Broadcasting Policy Broadcasting Policy

I. Broadcasting Policies for the Multimedia Age

1. Approaches for the promotion In the report, it is recommended of digital terrestrial broadcast- that digital terrestrial TV broadcasting ing be introduced based on policies aiming for a total shift from existing It is crucial to shift terrestrial analog broadcasting to digital broad- broadcasting, the most popular me- casting at the earliest stage. In the dia for the Japanese people, to digi- three major metropolitan areas of tal broadcasting at the earliest stage. Kanto, Kinki and Chukyo (except in- In order to achieve the provision of dependent UHF stations), the full- diversified broadcasting services uti- scale digital terrestrial TV broadcast- lizing digital technology and en- ing is to be commenced until 2003, hancing the benefits of broadcasting, in other locations (including inde- and the effective utilization of fre- pendent UHF stations in the three quency resources, MPT is trying to metropolitan areas), the full-scale create an environment for commenc- digital terrestrial TV broadcasting is ing the digital terrestrial broadcast- expected to be commenced until the ing. end of 2006. The “Advisory Committee on In order that the digital terrestrial Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting” has broadcasting will be commenced as been held since June 1997, and the early as possible in line with this Committee compiled its findings as schedule, MPT established the “Joint a report in October 1998. Study Committee Concerning Digi- Fig. II-1 Schedule for digitalization of broadcasting

Japan commenced satellite digital multichannel broadcasting services in June 1996. With respect to digital terrestrial broadcasting, preparation of the necessary infrastructure will go forward with the aim of launching digital broadcasting in the 3 major metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya by the end of 2003, and by the end of 2006 for other areas.

Year ~ 1998 1999 20002001 2002 ~

Communications Digital broadcasting services are launched in June 1996. satellite (CS)

Broadcasting satellite (BS) Launch of digital broadcasting services via BS-4 (scheduled in December 2000)

Cable TV Launch of digital broadcasting services in July 1998

By the end of By the end of 2006: Main stations Relay stations 2003: Launch of Launch of full-scale Terrestrial full-scale digital digital broadcasting broadcasting in in areas other than broadcasting Study for establishment of the 3 metropolitan the 3 metropolitan the Channel Allotment Plan areas areas

G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Sydney 2000 Notes Summit Meeting 2000 Olympic Games

37 2000 Annual Report tal Terrestrial Broadcasting” in Sep- broadcasting is not well recognized content broadcasting system tember 1999, aiming to promote joint by the public so far. development promotion initia- study by MPT, Japan Broadcasting Therefore, in collaboration with tives Corp. (NHK) and commercial broad- the BS program-supplying broad- As one of “Innovative develop- casters for frequency allocation to casters and other related industries, ment of communications and broad- the digital broadcasting. In April MPT set forth the diffusion target at casting systems,” MPT entrusted the 2000, the Joint Study Committee is- 1,000 days after the start of the Telecommunications Advancement sued a study report on the broad- broadcasting as 10 million house- Organization of Japan (TAO) to con- casting frequencies of main stations holds, and made the following mea- duct R&D activities on the content all over Japan, the number of house- sures to promote diffusion: production and broadcasting system holds affected by the analog fre- i) Conducting demonstrations of that contribute to achieving ad- quency changes before digital broad- BS digital broadcasting; ii) pro- vanced broadcast content using digi- casting starts and costs to deal with moting demonstration of BS tal technologies such as interactivity such effects. The Joint Study Com- digital broadcasting at public and virtual reality, and to creating an mittee will issue a report on frequen- facilities; and, iii) other activi- information barrier-free environ- cies for relay stations throughout Ja- ties for diffusion and aware- ment. pan at the end of FY 2001. ness campaign. ii) Wide area community info- MPT will further improve the en- 3) East longitude 110 degree CS communications network vironment for the digital terrestrial digital broadcasting model area initiatives (data broadcasting. In October 2000, a CS will be broadcasting utilization sys- launched at east longitude 110 de- tem) 2. Approaches for the diffusion gree, the same orbit location as the Among the joint projects of several of digital satellite broadcast- BS. Related businesses are demand- local public bodies that create local ing ing the broadcasting utilizing the CS. info-communications infrastructure If realized, it enables the reception of utilizing data broadcasting in a wide MPT, with the aim at the diffusion CS broadcasting by the same receiv- area, MPT invites bodies whose data of digital satellite broadcasting ers and antennas with the BS digital broadcasting utilization systems can (Broadcasting Satellite [BS] broad- broadcasting, resulting in the pen- be the models for other local public casting, Communications Satellite bodies, and entrusted such joint [CS] broadcasting), is making the fol- etration of satellite digital broadcast- projects to the construction business lowing measures: ing. 1) Approved BS digital data pro- In January through February 2000, of the models concerned. gram-supplying broadcasters MPT invited public opinions, on en- iii) Support for the digitalization tering the broadcasting business uti- of broadcast programming As regards BS digital broadcasting, lizing the CS at East longitude 110 production facilities, etc. program-supplying broadcasters degree. MPT will establish stan- Considering the further promotion concerning high-definition TV, stan- dardized technical requirements for of digital terrestrial TV broadcasting, dard-definition TV and audio broad- CS and BS broadcasting, and pre- MPT is granting tax incentives to casters were approved in October pare regulatory frameworks for broadcast programming production 1998. Regarding data broadcasting, broadcasting with the CS. facilities concerned, zero or low in- the regulatory framework was cre- terest loans through the Develop- ated and the applications were ac- 3. Promoting broadcast pro- ment Bank of Japan, etc. and the cepted in October 1999, and the programming corresponding with guaranteed obligation through TAO gram-supplying broadcasters were the advancement of broad- based on the “Advanced Television approved in December 1999. Upon casting Broadcasting Facility Development this, all kinds for program-supplying Promotion Temporary Measures broadcasters of BS digital broadcast- In order that viewers enjoy the Law ” which came into force in No- ing were approved. merit of multichannel broadcasting vember 1999. 2) Promoting diffusion of BS digi- with digitalization at its best, it is 2) Measures on distribution of tal broadcasting necessary that diversified program- broadcast programming BS digital broadcasting, starting ming be provided abundantly. MPT i) Study group on providing dis- from December 2000, is expected to is creating the environment for such tribution information of broad- create demands for TV receivers and diversification at each level of pro- cast programming to make short-term effects with the duction, distribution and archiving The report released in July 1999 initiation of new broadcasting ser- of broadcast programming. points out the importance of the vices, as well as to play an important 1) Measures on the production of study on the provision of informa- role in promoting digitalization of broadcast programming tion concerning copyright owners, broadcasting. Meanwhile, the BS i) Next-generation intelligent

38 Broadcasting Policy etc., of broadcast programming. The tent for studying the policies for cre- number of diversified programming report also proposed, as a measure ating an environment to provide a that meet user demands. for providing broadcast programming distribution information, verification experiments concerning sys- II. Technological Developments in Digitalization tems enabling information provision on broadcast programming distribution through intensive information 1. Establishment of Digital nience by enabling the use of the provision channels. Terrestrial Broadcasting same receiver with other broadcast- ii) Developing database manage- System and Legislation of ing media, to diversifying broadcast- ment systems for the promo- Technical Standards ing services and to expanding the tion of secondary use of broad- broadcasting market by advanced cast programming 1) Outline broadcasting services. Currently, databases of broadcast In May 1999, the Telecommunica- 2) Advantages of digital terrestrial programming are created indepen- tions Technology Council released a broadcasting system dently by broadcasters. In the two- report on the technical requirements i) Enabling one channel of high- year plan form FY 1999, MPT is pro- of the digital terrestrial broadcasting definition TV (HDTV) or mul- moting the development for provid- system. Based on this report, MPT tichannel broadcasting ing distribution information by cre- inquired of the Radio Regulatory (around three channels with ating shared database using such Council in September 1999 on the the quality of standard-defini- databases. draft amendments to related minis- tion TV [SDTV]) within the 3) Measures on archives of broad- terial ordinances in order to legislate bandwidth of 6 MHz. cast programming the technical standards. In Novem- ii) By realizing mobile reception i) Study group on archives of ber 1999, the Radio Regulatory with good quality, allowing broadcast programming Council released a report that the broadcasting that temporarily The report issued in July 1999 draft is appropriate, and the techni- combines programs for fixed treats broadcast programming as cal standards were legislated in De- and mobile/portable reception cultural and historical assets shared cember 1999. By legislating techni- and enabling partial reception by Japanese nationals, which reflects cal standards as ministerial ordi- with portable terminals. its society, culture, arts and histori- nances, it is expected that R&D on iii) By employing the orthogonal cal conditions of the time. The report receivers compatible with the digi- frequency division multiplex- positions public organizations such tal terrestrial TV broadcasting by ing (OFDM) system which is as the Broadcast Program Center as manufacturers, etc. will be pro- highly resistant to interference institutions securing systematically moted, and the introduction of the by multipaths (delayed radio cultural and historical assets, and broadcasting system will be smooth- waves), efficient usage of fre- proposes the expansion, etc. of the ened. Legislating the technical stan- quency resources is available, scale of archives in harmony with dards are also expected to contrib- for instance, by using the the promotion of the secondary use. ute to improving viewers’ conve- single frequency network ii) Digitalization of program library network Fig. II-1 Digital terrestrial broadcasting system MPT, through TAO, is promoting Relay station the digitalization of broadcast pro- Key station Relay station gramming library that collect and broadcast wave relay archive broadcast programming, as broadcast wave relay well as promoting R&D of the systems connecting the library to the network and enabling the retrieval and browsing from a distance with high speed. 4) Measures for promoting next- generation broadcast content Mobile reception Since February 2000, based on re- Mobile reception cent technological innovations and environmental changes, MPT had Mobile reception Fixed reception with a handheld been sponsoring the Study Group on terminal Fixed reception the Next-Generation Broadcast Con-

39 2000 Annual Report

(SFN) system. Fig. II-2 Digital terrestrial sound broadcasting system vi) The system not only secures compatibility with other domestic digital broadcasting media but also can cope with advanced multimedia broadcasting to be realized through the convergence of communications and computers. 2. Establishment of Digital Terrestrial Sound Broadcast- Data ing System Sound

1) Outline Mobile reception Based on the provisional system compiled by the Telecommunica- Portable reception tions Technology Council in Novem- ber 1998, at the experimental station Home) system, for its further devel- established within Tokyo Tower, 4. Establishment of digital opment, employ additionally the lat- etc., field trials at actual scale were satellite sound broadcasting est digital satellite broadcasting tech- conducted, mainly on mobile recep- system nology used by the BS digital broad- tion characteristics. With the results casting system. Under these circum- of the field trials, deliberations were 1) Outline stances, the Telecommunications made in the Council, and the Coun- Based on the provisional system Technology Council, from October cil reported on the technical require- compiled by the Telecommunica- 1999, deliberated on the extension of ments of the finalized broadcasting tions Technology Council in June the CS digital DTH system, resulting system in November 1999. 1998, verification experiments on in a report on technical requirements MPT, based on the final report, is mobile reception were conducted, of the extended CS digital DTH sys- planning to adjust relevant ministe- and the discussion was made at the tem in consideration of media com- rial ordinances, etc., in order to con- Council resulting in the technical re- patibility with the BS digital broad- tribute to the creation of new broad- quirements of the finalized broadcasting system. Based on this report, casters. casting system in July 1999. the technical standards are inquired 2) Advantages of digital terrestrial With this broadcasting system, of the Radio Regulatory Council in sound broadcasting system Japan’s first “sound broadcasting May 2000, and other measures for in- i) In addition to a high-quality services using satellite mainly for troducing the service are being un- stereo sound equivalent to CD, mobile terminals” can be provided. dertaken. a variety of broadcast pro- MPT is planning to prepare regula- 2) Advantages of the extended CS gramming including data and tory frameworks for realizing this digital DTH system still images are available. service. i) By employing highly efficient ii) Stable reception is available 2) Advantages of satellite sound modulation method and trans- with a handheld or mobile ter- broadcasting mission control signal, etc., re- minal on highways and in of- i) With satellite and supplemen- alizing high-quality, multi- fice buildings, etc. tary terrestrial radio equip- channel and high-functional iii) The compatibility with other ment, the same broadcasting broadcasting services will be digital broadcasting media is services are available through- available. secured. out Japan. ii) By employing the same trans- ii) By employing code division 3. Establishment of extended mission system as the BS digi- multiplex (CDM) system, CS digital DTH system tal broadcasting system, etc. A stable and high-quality recep- common receiver for the CS tion with mobile terminals is 1) Outline digital DTH and BS digital realized. The BS digital broadcasting service broadcasting services will be iii) A variety of flexible broadcast- will start in December 2000, and new easily introduced. ing services including data CS will be launched at east longitude broadcasting which compris- 110 degree, the same geostationary ing data (texts and images) are orbit as the BS. Now it is required realized. that the CS digital DTH (Direct-To-

40 Broadcasting Policy

Broadcasting satellite station 3) Simplification of the Fig. II-4 Digital satellite application form for obtain- sound broadcasting ing permission to install system Satellite cable TV facilities control station Simplifying the proce- Ku-band dure for application for permission to install cable TV Ku-band Earth facilities (December 1993, S-band station (2.6GHz) December 1994 and April Fixed terminals Ku-band or 1998) S-band Program Clarifying the examina- provider Mobile Poor reception tion standards for permis- terminal area Direct sion to install facilities and amplification-type settling the standard pro- gap filler Car-mounted cessing period (October reception terminal 1994) 4) Abolition of administrative instruction for me- Frequency conversion- diating among businesses type gap filler that have a cable TV opera- tion plan in the same area (September 1994) iv) By securing compatibility with distribution of programming Promotion of cable TV services in other broadcasting media in an and low-priced receivers are areas where there is no cable TV ser- audio coding method, etc., the promoted. vice due to competition. 5) Shared use of head-end facilities (December 1997) III. Deregulation in Broadcasting To promote digitalization in the entire cable TV industry, MPT allowed the shared use of head-end fa- businesses. 1. Vision of Cable TV Regula- cilities among them. 2) Lifting of restrictions on foreign tions 6) Utilization of fiber-optic sub- capital investment scriber networks owned by tele- Since December 1993, MPT has Restrictions on foreign capital communications carriers (June been revising many regulations on were eased from the previous 20% to 1998) cable TV to help enable cable TV to one-third (December 1993). Cable TV operators were allowed develop further, so as to become the Foreign executives were allowed to use fiber-optic subscriber net- core of the info-communications in- to serve on management as far as works (fiber-to-the-home: FTTH) frastructure in each region. they do not have the right to repre- owned by telecommunications busi- 1) Abolition of local operator re- sentation and the number of foreign- ness on conditions that the fair and quirements (a franchise system ers is less than one-third of all offic- effective competition is secured. restricting service areas) for cable ers, including auditors (January 7) Using wireless networks for TV operators 1997). complementing cable TV net- By abolishing the local operator All limitations on foreign invest- work (September 1998) requirement (which requires cable ment in cable TV operators which Cable TV operators were allowed TV operators to have a basis in its are running Type I telecommunica- to distribute their programming service area), cable TV operators be- tions business were removed (Febru- from a base station to particular came able to expand their business ary 1998). households using wireless networks, over a wider area. At the amended Cable Television this being a method of complement- • A variety of capitals including Broadcast Law came into force in ing their cable networks in areas trading companies are enter- June 1999, all restrictions on foreign where cable-laying is virtually im- ing the cable TV market. capitals and foreign officers of a possible due to geographical impedi- • Cable TV businesses covering cable TV operator were abolished. ments. multiple administrative dis- As a result, tie-ups with foreign 8) Simplification of procedures for tricts are on the rise. cable TV operators and telecommu- mergers, etc. • MSOs (multiple system opera- nications carriers have been con- By the amendment of the Cable tors) started launching their cluded actively.

41 2000 Annual Report

Television Broadcast Law, which dures for mergers, etc. of cable TV technologies for people with vi- came into force in June 1999, proce- operators were simplified. sual and hearing disabilities From FYs 1996 through 2000, MPT is conducting R&D on systems that IV. Protecting Viewers and Listeners automatically create and attach closed-captions for TV broadcast programming whose content is easy 1. Report of the “Panel of Ex- (NAB), for exchanging diversified to be summarized, and all of whose opinions on the measures to imple- perts on Young People and voiced content is scripted (such as ment the proposals of the Study Broadcasting” news and information programs). Group. Based on these discussions, From now on, setting FY 2003 as the From May through December MPT and the broadcasters presented target year, it will be pursued to re- 1998, the “Study Group for Research following concrete measures on the alize a system automatically attaches on Young People and Broadcasting” youth problems in the Panel’s final closed-captions to most recorded was hosted by MPT, for the purpose report in June 1999: i) broadcast pro- programs in a short time, even if the of studying basic attitudes and poli- gramming for youths more than cies on young people and broadcast- programs lack scripts. three hours a week (private broad- 3) Constructing broadcast program- ing. The final report, proposing mea- casters); ii) holding the Study Group sures for young people in broadcast- ming creation facilities for sight on Young People and Media Lit- and hearing handicaps ing was compiled in December 1998. eracy; iii) establishing the “Broad- Along with the development in Upon reception of the report, MPT casters Council for Youth Program- multimedia and multichannel broad- sponsored the “Panel of Experts on ming,” a voluntary organization of casting, demands for broadcasting Young People and Broadcasting” broadcasters; iv) setting the hours to toward people with visual and hear- from January to June 1999, in collabo- consider young viewers (17:00 - ing disabilities are increasing. Tak- ration with NHK (Nihon Hoso 21:00) (commercial broadcasters); ing this into consideration, a support Kyokai: or Japan Broadcasting Corp.) and, v) improving program informa- system was created in FY 1997 to and the National Association of tion provision through PR pro- grant low-interest loans through the Commercial Broadcasters in Japan grams, etc. Development Bank of Japan, etc. The system aims at programming V. Measures for the Elderly and People with suppliers who prepare broadcast Disabilities programming production facilities toward people with visual and hear- 1. Improvement of broadcast produce programming with closed- ing disabilities, for the purpose of programming for people with captions, etc., up to the half of the providing broadcast programming visual and hearing disabilities expenses, from FY1993. In FY1999, for channels dedicated to such the subsidy system was expanded people, and businesses who prepare At correcting the “information di- by subsidizing all the programming broadcast programming production vide,” it is an important task to im- with closed-captions, explanations and transmission facilities as well as prove broadcasting for people with and sign languages, and the budget wireless facilities that are necessary visual and hearing disabilities. MPT was also increased widely. to conduct teletext broadcasting. is conducting measures for promot- 2) R&D on programming creation ing the improvement of programming with closed-captions, narrated explanations and sign languages, VI. Policy Measures for Internationalization which are indispensable for people with visual and hearing disabilities to enjoy TV programming. 1. “Asian TV Program Confer- addition to transmission of TV pro- 1) Promoting the creation of pro- ence and Exhibition 2000” gramming from Japan, it is required gramming with closed-captions to create conditions that facilitate ex- and narrated explanations Along with the use of satellites, changes of TV broadcast program- Based on the “Law for Promoting the international TV broadcasting is ming (transmission, reception and Businesses that Facilitate the Use of rapidly developing in the Asia-Pa- distribution). This becomes the mis- Communications and Broadcast Ser- cific region. In order that the inter- sion of broadcasting administration. vices by the People with Disabili- national TV broadcasting plays an Since FY 1995, MPT has held the ties,” MPT, through TAO, is subsi- essential role in promoting interna- “Asian TV Program Co-production dizing programming suppliers who tional exchange and mutual under- Workshop” four times, inviting par- standing among Asian countries, in ticipants from Asian broadcasters.

42 Broadcasting Policy

In March 2000, by inviting represen- well as to distribute domestic TV of TV programs exchanges tatives from broadcasting adminis- programs to other countries. among Asian countries. trations and broadcasters in 11 coun- It is important for governments to 4) To promote the exchange of views tries, MPT sponsored the “Asian TV implement measurers concerning and information among Asian Program Conference and Exhibition the exchange and distribution of TV countries to establish networks: 2000,” which adopted a statement programs, especially for children, • The availability of TV pro- for TV programming exchange and education and culture, because the grams for export from each agreed to construct information ex- exchange and distribution of these country. change networks. kinds of programs are not at a suffi- • Categories and items of TV cient level on a commercial basis. programs requested by each Summary of the Statement of Asian 2) For a distribution of TV programs country. TV Program Conference for Gov- in the Asian region, it is important • Respect for foreign cultures ernment Officials Only that the broadcasters concerned and customs. 1) Taking their ethnic identity into respect social, cultural and tradi- • Quality assessment of foreign account as a precondition, the re- tional values of other countries in TV programs. gional exchange of information is the region. • Using the strength of indi- important in that each Asian coun- 3) The following measures are effec- vidual countries to generate try accomplishes development in tive for facilitating distribution of participation. TV programs: its economy and culture. 2. Promotion of Broadcast For this purpose, it is worthwhile • Broadcasters in Asian coun- for each country to receive TV pro- tries voluntarily exchange pro- Program Exchange grams from other countries and to grams with each others and 1) Purpose mutually exchange TV programs as provide more opportunities to Developing countries with insuffi- broadcast foreign TV pro- Fig. VI-1 cient program production capacity grams. need foreign programs with high • The governments and broad- MPT Japan Foundation quality. casters increase opportunities As part of Japan’s effort for con- Subsidies Subsidies (e.g., exhibitions) for watching (ODA) tributing to the broadcasting indus- foreign TV programs by try in developing countries, MPT is Japan Media Communication Center people in Asian countries. promoting a project granting subsi- • Broadcasters in Asian coun- International program library dies for providing high-quality Japa- tries promote the co-produc- nese educational programs for de- The center translates Japanese tion of TV programs and accu- veloping countries. programs into other languages, edits mulate know-how for interna- them and builds a program library. 2) Outlines of the policies tional exchanges of TV pro- MPT is providing subsidies to the Provide programs through grams the Japan Foundation Japan Media Communications Cen- • The governments adopt poli- ter, a foundation providing Japanese Foreign broadcasters cies concerning the promotion broadcast programs to foreign coun- Table VI-1 Program distribution

Broadcaster Nippon Television Network TBS Fuji TV Japan Entertain- NHK ment TV (JETTV) Footprint Korea, Hawaii, Singapore, Taiwan, Taiwan, Korea, USA, Europe, Taiwan Almost the entire world Guam, Indonesia, Saipan, Hong Kong, Hong Kong the Philippines Malaysia and the Philippines Satellite PAS-8 PAS-2 Optical cable, PAS-8 JCSAT-3 PAS-8, PAS-4, PAS-5 Hours 2 hours per day (weekdays) About 10 min. 4 - 5 hours per day Around-the-clock Around-the-clock and baseball match per day and baseball match Launch of service April 1999 July 1999 April 1998 March 1997 April 1995 Target Broadcasters, cable TV, hotels Broadcasters, cable TV Broadcasters, cable TV Broadcasters, cable TV Broadcasters, cable TV Type Programming News materials Programming Programming Programming Content Professional baseball game, News News, entertainment Entertainment General news and information and professional baseball game

43 2000 Annual Report

Fig. VI-2 International TV Broadcasting (NHK)

AstraPAS 2 PAS 8 PAS 5 Echo

tries, to partially cover the formation on Japanese culture and fiber-optic communications circuits. foundation’s costs for translating society, and positions and proposi- NHK, using PanAmSat satellites, is and editing educational programs tions of Japan to the international distributing to foreign broadcasters, that are sent to developing coun- society, as well as to provide infor- cable TV operators, etc. tries. mation concerning security of each In particular, the program distri- 3) Achievements region and entertainment programs. bution to Asia region is constantly • Number of programs stored in Strengthening and promoting inter- increasing in the number of pro- the library: 860 national broadcasting is one of the gramming providers, air time and • Number of programs provided: goals of broadcasting administra- countries. 2,743 tion. 3) International shortwave broad- • Number of countries provided 1) International TV broadcasting casting with programs: 57 The international TV broadcasting In international sound broadcast- (Accumulated figure: 93) (As of conducted by the NHK (NHK World ing by shortwave, the ordered the end of March 2000) TV), using PanAmSat satellites broadcasting in accordance with the • Total subsidies from MPT Be- (PAS-8, PAS-4, PAS-5), Astra satel- provisions of the Broadcast Law was tween FYs 1991 and 1999 lite and Echo satellite, covers almost provided to all the world and 17 re- • Total of actual amount: 895 mil- the entire world. In October 1999, gions using 22 languages, carrying lion yen 24-hour broadcasting was started. reports and analyses concerning the • FY 2000 budget: 81 million yen In addition to news programs, state’s important policies and the Japanese-language education pro- 3. Current status of interna- government’s view on international grams were started, and the air time issues. The ordered broadcasting, tional TV and radio broad- of broadcasting in English were ex- combined with voluntary broadcast- casting panded. ing of NHK, the sum of broadcast 2) Distribution of TV programming Along with rapid globalization of hours of the voluntary broadcast and and video materials to abroad information transmission, it has be- the ordered broadcast in FY 1999 come more important to gain for- Commercial broadcasters, etc. are was 65 hours a day. In FY1999, 1.9 eigners’ understanding and trust to distributing broadcast program- billion yen was granted from the Japan, as well as to provide informa- ming, news materials and sports Japanese government to NHK as the tion necessary for Japanese nation- programs to foreign broadcasters, cost for the ordered broadcasting. als in foreign countries. It is re- cable TV, hotels and business offices, quired to continuously transmit in- using satellite communications and