Interchannel

Interchannel was a Japanese video game developer and publisher established on October 2, 1995 as NEC Interchannel, Ltd., a subsidiary created through the separation of certain NEC divisions. Its early activities covered both video games and music-related operations. In October 1997, the company assumed NEC Avenue's music and game operations, and in March 1998 it acquired NEC Avenue's music-publishing subsidiary, NEC Avenue Music Publishing. The latter business was subsequently renamed IC Avenue Music Publishing. The company operated primarily in Japan, and its game releases were generally Japanese-language products. To support distribution outside Japan, Interchannel formed Gamebridge Ltd., a United Kingdom-based joint venture with Bergsala. Gamebridge published Interchannel titles in Europe, although the venture released only a small number of games. This international effort did not turn Interchannel into a broadly global publisher; its catalogue and commercial identity remained strongly tied to Japanese console and personal-computer entertainment markets. A major ownership change occurred in 2004, when Index Corporation acquired 70 percent of Interchannel for approximately 3 billion yen, according to the cited historical account. Interchannel's music activities continued to change hands and structures after the transaction. In 2006, Index established Index Music using assets acquired from IC Avenue, with a focus that included music associated with children's anime series. The music label later moved to T.Y. Limited in 2008 and was transferred again to Dreamusic in 2013, where it operated under the Feel Mee label. Interchannel's video game assets were separated from the broader brand in November 2007, when GungHo Online Entertainment acquired those assets from Index Corporation. Index retained the Interchannel name and copyright at that time, meaning that the transfer did not simply amount to a continuation of the original company under GungHo. On March 1, 2010, Lightweight acquired Interchannel itself. The brand therefore became associated with a legacy catalogue rather than with a large continuing publishing operation. Interchannel is particularly associated with Japanese console releases and with adaptations or ports aimed at domestic audiences. Its documented Super CD-ROM² catalogue was very small: the company published Puyo Puyo CD Tsuu and De-Ja for the system. On July 21, 2023, M2 purchased the rights to NEC Interchannel games published for the Super CD-ROM² platform from Lightweight. This transaction further separated historical intellectual-property rights from the original Interchannel organization. Based on the documented asset transfers and the absence of evidence for an active standalone publishing business, Interchannel is best treated as a defunct or legacy Japanese game brand rather than as an operating international publisher.

Interchannel began on October 2, 1995 under the name NEC Interchannel, Ltd. It was formed as a subsidiary of NEC following the separation of divisions involved in entertainment-related activities. The new company inherited a role spanning video games and music rather than operating solely as a software publisher. In October 1997, NEC Interchannel took over NEC Avenue's music and game operations. The following year, in March 1998, it acquired NEC Avenue Music Publishing. That music subsidiary later became IC Avenue Music Publishing, creating a corporate structure in which Interchannel's entertainment interests extended beyond game development and distribution. The company remained primarily focused on the Japanese market, and its games were commonly produced for Japanese-speaking audiences. Interchannel made a limited attempt to expand its publishing reach in Europe through Gamebridge Ltd., a United Kingdom joint venture with Bergsala. Gamebridge handled European publication of Interchannel software, but only ten games were released through the venture. The initiative provided an overseas channel without changing the company's fundamentally Japan-centered market position. In 2004, Index Corporation acquired 70 percent of Interchannel for approximately 3 billion yen. The ownership change was followed by further restructuring of the company's music interests. In 2006, Index launched Index Music using assets obtained from IC Avenue, concentrating in part on music from children's anime series. T.Y. Limited assumed control of the music label in 2008, and in 2013 the label moved to Dreamusic and was operated under the Feel Mee name. The game business was separated from the remaining Interchannel identity in November 2007. GungHo Online Entertainment purchased Interchannel's video game assets from Index Corporation, while the Interchannel logo and copyright remained with Index. This distinction is important because the transaction transferred the software business without preserving the original company as an integrated publisher under GungHo. Lightweight acquired Interchannel on March 1, 2010. After that point, Interchannel was principally a legacy name connected with its historical catalogue and intellectual property rather than a prominent active publisher. The company's documented Super CD-ROM² releases included Puyo Puyo CD Tsuu and De-Ja. On July 21, 2023, M2 acquired the rights to NEC Interchannel games published for the Super CD-ROM² platform from Lightweight. The later rights transaction illustrates the continued fragmentation and preservation of Interchannel's historical catalogue, even as the original operating brand ceased to function as a major independent game company.

• 2023

  M2 acquires Super CD-ROM² rights

  [1]Interchannelen.wikipedia.org

  M2 purchased from Lightweight the rights to NEC Interchannel games released for the Super CD-ROM² system on July 21.

• 2010

  Lightweight acquires Interchannel

  [1]Interchannelen.wikipedia.org

  Lightweight acquired Interchannel on March 1.

• 2007

  Video game assets move to GungHo

  [1]Interchannelen.wikipedia.org

  GungHo Online Entertainment acquired Interchannel's video game assets from Index Corporation in November.

• 2004

  Index Corporation becomes majority owner

  [1]Interchannelen.wikipedia.org

  Index Corporation acquired 70 percent of Interchannel for approximately 3 billion yen.

• 1998

  NEC Avenue Music Publishing is acquired

  [1]Interchannelen.wikipedia.org

  Interchannel acquired NEC Avenue's music-publishing subsidiary in March; the business later became IC Avenue Music Publishing.

• 1997

  NEC Avenue operations are transferred

  [1]Interchannelen.wikipedia.org

  In October, NEC Interchannel took over NEC Avenue's music and game operations.

• 1995

  NEC Interchannel is founded

  [1]Interchannelen.wikipedia.org

  NEC Interchannel, Ltd. was established on October 2 as an NEC subsidiary created through the separation of relevant entertainment divisions.

A Japan-focused video game and music-publishing brand rooted in NEC's entertainment operations, with a catalogue oriented toward Japanese-language console software and a limited European publishing presence.

• Video game

  Puyo Puyo CD Tsuu

  A Super CD-ROM² title published by NEC Interchannel. It is one of the two games specifically identified in the available reference material as having been published by NEC Interchannel for the platform.

• Video game

  De-Ja

  A Super CD-ROM² game published by NEC Interchannel. Like Puyo Puyo CD Tsuu, it forms part of the historical NEC Interchannel catalogue whose rights were later acquired by M2 from Lightweight.

• Music publishing

  IC Avenue Music Publishing

  The renamed music-publishing business formerly known as NEC Avenue Music Publishing. Its assets later became associated with Index Music and subsequently moved through other owners and labels.

• 2023

  M2 acquires selected NEC Interchannel rightsM&A

  Background

  Lightweight held rights to historical NEC Interchannel games for the Super CD-ROM² platform.

  Action taken

  M2 purchased those rights from Lightweight on July 21.

  Aftermath

  Selected NEC Interchannel games became part of M2's rights portfolio.

  Source

• 2010

  Lightweight acquires InterchannelM&A

  Background

  After the game assets had moved to GungHo, Interchannel continued as a separate legacy brand.

  Action taken

  Lightweight acquired Interchannel on March 1.

  Aftermath

  Lightweight later held rights to part of the NEC Interchannel catalogue before transferring Super CD-ROM² rights to M2 in 2023.

  Source

• 2007

  GungHo acquires the video game assetsM&A

  Background

  Index Corporation controlled Interchannel after acquiring a majority stake in 2004.

  Action taken

  GungHo Online Entertainment acquired Interchannel's video game assets, while Index retained the Interchannel logo and copyright.

  Aftermath

  The game business was separated from the remaining Interchannel identity.

  Source

• 2004

  Index Corporation purchases a majority stakeM&A

  Background

  Interchannel was an NEC-originated entertainment subsidiary with activities in games and music.

  Action taken

  Index Corporation acquired 70 percent of the company for approximately 3 billion yen.

  Aftermath

  Interchannel's later game and music activities were progressively separated and transferred among different companies.

  Transaction value. Approximately 3 billion yen (2004)

  Source

1. 1Interchannelen.wikipedia.org