NIQ Launches Showlabs in Japan to Help Content Companies Understand Global Streaming Audiences
Supporting smarter content planning, audience evaluation, and international expansion through cross-platform viewing intelligence across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Crunchyroll and seven markets
TOKYO, June 16, 2026 — NIQ, powered by GfK intelligence, a leading consumer intelligence company, today announced the launch of Showlabs in Japan, a video viewing analytics solution designed to help content creators, distributors, and rights holders better understand audience behavior across streaming platforms and international markets.
As competition within the global streaming industry intensifies and viewing behavior continues to diversify across streaming platforms, content companies are under growing pressure to make faster and more informed decisions. In Japan, where anime and entertainment content continue to gain global recognition, understanding cross-market viewing behavior has become increasingly important for both creative and commercial strategy.
The launch expands NIQ’s portfolio of intelligence solutions that help organizations turn complex audience and consumer data into more confident business decisions.
“As viewing environments continue to evolve and Japanese content gains increasing attention overseas, creators and decision-makers are being asked to adopt more multifaceted perspectives than ever before. At the same time, data is only a tool to support judgment—the expertise and creative insight developed through years of on-the-ground experience remain paramount,” said Hideyuki Hata, Managing Director of NIQ in Japan. “Showlabs respects those on-site decisions while seamlessly incorporating objective viewing data into planning and evaluation processes. Through this service, NIQ powered by GfK intelligence, aims to support the decision-making of production companies and a wide range of content holders, contributing to the overall enhancement of value in Japan’s video content market and to faster recognition in international markets.”
Bringing greater visibility to global viewing trends
Developed by Plum Research S.A., Showlabs provides cross-platform analysis of viewing trends across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Crunchyroll, covering Japan, the United States, France, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan, and India. Through anonymized viewing data and comparative market analysis, the solution supports content planning, programming strategy, audience evaluation, and overseas expansion initiatives.
Unlike traditional survey-based or online trend analysis approaches, Showlabs uses anonymized viewing log data modeled against local demographics and platform-share dynamics to provide a broader view of viewing behavior observed through anonymized viewing logs and modeled analysis and how viewing trends differ across countries and streaming services.
The platform enables analysis by title, genre, country, and streaming service, helping users:
- Identify emerging viewing trends and audience preferences
- Compare content and genre performance across markets
- Analyze cross-platform viewing trends for related titles
- Support overseas expansion and distribution discussions across streaming platforms
Supporting smarter content decisions
By integrating data-driven insights into content planning and evaluation processes, Showlabs supports more informed decision-making across the entertainment industry — from early-stage development to programming and international distribution strategy.
The solution is designed to support a wide range of users across the content ecosystem, including production companies, distributors, broadcasters, content holders, and advertisers involved in video content planning, development, and programming.
“At PlumResearch, we developed Showlabs to make streaming-viewing insights more accessible to a wider range of creators and content companies,” said Łukasz Jeziorski, CEO of Plum Research S.A. “We are pleased to collaborate with NIQ powered by GfK intelligence in Japan to bring these capabilities to the Japanese market and support companies seeking stronger insight into international viewing trends.”
NIQ powered by GfK intelligence plans to offer demo trials and industry workshops in Japan where participants can explore use cases and experience the platform through actual data examples.
Representative screenshots of the Showlabs platform are included for illustrative purposes. Additional visuals and product information are available on the website. Click here to review
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Showlabs?
Showlabs is a video viewing analytics solution developed by Plum Research S.A. and introduced in Japan by NIQ, powered by GfK intelligence. The platform helps content creators, distributors, and rights holders gain insight into audience behavior across streaming platforms and international markets through anonymized viewing data and comparative market analysis.
- What streaming platforms and markets are covered?
The Japan version of Showlabs currently supports analysis across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Crunchyroll, covering Japan, the United States, France, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan, and India.
- How can Showlabs support content planning and distribution strategy?
Showlabs helps users identify viewing trends, compare genre and title performance across markets, analyze cross-platform viewing trends for related titles, and support overseas expansion and distribution discussions with platform partners.
- How is Showlabs different from traditional survey or social trend analysis?
Unlike traditional survey-based or online trend analysis approaches, Showlabs uses anonymized viewing log data modeled against local demographics and platform-share dynamics to provide a more comprehensive view of patterns across markets and streaming services.
- Who is Showlabs intended for?
Showlabs is designed for production companies, distributors, broadcasters, content holders, advertisers, and other businesses involved in video content planning, development, programming, and international distribution.
- How is the viewing data collected?
The data is based on anonymized viewing logs collected using PlumResearch’s panel data and technical infrastructure. The data is then modeled using local demographics and platform-share information in each market.
- Is it possible to access Japan-only data?
Current data usage contracts are provided as a bundled offering covering four streaming platforms across seven markets. Screen images are available on https://nielseniq.com/global/ja/news-center/2026/グローバルな動画配信市場を横断可視化niq-gfk-japan、日/
About NIQ
NIQ is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modelling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.
With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.
For more information, please visit www.niq.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This press release regarding the launch of Showlabs in Japan may contain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market trends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current expectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and various assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to inherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound methodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.
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About PlumResearch
PlumResearch, an Ampere Analysis company, is a Polish analytics firm providing reliable, detailed data to the global entertainment market. Plum pioneered audience measurement for streaming with its breakthrough patented methodology, serving over 75 markets through its Showlabs solution.
