of K-pop, there are more than enough idols’ moments to binge on.

KOCOWA makes Korean TV accessible for new viewers by showcasing the Top 10 current series, featuring an impressive lineup of addictive hits, such as, ”Young Lady and Gentleman,” “Moonshine,” “The Penthouse” Seasons 1-3, “Dali and Cocky Prince,” “Music Bank K-Chart,” and long-time fan favorites like, “Home Alone.”

Prime Video customers can access KOCOWA via Prime Video Channels for $6.99 per month.

As the service provider in the Americas with the largest library of Korean content, KOCOWA has quickly risen as an international platform since 2017. KOCOWA’s millions of viewers are diverse, with 90% of viewers of non-Korean ancestry, in the prime under 44 age demographic and female. Programming is available in real-time after broadcast airtime in Korean, making KOCOWA the preferred destination for fans to watch new series, award-winning library titles, or to discover new and exciting Korean content only available on KOCOWA.

About wA and KOCOWA
wA is a joint venture between the top three Korean broadcasters – KBS, MBC, SBS, plus SK Telecom. wA launched KOCOWA, a subscription video streaming platform in the Americas in 2017, with primary audiences in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. KOCOWA provides a robust lineup of over 17,000 hours of Korean Dramas, Reality, and K-Pop content in multi-languages on its direct platform. For more information please visit: www.kocowa.com.

SUNDAY NIGHT FRIGHTS COME TO THE CW WITH SEASON 3 OF STAGE 13’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ANTHOLOGY SERIES TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES DEBUTING JAN. 16

02/15/2022 by Susan von Seggern

Companion Podcast Launches Jan. 25
Los Angeles – January 13, 2022 – An incredibly diverse cast and wildly creative team lead the third season of the horror anthology series TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES debuting on The CW on SUNDAY, JAN. 16 at 9:00PM ET/8:00pm CT. Every episode streams for free on the next day at cwtv.com and the CW app. Stage 13 brings 10 half-hour episodes airing in pairs for the duration of their run. The creator and executive producer is Vera Miao; executive producers are Lisa Morales and Liz Levine, an all-female and LGBTQ+ team. Liz Hsiao Lan Alper is a writer/producer. Shawn Angelski of Pink Buffalo Productions is a producer.

The psychological thriller showcases an array of multicultural talent behind and in front of the camera to tell stories about complex issues facing modern society, paying homage to the horror genre’s long legacy of tackling challenging topics in unique ways. Each compact half-hour episode offers suspense, frights, subversive elements, terrifying realities and outrageous outcomes, as well as multidimensional characters with intersectional perspectives — often from less-heard voices.

Inspired by online microfiction and using social horror to help unwrap complex issues, the series layers thrills and chills with curiosities and provocations from the women-led creative team. Wide-ranging subjects, not always found in horror, include equality, being true to oneself, understanding painful histories, the perils of abusing nature, privilege and fairness, the dangers of using cruelty as a path to power, the interdependence of ecosystems and people, and a warning about tech dominance in every aspect of life.

As varied as the topics are, the themes are all universal — fear, the healing power of kindness, the desire to be loved, inner strength, identity, appreciation of heritage, celebration of differences, and the oneness of humanity — or the lack of humanity.

The series has a writers’ room that is 100% women (80% BIPOC). Notably Lisa Morales, in her first showrunning gig, is one of the few Latina showrunners in Hollywood. The series features 100% diverse (female, BIPOC, LGBTQ+) directors. Many of the over 35 up-and-coming writers and directors of 2SHS episodes have gone onto guild acceptance, larger shows, films and gaming. The show’s casting has also been remarkably diverse.

With the third season airing on The CW, the TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES franchise has aired 28 episodes. The first 5 episodes incubated on CW Seed with a digital season in 2018. The show is unique in that it was a digital-first series, that has also run on linear, and now streaming, doing well across platforms and generations. The first two seasons can be streamed on Netflix.

The series has an audio companion TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES: THE PODCAST that launches JAN. 25 and can be heard on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and elsewhere. The podcast is an immersion into the unique worlds created by each episode of the hit anthology series that features the horror genre and tackles social and cultural issues. In each podcast the hosts talk with the television series creators, as well as celebrity guests, horror experts, social activists, and culture critics as they dive deep into social themes at the intersection of diverse and inclusive storytelling explored on the cult CW series.

Fans can follow updates on season 3 and the podcast and learn more about the show at:

Official Instagram: www.instagram.com/twosentencehorrorstories
Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/twosentencehorrorstories
Website: http://www.twosentencehorrorstories.com/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcns0_Y5wQ
EPK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJcTduUPoHM

Season 3 episodes and air order are:

Announced:

Crush (#310) Jan. 16 at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT
Directed by Kailey Spear and Sam Spear; written by Amy Do Thurlow.
Twins Mabel and Jane live in a “Grey Gardens” house that’s a little too full of memories and possessions, as well as their love and anger for each other. Their twisted sisterhood is quite a battle, until a new threat arrives. The episode stars twins Joyce and Jacqueline Robbins, who’ve been acting for 40+ years, often together, and is directed by identical twins Kailey and Sam Spear.

Plant Life (#301) Jan. 16 at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT
Directed by Vera Miao; written by Stephanie Adams-Santos.
A tech-addict workaholic receives a plant from his boyfriend to enhance his work-life balance but instead faces disturbing changes as the plant takes root in his life. The couple faces the perils of ignoring Mother Nature in favor of the devices and robots controlling their lives. Series creator and executive producer Vera Miao directs the episode.

Toxic (#306) Jan. 23 at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT
Directed by Chase Joynt; written by Liz Hsiao Lan Alper.
Class differences and cruelty take hold of a group of high school frenemies as they prank a Yale hopeful in the woods. They might realize too late that not all jokes are harmless and some ghost stories are true. Chase Joynt, director of acclaimed Season 2 episode “Elliot,” returns.

Teatime (#304) Jan. 23 at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT
Directed by Kailey Spear and Sam Spear; written by Stephanie Adams-Santos.
A new babysitter’s gig takes a sinister turn when she discovers her charge’s dolls are not what they seem. In her fifth 2SHS episode, Guatemalan-American writer Stephanie Adams-Santos turns the classic horror trope of evil dolls on its head.

Upcoming in January and February:

Teeth (#302)
Directed by Kathleen Hepburn; written by Lisa Morales.
A romantic weekend escape to the woods for a bi-racial lesbian couple goes awry when they are targeted by a group of bigoted locals, other creatures, and a dark and lonely secret their relationship may or may not overcome. Director Kathleen Hepburn has won multiple awards including a Leo Award and a Canadian Screen Award.

The Killer Inside (#307)
Directed by Heidi Saman; written by Sehaj Sethi.
A surgeon is forced to take drastic measures to save her father when following the rules does not succeed. Egyptian-American director Heidi Saman (“Queen Sugar”) draws on her cultural heritage and journalism background with NPR’s “Fresh Air” to bring 2SHS writer Sehaj Sethi’s fourth episode to life (and death).

Patel Motel Cartel (#308)
Directed by Nimisha Mukerji; written by Sehaj Sethi
A teen boy learns his true identity when a violent intruder tries to check into his family’s motel. Indian-American Sehaj Sethi writes her fifth episode for 2SHS and she probes her and award-winning Indian-Canadian director Nimisha Mukerji’s culture.

Erased (#309)
Directed by Albert Shin; written by Liz Hsiao Lan Alper.
An indigenous mom tries to save her home and her family’s rich Hawaiian culture from income inequality, gentrification, and environmental degradation. Writer Liz Hsiao Lan Alper has written for “Hawaii 5-0,” “Chicago Fire” and “The Rookie.”

Encore:

Crush (#310)
Plant Life (#301)

Heirloom (#305)
Directed by DuBois Ashong; written by Lekethia Dalcoe
Pointing out Oregon’s ugly histories and recent resurgence of racism, this episode follows a new widower and his daughter who learn their new home sits on haunted land with deeply rooted horror spanning generations. In a classic 2SHS reversal, the scariest character might not be a ghost.

Homecoming (#303)
Directed by Freddy Chaves Olmos; written by Stephanie Adams-Santos & Lisa Morales
Three Latinx brothers return to their childhood home to visit their dying father only to be forced to confront the demons of their past — and the secrets that families keep. The episode is the directorial debut of Mexican-American Freddy Chaves Olmos, who has had a successful career in VFX.

About Stage 13
Stage 13 is a multiple award-winning, fearless, original content studio showcasing a new generation of inspired talent and voices in scripted and unscripted storytelling. With six EMMY® nominations, the brand’s diverse portfolio of series and features are available on the Stage 13 platform, Facebook, YouTube, and its distribution partners, including Netflix, The CW/CW Seed, HBO, and HBO Max. Creating impactful series for multidimensional audiences, Stage 13 is part of the Warner Bros. TV Group.

TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES: THE OFFICIAL PODCAST

02/15/2022 by Susan von Seggern

GOES BEHIND THE SCENES AND EXPANDS THE THEMESOF ACCLAIMED ANTHOLOGY SERIES AIRING ON THE CW
Companion Podcast Launches Jan. 25
Los Angeles, CA – January 25, 2022 – Warner Bros. Television’s Stage 13, originator of the popular anthology series “Two Sentence Horror Stories,” which debuted season three on The CW on Jan. 16, is excited to announce the launch of the companion podcast TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES: THE OFFICIAL PODCAST on TUESDAY JAN. 25 on Apple, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Forty-five-minute episodes of the companion podcast debut on Tuesdays and Thursdays after the corresponding new television episodes premiere on Sundays on The CW. The TV episodes air in pairs throughout their run on The CW and stream for free the next day at cwtv.com and The CW app. The first two seasons can be streamed on Netflix.

“We are thrilled that both the ‘Two Sentence Horror Stories’ television series and podcast are sparking discussions about important issues,” said Stage 13 SVP/GM Diana Mogollon. “Continuing the debate and digging into core societal issues with intersectional storytelling and multicultural representation behind and in front of the camera have become a signature of the series and Stage 13. In addition to being great stories about social horror, the series and podcast are vastly entertaining and take viewers on a terrific, worthwhile journey.”

The podcast is an immersion into the unique worlds created in each episode of the hit horror anthology TV series that tackles social and cultural issues. In each podcast, hosts Danielle Radford (writer, actor, comedian, writer for the Emmy®-nominated series “Honest Trailers”) and Megan Rosati (writer, director, actor, Fangoria contributor, “52 Ways To Break Up”) talk with the television series’ creators, as well as celebrity guests, horror experts, social activists, and culture critics, and dive deep into the social themes at the intersection of diverse and inclusive storytelling explored on the cult CW series, which also streams on Netflix. The podcast is produced by Jordan Kauwling (“NPR,” “The Root”) and associate produced by Stephanie Franco (“Marijuanera” “Bay Area Youth Voice Podcast”).

Guests for season 3 companion podcasts include Jeffrey Reddick, creator of the “Final Destination” franchise and writer of “Tamara,” “Day of the Dead” and “Dead Awake”; Tommy Pico, award-winning poet, recipient of the Whiting Award, host of podcasts “Scream Queen” and “Food 4 Thot” and writer for FX’s Sterlin Harjo/Taika Waititi comedy series “Reservation Dogs”; Matthew Rodriguez, senior culture editor at The Atlantic, author, graphic novelist, teacher and journalist whose work has appeared in Teen Vogue, The Advocate, Slate, Self, former host of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” podcast “Slayerfest ‘98”; Dr. Tananarive Due, winner of the American Book Award for The Living Blood, winner of the NAACP Image Award for the novel The Black Rose, author of 13 novels, film historian, educator at UCLA and expert in Black horror; Peaches Christ/Joshua Grannell, drag star, writer/director of “All About Evil” with Natasha Lyonne and “Nightmare on Castro Street” and subject of an acclaimed retrospective at San Francisco’s de Young Museum; Josué Argüelles, of educational organization A Call To Men which works worldwide to promote healthy relationships in men and boys and to prevent gender-based violence for all women, men, trans, LGBQ and nonbinary people, he was a former fellow at San Francisco Labor Leadership Institute and is a board member of Make It Happen!/Brooklyn; Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel, author and founder of Reboot and Recover, a non-profit dedicated to responsible technology use; Jeff Masters, “LGBTQ&A” Podcast host, writer, director of podcasts at Pride Media/Advocate & Out Magazine, GLAAD Award-winning journalist whose work has appeared on NPR, MSNBC and The New York Times; Clarkisha Kent, writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Essence, Entertainment Weekly, The Root, MTV, BET; and Drea Washington, film nerd, horror fanatic and co-host of “Scream Queen.”

The “2SHS” TV series creative team, one of the most diverse and multicultural teams in the business, also will appear in podcast episodes to give insights on the creation of each television episode and its deeper themes. Those booked thus far include creator/executive producer and episode director Vera Miao; executive producers Lisa Morales and Liz Levine; writers Stephanie Adams-Santos and Sehaj Sethi; directors Dubois Ashong, Chase Joynt, Nimisha Mukerji, Heidi Saman (“Queen Sugar” NPR’s “Fresh Air”) and Kailey Spear and Sam Spear, twins and directors of season 3 episodes “Teatime” and “Crush,” which features terrific performances by the Robbins twins. Cast bookings include “Crush” episode stars and twins Joyce Robbins (“Motherland: Fort Salem”) and Jacqueline Robbins (“A Series of Unfortunate Events”), who have been acting together and separately for more than 40 years and “Erased” episode actor Mapuana Makia (“Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.”).

More guests will be announced at a later date. Detailed listings follow below.

TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES: THE OFFICIAL PODCAST will accompany 20 episodes of the current TV series run of “Two Sentence Horror Stories,” which will total 33 at the end of this season on The CW. The TV show is one of the fastest growing horror franchises with 72MM+ viewers to date.* The first part of the podcast focuses on the television episode with show creators, talent and a celebrity guest, while the second part delves into the episode’s themes and social issues with an expert.

Inspired by online micro-fiction, “Two Sentence Horror Stories” (2SHS) is a critically acclaimed psychological horror anthology series designed to subvert classic horror tropes by centering on everyday people and diverse perspectives. The half-hour series taps into universal primal fears while tackling the provocative social and cultural issues that exist in modern society.

Created by Vera Miao, TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES is from award-winning studio Stage 13, part of Warner Bros., and features one of the most diverse and inclusive writing and directing teams in television. The series has a writers’ room that is 100% women (80% BIPOC). Notably, Lisa Morales, in her first showrunning gig, is one of the few Latina showrunners in Hollywood. The series features 100% diverse (female, BIPOC, LGBTQ+) directors. Many of the over-35, up-and-coming writers and directors of 2SHS episodes have gone onto guild acceptance, larger shows, films and gaming. The show’s casting also has been remarkably diverse.

About the podcast team
Writer, actor and comedian Danielle Radford (co-host) is a writer on the four-time Emmy®-nominated comedy series “Honest Trailers,” which takes a hard look at films and presents maybe-too-honest spoof trailers for those films. She is a co-host of the pop culture debate show “Movie Fights” and is a regular contributor to Screen Junkies and Fandom Entertainment. Her additional credits include “SSCC” and “Dimension 20.” Twitter: @danielleradford and Instagram: @danielle_radford

Writer, director, actor and mega horror fan Megan Rosati (co-host) was named one of Hollywood’s New Top Writers by Tracking Board. She is a regular contributor to the popular genre website Fangoria and wrote “Essence,” a season two episode of Two Sentence Horror Stories. Her additional credits include “Everyone Is Doing Great,” “Two Guys, A Mermaid and A Couch” and “52 Ways to Break Up.” Twitter & Instagram: @meganrosati

Storyteller, comedy writer and podcast producer Jordan Kauwling’s (producer) work has appeared on NPR, The Root and Maximum Fun and is the host of the upcoming podcast “Views from Nervosa: A Frasier Rewatch,” which passionately discusses the Emmy®-winning television series. She is more than happy to argue with anyone online about TV series “Lost” plot threads. Twitter: @cinnamonlafemme

Born and raised in the San Francisco area, writer, storyteller and producer Stephanie Franco’s (associate producer) work has appeared on “Marijuanera” for Locatora Productions and the Bay Area Youth Voice Podcast for Youth Leadership Institute.

TV episodes synopses and companion podcasts info
For fans of social horror, TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES: THE OFFICIAL PODCAST is a deep dive behind the scenes of season three of the TV series and into the issues explored in the show, spotlighting the diverse groups of creators and cast and bringing the themes to vivid life.

Guest bookings thus far, with more to be announced at a later date:

Toxic (#306) Podcast debut: Jan 25
Podcast guests: Josué Argüelles, of educational organization A Call To Men which works worldwide to promote healthy relationships in men and boys and to prevent gender-based violence for all women, men, trans, LGBQ and nonbinary people, he was a former fellow at San Francisco Labor Leadership Institute and is a board member of Make It Happen!/Brooklyn; and TV episode director Chase Joynt.

The CW TV series debut: Jan. 23 at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT.
The CW TV series synopsis: Directed by Chase Joynt; written by Liz Hsiao Lan Alper.
Class differences and cruelty take hold of a group of high school frenemies as they prank a Yale hopeful in the woods. They might realize too late that not all jokes are harmless and some ghost stories are true. Chase Joynt, director of acclaimed Season 2 episode “Elliot,” returns.

Teatime (#304) Podcast debut: Jan. 27
Podcasts guests: Peaches Christ/Joshua Grannell, drag star; writer/director of “All About Evil” with Natasha Lyonne and “Nightmare on Castro Street,” and subject of an acclaimed retrospective at San Francisco’s de Young Museum; Kailey Spear and Sam Spear, directors of season 3 TV episodes “Crush” and “Teatime.”

The CW TV series debut: Jan. 23 at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT
The CW TV series synopsis: Directed by Kailey Spear and Sam Spear; written by Stephanie Adams-Santos.
A new babysitter’s gig takes a sinister turn when she discovers her charge’s dolls are not what they seem. In her fifth 2SHS episode, Guatemalan-American writer Stephanie Adams-Santos turns the classic horror trope of evil dolls on its head.

Teeth (#302) Podcast debut: Feb 1
Podcast guests: Jeff Masters, “LGBTQ&A” Podcast host, writer, director of podcasts at Pride Media/Advocate & Out Magazine, GLAAD Award-winning journalist whose work has appeared on NPR, MSNBC and The New York Times; Clarkisha Kent, writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Essence, Entertainment Weekly, The Root, MTV, BET; executive producer and TV episode writer Lisa Morales, and executive producer Liz Levine.

The CW TV series debut: Jan. 30 at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT.
The CW TV series synopsis: Directed by Kathleen Hepburn; written by Lisa Morales.
A romantic weekend escape to the woods for a bi-racial lesbian couple goes awry when they are targeted by a group of bigoted locals, other creatures, and a dark and lonely secret their relationship may or may not overcome. Director Kathleen Hepburn has won multiple awards including a Leo Award and a Canadian Screen Award.

The Killer Inside (#307) Podcast debut: Feb 3
Podcast guests: Tommy Pico, award-winning poet, recipient of the Whiting Award, host of podcasts “Scream Queen” and “Food 4 Thot” and writer for FX’s Sterlin Harjo/Taika Waititi comedy series “Reservation Dogs”; Drea Washington, film nerd, horror fanatic and co-host of “Scream Queen;” TV episode director Heidi Saman (“Queen Sugar” NPR’s “Fresh Air”) and writer Sehaj Sethi.

The CW TV series debut: Jan. 30 at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT
The CW TV series synopsis: Directed by Heidi Saman; written by Sehaj Sethi.
A surgeon is forced to take drastic measures to save her father when following the rules does not succeed. Egyptian-American director Heidi Saman (“Queen Sugar”) draws on her cultural heritage and journalism background with NPR’s “Fresh Air” to bring 2SHS writer Sehaj Sethi’s fourth episode to life (and death).

About Stage 13
Stage 13 is a multiple award-winning, fearless, original content studio showcasing a new generation of inspired talent and voices in scripted and unscripted storytelling. With six Emmy® nominations, the brand’s diverse portfolio of series and features are available on the Stage 13 platform, Facebook, YouTube, and its distribution partners, including Netflix, The CW/CW Seed, HBO, and HBO Max. Creating impactful series for multidimensional audiences, Stage 13 is part of the Warner Bros. TV Group.

* Source: Nielsen TV Toolbox, Linear = Live+35, Two Minute Qualifier, Netflix Sept 2019-Oct 2021, CWTV.com, All Seasons of Each Series; U.S. and Connected TV only.

Links and for more information

“Two Sentence Horror Stories” TV series and companion podcast links:

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-sentence-horror-stories-the-podcast/id1606273152Podcast trailer: https://youtu.be/m79JHDZyKUI
Stage 13 site: https://www.stage13.com/shows/two-sentence-horror-stories/
Official Instagram: www.instagram.com/twosentencehorrorstories
Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/twosentencehorrorstories
Series Website: http://www.twosentencehorrorstories.com/
Series Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcns0_Y5wQ
Series EPK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJcTduUPoHM

“Two Sentence Horror Stories” TV series, season 3 airs/streams: cwtv.com and the CW app
https://www.cwtv.com/shows/two-sentence-horror-stories