Japan’s five major commercial broadcast networks are rolling out their latest OTT ambitions in October.

The new joint venture on-demand platform, TVer, is backed by Nippon Television Network Corporation, Asahi National Broadcasting, TBS TV, TV Tokyo Corporation and Fuji Television Network.

The companies said TVer aimed, among other things, to service new media consumption habits and to head off piracy. The venture has been in development since last year.

TVer is being offered free of charge as a catch-up service. Select archive titles will be included in the line-up.