MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has entered into a long-term agreement with one of Korea's entertainment company, CJ Media Inc., to distribute a selection of its upcoming and future drama series to broadcasters and digital content providers across Asia outside of Japan, China and Korea.

The deal strengthens the partnership between SPTI and the CJ Group which was established last year when SPTI acquired the distribution rights from CJ Entertainment for the two Korean features How to Keep My Love and The Greatest Expectation.

SPTI senior vice president distribution Asia Ross Pollack said, "Korean dramas have enjoyed unprecedented popularity domestically and abroad in recent years and we are thrilled to partner with one of the largest media and entertainment corporations in Korea, CJ Media Inc. As The Asian Hollywood Studio, this deal further enhances our already significant ability to bring our clients the very best product, whether it's from Hollywood or more close to home in Asia."

CJ Media executive vice president broadcasting division Won-Pil Shim said, "We are proud to be partnering with SPTI for distribution of CJ Media Inc.'s original drama and made for television movie content. Based on our over 10 years of experience in producing and broadcasting on the Korean television market, we are geared up to create and produce quality original content for not only Korean audiences, but audiences throughout Asia and beyond."

The first drama to be distributed as part of the deal is Hyena, a 16-episode series following the lives of four playful guys -- Chul-Soo (played by Min-Jong Kim), Suk-Jin (played by Sung-Rok Shin), Jin-Bum (played by Man-Seok Oh), and Jin-Sang (played by Da Hoon Yoon) -- as they discover that though they may only look for casual relationship, sometimes they find true love.