MediaGene Inc. Further Enhances Advertising Value as a Media Company with "True Influence" Due to Surge in AI Access

MediaGene Inc., a group company of TNL Media Group (NASDAQ: TNMG), announces a significant surge in AI access demand for its major digital media outlets (including Business Insider Japan, Lifehacker Japan, Digiday Japan, Lumy, and Shirabee) based on the latest data from the AI data licensing platform "TollBit" (Q4 2025 - Q1 2026). We believe this surge has increased the influence and advertising value of our media portfolio in an era where user information retrieval behavior is increasingly shifting towards AI. Furthermore, the entire TNL Media Group, including the recipe site iCook operating in Taiwan, has experienced top-tier access demand, ranking among the top approximately 8% of publishers in the Asian region utilizing TollBit.

The Dramatic Shift in Traffic Structure and Web Media Due to the Advent of the "AI Search Era"

With the emergence of generative AI, user information retrieval behavior is changing. The traffic structure of web media, both domestically and internationally, is undergoing a significant transformation with the addition of "AI access" alongside human access. This change in traffic acquisition structure impacts the business models of media companies, indicating that the entire industry is at a major turning point.

We believe that with the advent of this "AI search era," a new standard for media value is being demanded by advertisers and the market. We have been proactively exploring models that coexist with AI.

The Era Where Media is Evaluated by "True Influence = Being Referenced by AI"

Media evaluation criteria are clearly shifting from superficial metrics (PVs) to "true influence" based on information credibility. For generative AI to produce more accurate and high-quality responses, highly credible and unique original content is essential. This is precisely the information users fundamentally seek, thus becoming the "true influence in the AI era."

Amidst this industry-wide change, the primary reason our media outlets continue to attract exceptionally high AI access demand is our unwavering commitment to creating articles that prioritize "information credibility." In the production process managed by our editorial and writing staff, we emphasize the expression of unique human experiences and emotions, and even translated articles undergo a thorough human review. We believe that AI has recognized this content as "valuable and reliable data worth learning from and referencing," leading to our overwhelming performance on TollBit.

Remarkable Growth Data from Major Domestic Media Outlets

Our major media outlets are experiencing a surge in AI access demand across various categories, showing robust growth.

Shirabee (Entertainment Category): Explosive growth of 103.8% compared to the previous period. Ranked in the top 4.9% within its category and top 10.1% in Asia.

Business Insider Japan (News Category): Increased by 4.4% compared to the previous period, ranking in the top 11.6% in Asia.

Lifehacker Japan (Lifestyle Category): Recorded a 11.4% increase compared to the previous period.

Lumy (Lifestyle Category): Achieved stable growth with a 19.2% increase compared to the previous period.

Digiday Japan (Business & Finance Category): Showed significant growth with a 43.8% increase compared to the previous period.

Top-Class Access Demand Observed within the Group in the Asian Region

Furthermore, within the media portfolio owned by our group, we have secured an extremely high position, ranking among the top approximately 8% of Asian publishers utilizing TollBit.

Notably, the AI content access demand for our group's lifestyle category as a whole, driven by the growth of the recipe site iCook, recorded explosive growth, exceeding the growth pace of other publishers by approximately tenfold. This data objectively demonstrates that our media portfolio is recognized as an extremely valuable information source even in the AI era.

Comment from Motoko Imada, Representative Director, CEO of MediaGene Inc.

"User information retrieval behavior is undergoing drastic changes, forcing many media outlets to transform. However, MediaGene has not only cultivated text media but also strongly promoted video production, synchronizing with changes in user behavior. As we enter the full-fledged AI search era, we will continue to evolve. By reliably anticipating traffic from both 'humans' and 'AI,' our hybrid approach to audience acquisition and content credibility, being chosen as a 'correct information source,' provides a robust foundation unaffected by platform fluctuations. This offers a highly valuable, safe, and truly influential media environment not only for our users but also for our advertisers."

We will continue to deliver high-quality content with reliable information, pursuing new values and possibilities for media in the AI era to be utilized by users and advertisers alike.

* The data in this release is based on data obtained from the AI data licensing platform TollBit (measuring AI access numbers and demand) and is not a combined comparison with other AI or platforms. The measurement period is Q4 2025 to Q1 2026.

About TollBit

TollBit provides a means for AI agents and bots to pay websites directly, easily, and in a compliance-friendly manner for content access. By helping websites secure a sustainable revenue stream from AI visitors, it aims to adapt to the changing economic structure of the AI internet. For the latest information on the new web powered by AI, please visit TollBit's LinkedIn.

About MediaGene Inc.

MediaGene Inc. operates 17 media outlets targeting specific communities, including the economic media "Business Insider Japan" for millennials, the technology and product information media "Gizmodo Japan," the lifestyle media "Lumy," and "Lifehacker Japan," which proposes efficient work styles. We also operate four commerce services, including the pre-purchase EC site "Costly" and "Gizmart." Through a total of 21 brands, we provide information and experiences that enrich readers' lives.

https://www.mediagene.co.jp/

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MediaGene Inc.

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