A+E Networks' "If You Wish Upon Me" makes its global debut

A+E Networks’ drama series "If You Wish Upon Me" is set to have its worldwide premiere release on 10th August. 

"If You WIsh Upon Me" will premiere worldwide on the OTT platforms Viu in 16 markets across Asia, the Middle East and South Africa, Viki in the Americas, Europe and Oceania, and U-Next in Japan. A+E Networks serves as the sole studio financier and distributor for the title. In South Korea, it will first premier on KBS, followed by Lifetime Korea. “A+E Networks continues to double down on creating relevant and globally monetizable IP across genres and formats," Saugato Banerjee, Managing Director for Asia at A+E Networks, said. "The global demand for K-dramas continues to grow.  If You Wish Upon Me is our first creative partnership with A+E Studios and reflects the ambition and confidence in the appeal of the genre.”

The production starring Ji Chang-wook, Sung Dong-il, and Choi Soo-young follows an impoverished man with a troubled past and a twisted attitude accidentally joining Team Genie, which carries out the last wishes of patients in hospice care. As a member of the team, he starts caring for people other than himself for the first time and learns the way to open his heart and live harmoniously.

Each episode will have a story of a patient in hospice care and Team Genie’s journey to carry out their wishes. The series was inspired by a true account of the Make-a-Wish foundation in the Netherlands, an international foundation working as the hub for wish-granting activities for children with a critical illness. The story of If You Wish Upon Me builds on this and expands it to a hospice featuring relatable characters and heartwarming situations.

“Korean content has become a global phenomenon thanks to its distinctive stories and production values," Youngsun Soh, GM Korea and Regional Head of Digital Business Development of A+E Networks, said. "As a part of a global media group, A+E Networks Korea aims to provide exceptional content globally by strengthening our investments in creative works.” She added. “We are pleased to premier If You Wish Upon Me on the public network KBS2 in primetime, and on Lifetime Korea. Based on our strength as a global media group, A+E Networks Korea also expects to fuel IP creation in the form of adaptations and remakes.”