What Kinds of TV Programs are Broadcast in Japan?

In most developed countries, television is the most widespread entertainment medium. Well then, what kinds of TV programs do Japanese have? In the Metropolitan areas, daily newspapers publish a page listing TV programs to be broadcast that day by various TV stations, including the two government-managed NHK channels (one specializes in education), and five commercial broadcasting channels. For satellite broadcasting, there are two NHK channels and WOWWOW (a private broadcasting channel). Programs are aired continuously from early morning to late at night.

Since the NHK channels are operated by the government, there are no commercials shown between programs. NHK programs tend to be more educational and serious with a focus on news. Special feature programs include a historical drama broadcast every Sunday for a year, and also the annual singing contest between top popular male and female singers on New Year's Eve. In addition, documentary programs called "NHK Specials" have a good reputation for their investigative research into various fields.

Five commercial broadcasting stations are connected with five major Japanese newspaper companies. These are Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, Sankei and Nikkei newspapers. Their broadcasting is very similar although there are some slight differences. In the mornings, most channels broadcast news shows, in the middle of the day most channels air shows targeting housewives, and in the evenings there are many entertainment programs including variety shows, music programs, dramas, movies, sports shows and quizzes.

Bilingual programs available
The NHK satellite broadcasting stations air more overseas programs including news, sports such as major league baseball, and documentaries, etc. They also rebroadcast ordinary NHK programs. Most Japanese TV programs are broadcast in Japanese, but a lot of NHK news programs, overseas documentaries and some of the news from commercial broadcasting stations are broadcast in bilingual format.

Programs created by the major broadcasting key stations are mostly distributed to local broadcasting stations. This means that wherever you are in Japan, you can watch the same programs and have topics of discussion in common with other people. Besides the above, there are many other broadcasting stations including local ones, and paid CS broadcasting that are providing their own original contents.

NHK charges fees to viewers, so whether or not you watch NHK, you are required to pay approximately \2,000 per month for the privilege. However, it is well known that more and more people have been withholding their NHK payments due to recent scandals involving NHK staff. At present in Japan, the format of TV broadcasting is changing to digital, which will provide clearer pictures. After 2011, when analog broadcasting is completely finished, no one without a digital television tuner will be able to watch TV programs.

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