Japan swaps drugs for cash in Suits remake due to TV rules
Executives at a Taipei festival explain how broadcasters alter hit shows for local tastes, citing specific changes to legal dramas and game shows.
By Austin Reed ·
Viewers in Japan will see a different prop in the pilot of the local version of Suits compared to audiences in South Korea or Mongolia. In the original series, a briefcase opened during a job interview reveals marijuana. Japanese television regulations prohibit showing drugs on screen, so the local producers replaced the pot with stacks of cash. Linfield Ng, who oversees format sales for Asia at NBCUniversal, confirmed this specific adjustment to the source material.
Ng shared this example at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei. He presented alongside Fukaya Shunsuke, head of new format sales for Europe at TBS Television. The session focused on how international formats are adapted for different regions. Emily Chang, a producer of Shark Tank Taiwan, moderated the discussion.
The executives argued that minor changes do not alter the core identity of a show. Ng noted that the legal cases in the Suits remake are localized, but the central story of a man without a law degree remains the same. Similar logic applied to SNL Korea, which dropped its musical segment because the local market already has many music shows. Producers there also softened political cold opens to match local sensitivities.
TBS Television, which licenses the Ninja Warrior format, maintains a strict brand guide. Fukaya explained that the guide defines the show as an Olympics for unknown athletes. This framework allows local versions to exist in 25 countries while keeping the core challenge intact. The company recently co-developed two shows with U.K. distributor All3Media International, including Lovers or Liars. Fukaya said he had to mediate when British creators proposed ballroom dancing, a move that did not fit Japanese cultural norms. The team settled on choreography that emphasized physical contact to help audiences identify the genuine couple.
NBCUniversal has sold more than 40 format brands across Asia. In 2025, the company managed 39 seasons across 17 territories. Ng stated that rights deals are often split by region, with the company sometimes holding Asian rights while the original owner keeps European rights. The firm recently added three Asian formats in 2026, including a cooking show from Korea and a studio-based arcade game from Japan.
The executives noted that game shows account for a smaller share of successful formats in Asia compared to Europe. Ng cited a 2026 K7 report stating that entertainment and game shows make up about 59% of globally successful formats, compared with about 40% in Asia. He added that his team avoids pitching game shows to South Korea, a market that does not buy them. The next step for several co-developed pilots is international sales, with TBS expecting news soon on new deals.
Fukaya joined the advisory board of the Format Recognition and Protection Association in 2026. The group sets criteria for protecting format ideas, which is difficult to prove legally. Ng advised creators to know their unique selling points clearly. He said buyers want to understand a show's value within the first two minutes of a pitch.
