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== National networks ==
== National networks ==
In Japan, there are six nationwide television networks, as follows:
In Japan, there are six nationwide television networks, as follows:
* [[NHK]] (日本放送協会 Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai). NHK is a Japanese [[Public broadcasting|public service broadcaster]]. The company is financed through "viewer fees", similar to the [[Television licence|licence fee]] system used in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] to fund the [[BBC]]. Because NHK is a public broadcast network, the standpoint of NHK is impartial. In reality, NHK deliberately avoids making political comments. NHK has 2 terrestrial TV channels, unlike the other TV networks in the Tokyo region—channel 1 ("Sōgō", [[NHK General TV|General]]) and channel 3 ("Kyoiku", [[NHK Educational TV|Educational]]).
* [[NHK]] is a Japanese [[Public broadcasting|public service broadcaster]]. The company is financed through "viewer fees", similar to the [[Television licence|licence fee]] system used in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] to fund the [[BBC]]. NHK deliberately maintains neutral reportings as a public broadcast station, even refuse to mention commodity brand names.<ref>[http://www3.nhk.or.jp/pr/keiei/bc-guideline/pdf/guideline.pdf NHK 新放送ガイドライン], p41</ref> NHK has 2 terrestrial TV channels, [[NHK General TV|one for the general entertainment]] (Channel 1 in the Kanto region) and [[NHK Educational TV|the other for educational purpose]] (Channel 2 on digital, channel 3 on analogue, in the Kanto region)
* [[Nippon News Network]] (NNN) headed by [[Nippon Television]] (日本テレビ放送網/日テレ Nihon-Terebi/Nittere; NTV). Conservative. In the Tokyo region, channel 4. Affiliated with the ''[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]''. In recent years, NTV has been plagued by a ratings bribery scandal, in which its Chairman, Seiichiro Ujiie, was forced to step down, and scandals over staging of news broadcasts.
* [[Nippon News Network]] (NNN) headed by [[Nippon Television]]. (Channel 4 in the Kanto region) Affiliated with the ''[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]''.
* [[Japan News Network]] (JNN) headed by [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]]. (Channel 6 in the Kanto region) Affiliated with the ''[[Mainichi Shimbun]]''.
* [[Japan News Network]] (JNN) headed by [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]] (東京放送 Tōkyō Hōsō, Tokyo Broadcasting System). Liberal. However, the famous news program ''Chikushi Tetsuya's News 23'' is sometimes regarded as a "left-wing" program. The main anchor of this program, [[Tetsuya Chikushi]], is the translator of [[David Halberstam]]'s ''[[The Powers That Be (book)|The Powers That Be]]''. He is also influenced by the attitude of [[CBS News]] (e.g. ''[[60 Minutes]]'' and [[Edward R. Murrow]]). In the Tokyo region, channel 6.
* [[Fuji News Network]] (FNN) headed by [[Fuji Television]] (フジテレビジョン; Fuji TV). Right-wing or conservative. Affiliated with the [[Fujisankei Communications]] conglomerate, which includes the ''[[Sankei Shimbun]]''. In the Tokyo region, channel 8.
* [[Fuji News Network]] (FNN) headed by [[Fuji Television]]. (Channel 8 in the Kanto region) Affiliated with the ''[[Sankei Shimbun]]''.
* [[All-Nippon News Network]] (ANN) headed by [[TV Asahi|tv asahi]] (テレビ朝日). Left-wing or liberal. Affiliated with the ''[[Asahi Shimbun]]''. It had a famous TV news program titled ''News Station'' led by main caster [[Hiroshi Kume]] for 18 years. It aired last on [[March 26]], [[2004]]. In the Tokyo region, channel 10.
* [[All-Nippon News Network]] (ANN) headed by [[TV Asahi]]. (Channel 5 on digital, channel 10 on analogue, in the Kanto region) Affiliated with the ''[[Asahi Shimbun]]''.
* [[TXN|TV Tokyo Network]] (TXN) headed by [[TV Tokyo|TV TOKYO]] (テレビ東京). Focuses on economic news. Also known for its [[anime]] programs. Has ties with the ''[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]]'' newspaper. In the Tokyo region, channel 12.
* [[TXN|TV Tokyo Network]] (TXN) headed by [[TV Tokyo]]. (Channel 7 on digital, channel 12 on analogue, in the Kanto region) Has ties with the ''[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]]'' newspaper.

In addition to networks above, commercial stations not affiliated with above forms non-strict network called [[Japanese Association of Independent Television Stations]] (JAITS). Apart from them, [[Open University of Japan]] broadcast to the whole Kanto region with programmes mostly in-house productions.


== Regional affiliates and other local channels ==
== Regional affiliates and other local channels ==

Revision as of 07:10, 15 August 2009

Television broadcasting in Japan started in 1939[1], making the country one of the first in the world with an experimental television service. In spite of that, because of the beginning of World War II in the Pacific region, this first experimentation lasted only a few months. Regular television broadcasts started only after the war, in 1951.

Japanese residents must pay an annual licence fee used to fund NHK, the Japanese public service broadcaster. This varies from 14,910 to 28,080 JPY depending on the method and timing of payment and whether one receives only terrestrial television or also satellite broadcasts.[2]

National networks

In Japan, there are six nationwide television networks, as follows:

In addition to networks above, commercial stations not affiliated with above forms non-strict network called Japanese Association of Independent Television Stations (JAITS). Apart from them, Open University of Japan broadcast to the whole Kanto region with programmes mostly in-house productions.

Regional affiliates and other local channels

Digital television

See also: ISDB

Japan pioneered HDTV for decades with an analogue implementation (MUSE/Hi-Vision)). The old system is not compatible with the new digital standards. Japanese terrestrial broadcasting of HD via ISDB-T started in December 1, 2003 in the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya metropolitan areas of Japan. It has been reported that 27 million HD receivers have been sold in Japan as of October 2007.[4]

The Japanese government is studying the implementation of some improvements on the standard as suggested by Brazilian researchers (SBTVD). These new features are unlikely to be adopted in Japan due to incompatibility problems, but are being considered for use in future implementations in other countries, including Brazil itself.[5]

Analogue terrestrial television broadcasts in Japan are scheduled to end on July 24, 2011 according to the current Japanese broadcasting law[6]. However, the move to DTV by consumers is relatively slow, partly because ISDB receivers are very expensive. Additionally there have been issues with the B-CAS system and very strict Digital Rights Management in respect to the home recording of broadcasts.

Satellite television

The medium-scale Broadcasting Satellite for Experimental Purposes (BSE) was planned by Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MOPT) and developed by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) since 1974. After that, the first Japanese experimental broadcasting satellite, called BSE or Yuri, was launched in 1978. NHK started experimental broadcasting of TV program using BS-2a satellite on May, 1984.

The satellite BS-2a was launched in preparation for the start of full scale 2-channel broadcasts. Broadcasting Satellite BS-2a was the first national DBS (direct broadcasting satellite), transmitting signals directly into the home of TV viewers. Attitude control of the satellite was conducted using the 3 axial method (zero momentum), and design life was 5 years. The TV transponder units are designed to sufficiently amplify transmitted signals to enable reception by small, 40 or 60 cm home-use parabolic antennas. The satellite was equipped with 3 TV transponders (including reserve units). However, one transponder malfunctioned 2 months after launch (March 23, 1984) and a second transponder malfunctioned 3 months after launch (May 3, 1984). So, the scheduled satellite broadcasting had to be hastily adjusted to test broadcasting on a single channel.

Later, NHK started regular service (NTSC) and experimental HDTV broadcasting using BS-2b on June, 1989. Some Japanese producers of home electronic consumer devices began to deliver TVsets, VCRs and even home acoustic systems equipped by built-in satellite tuners or receivers. Such electronic goods had a specific BS logo.

On April, 1991, Japanese company JSB started pay TV service while BS-3 communication satellite was in use. In 1996 total number of households that receive satellite broadcasting exceeded 10 million.

The modern two satellite systems in use in Japan are BSAT and JCSAT; the modern WOWOW Broadcasting Satellite digital service uses BSAT satellites, while other system of digital TV broadcasting SKY PerfecTV! uses JCSAT satellites.

Satellite channels

Programmes

While TV programs vary from station to station, some generalizations can be made. Early morning hours are dominated by news programs, and these run to around 9:00 to 9:30 AM. They are then replaced by late morning shows that target wives who have finished house work. These run to around 1:30PM, at which time reruns of dramas and information programs that target the same age group start. At around 4:00PM, the young kid-oriented anime and TV shows start, and end around 6:00PM. News programs takeover for an hour ending in 7:00PM, when the "Golden Hour" of TV shows start. 7:00PM to 9:00PM are the time periods into which TV stations pour the most resources. Appearing in this time frame is a certain sign that an actor or actress is a TV star. After 9:00 they switch over to Japanese television dramas and programs focusing on older age groups, which run till 10:00 or 11:00PM. Some stations run news programs from 10:00PM, and around midnight sports news programs run which target working ages. After these, programs for mature audiences run as well as anime that do not expect enough viewers if they were run earlier.

The Japanese have sometimes subdivided television series and dramas into kūru (クール), from the French term "cours" for "course", which is a 3-month period usually of 13 episodes. Each kūru generally has its own opening and ending image sequence and song, recordings of which are often sold.

Dorama

Main article: Japanese television drama

Japanese dramas (テレビドラマ, terebi dorama, television drama), also called dorama (ドラマ), are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including romance, comedies, detective stories, horror, and many others. With a theme, there may be a one-episode drama, or 2-nights, that may be aired on special occasions, such as in 2007 where they had a drama produced as a sixty-year anniversary from the end of the World War II, with a theme of the atomic bomb.

Science fiction

Main article: Japanese science fiction television

Japan has a long history of producing science fiction series for TV. Only a few of these series are aired outside Japan and even when aired, they tend to be edited, rarely retaining their original storyline. Non-anime sci-fi are still largely unknown to foreign audiences. An exception is Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and their subsequent series that used battle sequences from the Super Sentai counterpart and combined them with American actors who acted out entirely original story lines.

Anime

Main article: Anime

Anime (アニメ), taken from half of the Japanese pronunciation of "animation", is animation in Japan and considered to be "Japanese animation" in the rest of the world.[7] Anime dates from about 1917.[8] TV networks regularly broadcast anime programming. In Japan, major national TV networks, such as TV Tokyo broadcast anime regularly. Smaller regional stations broadcast anime under the UHF.

Variety Shows

Main article: Japanese variety show

Japanese variety show is television entertainment made up of a variety of original stunts, musical performances, comedy skits, quiz contests, and other acts. Japanese television programs such as Music Station and Utaban continue in an almost pristine format from the same variety shows of years before. The only major changes have been the increasing disappearance of live backup music since the 1980s.

See also

References

  1. ^ “Can you see me clearly?” Public TV image reception experiment (1939)
  2. ^ Receiving Fee System, NHK
  3. ^ NHK 新放送ガイドライン, p41
  4. ^ Template:Ja icon JEITA / 統計データ
  5. ^ "Brasil fecha acordo com padrão japonês de TV Digital". Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  6. ^ Template:Ja icon [1]
  7. ^ "www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anime".
  8. ^ "Old anime discovered, restored," Daily Yomiuri Online. March 28, 2008.
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