VIZ Media Licenses Season 3 Of Blockbuster Ninja Series Naruto To SBT In Brazil

Extended Partnership With Leading Broadcaster Brings More of The Popular Action Series To The Largest Market In South America

San Francisco, CA - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, continues to expand the global audience base for its successful NARUTO animated series with the latest announcement that SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão), VIZ Media’s terrestrial broadcast partner in Brazil, has licensed the Third Season of the hit animated series, NARUTO. SBT is one of the country’s largest television networks and is expected to debut the third season for the smash hit series in early 2010.

SBT will bring an additional 51 episodes (Episodes 105 through 156) of the popular animated series about a young boy training to become a ninja to one of the fastest growing television markets in the world. The NARUTO brand already possesses a devout following in Brazil through SBT’s airing of NARUTO Seasons 1 and 2, as well as fan access to the Internet.

The agreement with SBT was brought to fruition with the assistance of Mr. Nelson Sato, director of Sato Co., who lent his assistance and support throughout the negotiations and helped solidify a new relationship between VIZ Media and SBT.

VIZ Media has licensed NARUTO and other popular titles to several prominent broadcasters as part of an ongoing campaign to make content available to the Pan-Latin American market.

“SBT is extremely excited continue it’s partnership with VIZ Media to bring the Third Season of the mega hit NARUTO to fans in Brazil,” states Daniela Beyruti, Network Executive, SBT.

“NARUTO has clearly found it’s home in Brazil on SBT,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sale & Marketing, VIZ Media. “The continuation of our partnership is a true demonstration of both our commitments to bringing innovative programming to an ever growing audience. SBT has been a terrific partner with the NARUTO brand as they share our goal to entertain with well developed stories and exciting and compelling animation.”

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages.

Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.