is a Japanese pay television channel owned and operated by Nojima Corporation. Until Sony unloaded its linear TV channels, it was the Japanese version of AXN. The channel specializes in action and drama series, mostly from Europe and North America.
History The Japanese feed of AXN started broadcasting on 1 June 1998, owned by Sony Pictures Television Japan; its launch came shortly after Animax.SPE goes local in Japan, Variety, 2 July 1998, retrieved 29 September 2026 In July 2003, Sony Pictures Television International sold a 35% equity stake to Jupiter Communications, a Japanese MSO cable operator. Subsequently, the cable company's affiliate sales team would be in charge of affiliate advertising to cable companies.Elizabeth Guider, SPTI sells AXN Japan stake, Variety, 22 July 2003, retrieved 29 September 2026 Under SPTI, the channel had the Japanese rights to the Emmy Awards.Emmy Broadcast Goes Global, Television Academy, 19 August 2009, retrieved 29 September 2026
Nojima took over AXN from SPTI on 1 October 2021. On 1 October 2023, the AXN logo was dropped and the channel was renamed Action Channel.開局25周年『AXN』『AXNミステリー』チャンネル名とロゴを一新！2023年10月、『アクションチャンネル』『ミステリーチャンネル』としてパワーアップ！, Action Channel, 1 October 2023, retrieved 29 September 2026 With the rename came a dog mascot; it gained the name Acty in April 2024 after a viewer poll.アクションチャンネル、ミステリーチャンネルのキャラクター名がついに決定！, PR TIMES, 10 April 2024, retrieved 29 September 2026
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