NHK
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| 日本放送協会 Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK) | |
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| Launched | 1926 / 1950 |
| Owned by | Public Broadcast |
| Slogan | まっすぐ、真剣。(straight and earnest): as to domestic services |
| Country | Japan |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide and Worldwide |
| Headquarters | Shibuya,Tokyo |
| Website | www.nhk.or.jp |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| General TV | Analog - Ch 1 (Tokyo) Analog - Ch 2 (Osaka) Analog - Ch 3(Nagoya) Digital- Ch 1(Tokyo, Osaka) Digital- Ch 3 (Nagoya) |
| Educational TV | Analog - Ch 3 (Tokyo) Analog - Ch 12 (Osaka) Analog - Ch 9(Nagoya) Digital- Ch 2(Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya) |
| Satellite | |
| BS-1 | Analog - Ch BS 7 Digital-Ch 101 |
| BS-2 | Analog - Ch BS 11 Digital-Ch 102 |
| BS-Hi | Digital- Ch 103 |
| NHK WORLD | TV, Radio Japan |
NHK (日本放送協会 Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai?), or Japan Broadcasting Corporation, is Japan's public broadcaster. The NHK is financed by a television licence.[1] This Japanese public corporation has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, NHK.[2]
The NHK operates two terrestrial television services (NHK General TV and NHK Educational TV), three satellite television services (NHK BS-1, NHK BS-2, and NHK Hi-Vision, a High-definition television service), and three radio networks (NHK Radio 1, NHK Radio 2, and NHK FM).
- Note: Analog domestic TV broadcasts in Japan are to be stopped by 2011. For information about the TV digitization, visit Dpa's Website.
The NHK also provides an international broadcasting service called NHK World. NHK World is composed of NHK World TV, NHK World Premium, and a shortwave radio service NHK World Radio Japan. Some programs of Radio Japan are also available on the Internet.
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[edit] History
Until 1940s, NHK was a national radio broadcasting monopoly.[2]
On March 22, 1925, one and a half year after the Great Kantō earthquake, the Tokyo Broadcasting Station produced the first radio broadcast in Japan, transmitting from Atago Hill just north of the Tokugawa Tombs in Shiba Park. The first program included Beethoven, classical Japanese music, and a play by ōyō.[2] In the same year, there were also broadcasts from Osaka and Nagoya.[3]
NHK was founded in 1926, modeled on the BBC radio company of the United Kingdom.[2] NHK evolved from the amalgamation of the three regional broadcasting corporations. This merger and reorganization was carried out under the auspices of the pre-war Ministry of Communications,[1]
NHK's second radio network was started in 1931. And in 1935, NHK started a shortwave radio service for listeners overseas, which was known as Radio Tokyo in 1930s and 1940s.
In November 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army nationalised all public news agencies and coordinated their efforts through the Information Liaison Confidential Committee.[citation needed] All published and broadcast news reports became official announcements of the Imperial Army General Headquarters in Tokyo for the duration of World War II. The famous Tokyo Rose wartime programs were broadcasts by NHK.[2]
In 1950, post-war three radio rules were enacted including the Broadcast Law ("Hōsō Hō"). Under this law, NHK started afresh as a special corporation to be supported by audiences. [2]
NHK started television broadcasts in 1953. It aired its first color television broadcast in 1960.
In 1980s, NHK BS TV broadcasts were started. [3] And in 1995 , NHK started NHK World TV.
In 2000, NHK started satellite digital TV broadcasts. And in 2003, terrestrial digital TV broadcasts were started for three megacity areas, which are to be expanded to cover almost all Japan by July, 2011.
NHK BS Hi-Vision analog TV was stopped by September, 2007.
[edit] Receiving Fees
NHK is paid for by Receiving Fees, i.e. viewer fees. The Broadcast Law provides that any person who is equipped with a TV set for the reception of NHK broadcasting shall conclude a contract with NHK, and that NHK's annual budget shall be approved by the Diet.
For the detail about Receiving Fees, follow this link. Fees in Okinawa Prefecture are set lower.
In 2006, NHK has introduced discount for office workers or students living in another place than their families for commuting.
The Broadcast Law does not stipulate any punishment for nonpayment. There have been people who don't pay Receiving Fee, regardless of the contract.
In the first decade of 2000s, audiences increased who stopped or suspended payment apparently because of rash of NHK scandals, peaked at over 1,000,000. There also rose up voices of question about the fairness of the fee system. (asahi.com: IHT/Asahi: February 24,2005)
Regrettably, some nonpayers are mannerless. In 2006, NHK has decided that it would dare to take legal action against such contractors who are reluctant nonetheless for repeated explanation and persuasion. [4]
[edit] NHK domestic broadcasting stations
[edit] TV programming
- See also: List of anime broadcast by NHK
NHK General TV broadcasts a variety of programming. The following are noteworthy:
- News- Local, national, and world news reports. NHK is one of the few international broadcasters to maintain reporting bureaus in Afghanistan and Iraq. NHK News 7 offers bilingual broadcasts on NHK General TV, NHK World TV and NHK World Premium. NHK also offers news for the deaf, regional news and children's news. News Today 30 Minutes is the new name of NHK NEWSWATCH which ran for 6 years. It is an English newscast designed for foreign viewers.
- Emergency Reporting- Under the Broadcast Act, NHK is under the obligation to broadcast early warning emergency reporting in times of natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Their national network of seismometers in cooperation with the Japan Meteorological Agency and skip-back cameras makes NHK capable of delivering the news in just 2-3 minutes after the quake. Their skip-back cameras are equipped with a back-up power supply in case the electricity is cut-off and are able to rewind fast to show the first moment of the shaking.
- Education- Education programmes are watched nation-wide at primary schools. "Tensai Terebikun MAX" (better known as TTK) is a one-of-a-kind educational show combining education with a bit of entertainment. TTK is currently hosted by the Yasuda Big Circus and a cast of 24 children ranging from ages 8 to 13.
- Weather- Weather in detail, nationwide, and international for travellers.
- Sports- NHK broadcasts the six annual Grand Sumo tournaments, high-school baseball championships from Koshien Stadium, Olympic Games, National Sports Festival of Japan, and a range of other sports. NHK also broadcasts Boston Red Sox games when Daisuke Matsuzaka pitches.
- News analysis- The network carries in-depth reports on current topics, political debate, and similar programming.
- Music- The annual Kōhaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve is the highlight. The weekly schedule includes an amateur hour, and prime-time shows for all ages.
- Drama- A sentimental morning show, a weekly jidaigeki and a year-long show, the Taiga drama, spearhead the network's fiction offerings.
- Documentaries- NHK has become known for its documentary series, first popularized by the miniseries Legacy for the Future, and "The Silk Road."
- Children- The longest running children's show in Japan, "Okaasan to Issho", still airs up to this day on NHK-ETV.
- Other- Cooking, comedy, exercise, etc.
[edit] Notable programs
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[edit] Japanese broadcasting networks
- Public broadcasting (TV･AM･FM)
- NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Sidensticker, Edward. (1990). Tokyo Rising: The City Since the Great Earthquake. New York: Knopf. ISBN 0-394-54360-2
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- (Japanese) Official Site
- (English) NHK
