Acquiring smartphone subscribers through proprietary content with high ARPU
First written in FY2016-Q3. 27 of 34 entries say "Restated". Latest entry: 2026-08-07.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2021: 1 of 8 companies on the "Worse" side.
5 other companies' latest entry also says "Advanced".
- FY2026-H1Subscriber numbers remained broadly flat after the transfer of Video MarketAnnual report
「The business had 3.18 million paid subscribers, down 60,000 from 30 September 2025, due to a 60,000 decline in the number of paid subscribers following the transfer of all shares in the consolidated subsidiary 株式会社ビデオマーケット. As the number of paid subscribers to AdGuard and other services continued to expand, paid subscribers in the business remained broadly flat.」
It is explained that, although subscriber numbers declined following the transfer of all shares in Video Market, the expansion of the AdGuard and other paid-subscriber bases kept content-business paid subscribers broadly flat at 3.18 million. - FY2025AdvancedAnnual report
「Paid subscribers in the business increased to 3.24 million, up 170,000 from 30 September 2024, due to the acquisition of a company engaged in music distribution and other businesses and strong enrollment through carrier shops. Excluding the acquisition effect, paid subscribers still increased slightly as the number of paid subscribers to AdGuard and other services continued to expand.」
Content-business paid subscribers increased to 3.24 million and rose slightly even excluding the acquisition effect, due to expansion of the AdGuard and other subscriber bases. - FY2025-H1AdvancedAnnual report
「Paid subscribers in the business increased to 3.21 million, up 130,000 from 30 September 2024, due to the acquisition of a company engaged in music distribution and other businesses and strong enrollment through carrier shops. Excluding the acquisition effect, paid subscribers still increased slightly as the number of paid subscribers to AdGuard and other services continued to expand.」
Content-business paid subscribers increased to 3.21 million, up 130,000 from 30 September 2024. The acquisition of a company engaged in music distribution and other businesses, strong enrollment through carrier shops, and expansion of the AdGuard and other subscriber bases were cited as specific growth drivers. - FY2024-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「The business had 3.10 million paid subscribers, down 30,000 from 30 September 2023. As the number of paid subscribers to AdGuard, a security-related app, continued to expand, the number of paid subscribers remained broadly flat.」
It is explained that, amid the continued decline in paid subscribers, expansion of the AdGuard subscriber base kept content-business subscriber numbers broadly flat. - FY2024-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「The business had 3.09 million paid subscribers, down 40,000 from 30 September 2023. As the number of paid subscribers to AdGuard, a security-related app, continued to expand, the number of paid subscribers remained broadly flat.」
It is explained that, despite the decline in paid subscribers, expansion of the AdGuard subscriber base kept content-business subscriber numbers broadly flat. - FY2023RestatedAnnual report
「As there is further room to expand the number of paid subscribers to security-related services, we will continue to focus on increasing paid subscribers. We will also expand the business supplying original comic titles to comic distribution operators by increasing the number of original comic titles.」
Expansion of security-related subscribers and the number of original comic titles has continued as a measure to maintain and expand content-business earnings. - FY2023-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「The business had 3.14 million paid subscribers, down 60,000 from 30 September 2022. As the number of paid subscribers to AdGuard, a security-related app, continued to expand, the number of paid subscribers remained broadly flat.」
It is explained that, while paid subscriber numbers declined, the continued expansion of the AdGuard subscriber base kept total subscriber numbers broadly flat. - FY2023-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「As the number of paid subscribers to AdGuard, a security-related app, continued to expand, the number of paid subscribers remained broadly flat.」
It is explained that expansion of the AdGuard paid-subscriber base has continued as a paid-subscriber acquisition measure, helping to contain the decline in subscriber numbers. - FY2023-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「As the number of paid subscribers to AdGuard, a security-related app, continued to expand, the net decline in paid subscribers in the business has been narrowing.」
Expansion of the AdGuard subscriber base has continued as a measure to acquire paid subscribers. - FY2022-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the content business, while new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we expanded the number of new AdGuard subscribers, a security-related app with strong demand, and increased the monthly number of original comic titles supplied to comic distribution operators.」
While new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we continued measures to increase the number of new AdGuard subscribers and the monthly number of original comic titles supplied. - FY2022-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the content business, while new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we expanded the number of new AdGuard subscribers, a security-related app with strong demand, and increased the monthly number of original comic titles supplied to comic distribution operators.」
While new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we continued measures to increase the number of new AdGuard subscribers and the monthly number of original comic titles supplied. - FY2022-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「In the content business, while new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we expanded the number of new AdGuard subscribers, a security-related app with strong demand, and increased the monthly number of original comic titles supplied to comic distribution operators.」
While new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we continued expanding acquisition of AdGuard subscribers and increasing the number of original comic titles supplied. - FY2021RestatedAnnual report
「In the content business, while new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we expanded the acquisition of new subscribers for AdGuard, a security-related app with strong demand, and increased the monthly number of original comic titles supplied to comic distribution operators.」
While enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we continued expanding acquisition of AdGuard subscribers and increasing the number of original comic titles supplied. - FY2021-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the content business, while new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we expanded the acquisition of new subscribers for AdGuard, a security-related app with strong demand, and increased the monthly number of original comic titles supplied to comic distribution operators.」
While new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we continued expanding acquisition of AdGuard subscribers and increasing the monthly number of original comic titles supplied. - FY2021-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the content business, while new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we expanded the acquisition of new subscribers for AdGuard, a security-related app with strong demand, and increased the monthly number of original comic titles supplied to comic distribution operators.」
We have continued expanding acquisition of AdGuard subscribers and increasing the number of original comic titles supplied. As no new numerical results were provided, this item was rechecked. - FY2021-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「In the content business, while new enrollments through mobile shops remained weak, we expanded the acquisition of new subscribers for AdGuard, a security-related app with strong demand, and increased the monthly number of original comic titles supplied to comic distribution operators.」
Regarding measures to acquire paid subscribers through mobile shops, progress is cited on specific initiatives, including expanding acquisition of AdGuard, which has strong demand, and increasing the monthly number of original comic titles supplied. - FY2020-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「Meanwhile, we continued working to raise average revenue per user by strengthening the video offerings on music.jp, an integrated music, video, books and comics service website.」
Efforts to raise average revenue per user by strengthening music.jp's video offerings have continued. - FY2020-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「Against this backdrop, we continued working to raise ARPU by strengthening the video offerings on music.jp, an integrated music, video, books and comics service website, while also working to further contain advertising expenses by further strengthening membership-promotion measures through mobile shops, where paid-subscriber acquisition is highly efficient.」
We have continued measures to raise ARPU by expanding video offerings and to promote enrollment through mobile shops, while further strengthening the enrollment-promotion measures to contain advertising expenses. - FY2019-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「Advertising expenses decreased because we prioritized the efficiency of acquiring paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops」
We have continued acquiring paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops while maintaining an operating policy that prioritizes acquisition efficiency. - FY2019-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「As the acquisition of paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops remained sluggish, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 4.27 million at 31 March 2019, down 300,000 from 30 September 2018, while total paid subscribers totaled 5.22 million, down 380,000 from the same date.」
Measures to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops have continued, but acquisition has remained sluggish and subscriber numbers have continued to decline. - FY2019-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「Operating profit and ordinary profit were ¥829 million, up 25.3% year on year, and ¥868 million, up 40.1%, respectively. Although gross profit declined, selling, general and administrative expenses were contained, mainly because advertising expenses decreased as we prioritized the efficiency of acquiring paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops.」
An operating policy of prioritizing acquisition efficiency for paid subscribers through mobile shops is outlined. - FY2018RestatedAnnual report
「Meanwhile, as demand for video content has increased, we have focused on raising ARPU by expanding our video offerings.」
Measures to raise ARPU by expanding video offerings have continued. - FY2018-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「Due in part to sluggish smartphone unit sales, and also because we focused on the efficiency of acquiring paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 4.70 million at 30 June 2018, down 620,000 from 30 September 2017, while total paid subscribers totaled 5.77 million, down 790,000 from the same date.」
It is explained that acquisition of paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops continued, while the focus this quarter was on acquisition efficiency. - FY2018-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「Due in part to sluggish smartphone unit sales, we struggled to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops. As a result, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 5.01 million at 31 March 2018, down 310,000 from 30 September 2017, while total paid subscribers totaled 6.14 million, down 420,000 from the same date.」
Measures to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops have continued, but acquisition has been difficult against a backdrop of weak device sales. - FY2018-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「Due in part to sluggish smartphone unit sales, we struggled to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops. As a result, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 5.16 million at 31 December 2017, down 160,000 from 30 September 2017, while total paid subscribers totaled 6.35 million, down 210,000 from the same date.」
Measures to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops have continued, but subscriber numbers have declined further against a backdrop of weak device sales. - FY2017RestatedAnnual report
「Due in part to sluggish smartphone unit sales, we struggled to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops. Although subscribers were added following the consolidation of 株式会社ビデオマーケット as a subsidiary, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 5.32 million at 30 September 2017, down 370,000 from 30 September 2016, while total paid subscribers totaled 6.56 million, down 660,000 from the same date.」
Measures to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops have continued, but have been difficult against a backdrop of weak device sales. - FY2017-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「Due in part to sluggish smartphone unit sales, we struggled to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops nationwide. Although subscribers were added following the consolidation of 株式会社ビデオマーケット as a subsidiary, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 5.43 million at 30 June 2017, down 260,000 from 30 September 2016, while total paid subscribers totaled 6.74 million, down 480,000 from the same date.」
Acquisition of paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops nationwide has continued, but has been difficult against a backdrop of weak device sales. - FY2017-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「As smartphone unit sales continued to stagnate, we struggled to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops nationwide. As a result, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 5.49 million at 31 March 2017, down 200,000 from 30 September 2016, while total paid subscribers totaled 6.86 million, down 360,000 from the same date.」
Measures to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops nationwide have continued, but acquisition has been difficult against a backdrop of weak device sales. - FY2017-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「We worked to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops nationwide. However, as smartphone unit sales remained sluggish, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 5.60 million at 31 December 2016, down 90,000 from 30 September 2016, while total paid subscribers totaled 7.04 million, down 180,000 from the same date.」
Measures to acquire paid smartphone subscribers through mobile shops nationwide have continued, but subscriber numbers have declined against a backdrop of weak device sales. - FY2016-Q3First statedAnnual report
「Against this backdrop, we focused mainly on acquiring paid smartphone subscribers for proprietary content with high average revenue per user (ARPU) through mobile shops nationwide. However, as paid-subscriber acquisition was weak in the second and third quarters, paid smartphone subscribers totaled 5.74 million at 30 June 2016, down 260,000 from 30 September 2015, while total paid subscribers totaled 7.35 million, down 590,000 from the same date.」
Measures to acquire paid smartphone subscribers for proprietary content, mainly through mobile shops nationwide, are outlined.