Shifting Focus From Acquiring Content To International Co-Productions by Kayo Washio by Wowow Television Channel

Kayo Washio re-located from Japan to Los Angeles in 2011 to become the Head of WOWOW’s U.S. operations. She has been with WOWOW, Japan’s leading premium pay TV broadcaster, for over 15 years and has held various top executive posts. 

As the Head of U.S. operations, Kayo oversaw the negotiations for the recently announced Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi’s documentary “The New York Review of Books: A 50 Year Argument,” in which she is credited as executive producer. In addition, she also oversaw the negotiations for Robert Redford and Wim Wenders’ six-part TV series documentary “Cathedrals of Culture,” in which she is credited as co-producer. The film made its World Premiere in Berlinale Special at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival.

With a broadcast producer background, Kayo has stellar supervisory and management skills in producing television programs, film acquisition, budget control and contract negotiations.

Previously, Kayo was manager for WOWOW’s marketing & promotions department where she was responsible for overseeing all publicity efforts for WOWOW programs, help generate company’s largest quarterly subscriber increase, successfully led company’s first collaboration with network TV shows for the Grammys and the Oscars awards shows, and led the project team for the first WOWOW Festival.

Before becoming manager, Kayo was a producer for WOWOW’s movie department where she was responsible for producing a weekly program covering cinema & interviewing A-list talent; accomplished successful partnerships with various organizations such as CNN & Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; produced and directed a Baz Luhrmann documentary titled “Remarkable talented Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Tracks of Love’”; negotiated licensing deals with major studios for film and TV series; and developed strong & beneficial relationships with A-list creators for special programs.

Prior to producing original programs, Kayo was a producer for WOWOW’s foreign animations & TV dramas where she was the first to successfully implement new animation programs and introduce “South Park” to the Japanese audience.