The five networks based in Tokyo are Nihon Television (NTV), Tokyo Broadcasting (TBS), Fuji Television (Fuji TV), Television Asahi (ANB) and Television Tokyo (TV Tokyo).

Each of these networks is connected to a major national newspaper, a link which not only enables it to share news facilities, but which has over the years given a certain distinctiveness. For example, NTV is associated with Yomiuri Group and so finds itself broadcasting programmes that center on the Giants, the Tokyo-based baseball team financed by the group, and on events that take place in the team's stadium, the Tokyo Dome. The board of directors in NTV, the network's key station located in Tokyo, often originate from the Yomiuri newspaper.

TBS started out with similar relationship to the Mainichi newspaper. Fuji Television is closely linked to the Sankei newspaper to form the Fujisankei Group. ANB and its key station ABC are closely associated with the Asahi newspaper. There are two other major shareholders in ANB - a publisher (Obunsha) and a film production company (Toei). Television Tokyo is linked to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, so that its programmes are strongly oriented towards discussions of finance and the economy.

Like their counterpart in the US, Japan's TV networks are privately owned and heavily commercial. The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (Nippon Hoso Kyokai - NHK) is the only non-commercial public radio and television broadcasting network in Japan.

At the end of 1990, there were 111 television stations (known as 'terrestrials') in Japan. The vast majority of these terrestrials belong to the five key Tokyo-based stations. Two national television channels broadcast by NHK are available all over the country.

A typical viewer in Tokyo metropolitan has a choice of two NHK channels, five commercial channels (NTV, TBS, ANB, TV Tokyo and Fuji TV), UHF channels with in-school programmes and local news, two NHK satellite channels and a pay-TV channel. According to NHK's president, Katsuji Ebisawa, NHK plans to launch a new digital service via BS (broadcasting satellite) in December 2000.

The five commercial networks produce 90 percent or more of their own programmes. Foreign programming accounts for less than 3 % of total terrestrial TV airtime. A unique viewing phenomenon is that prime-time animated programmes are particularly popular with Japanese audiences. Japan's televisions also offer a number of point-of-view programmes to the audience.

All except for a small number of television stations in Japan belong to at least one commercial network. This means they broadcast programmes originating from a single source (or key station) and are paid for clearing their schedule for each of the network's programmes. The revenues generated by network advertising go to the key station which produces or buys the programme.

Among various kinds of TV programmes, comedy programmes have been extremely popular in Japan and have been imitated by TV networks in Taiwan and Hong Kong. These comedy programmes always focus on playing embarrassing tricks on the guests or the general public. A comedy programme called Genki ga Deru Terebi (Sundays at 8 p.m.) produced by NTV has aroused public concern over the adverse influence of such kind of Japanese-style comedy programmes on the teenagers. Some speculate that the 'cruelty' of much of the comedy they see on television lead to the school bullying problem. The programme was also criticized four years ago as in one segment, the show's host comedian Beat Takesho pulled his pants off after being the victim in a cruel trick. Although NTV covered up the offending organ, since it is illegal to expose one's body in public in Japan, the network was being accused for allowing the behavior.

News programmes in NHK
The two NHK terrestrial channels are NHK General Channel (GTV) and the NHK Educational Channel (ETV), both serving the public interest. GTV broadcasts about seven hours of news programming per day, whereas ETV, in addition to its educational programming, airs news commentary, sports and cultural programmes. One of NHK's two satellite channels also features news programming, but with a more international focus than the news programming on GTV. Its shows include foreign news programming from the BBC, ABC and CNN.

NHK World TV, the overseas broadcasting service of NHK, extended its broadcasting time from 19 hours a day to 24 hours on 1 October 1999, offering the latest news from Japan to different parts of the world and enabling viewers overseas to see the programmes almost at the same time as in Japan. One of NHK's most popular current affairs programme Today's Close Up will be available in English and Japanese.

The main programmes shown in NHK World TV are regular news bulletins (Good morning Japan, News at Noon, News 7, News 9 and News 11). In-depth reporting is provided in programmes such as Today's Close Up and What Tomorrow Holds along with Tokyo Market News reporting trends in stock prices and exchange rates. Viewers can also tune into New Asia Discovery which portrays contemporary life throughout Asia, and Tokyo Area Magazine which presents live pictures gathered by TV crews on location in seven prefectures in the metropolitan area. Today's Health and Have a Good Day! are programmes on lifestyle and leisure.

NHK World TV also broadcasts news in English. NHK World Dayline Japan (broadcast twice a day) and NHK World Japan This Day cover daily news and events in Japan. NHK World Japan This Week presents a round-up of the week's news and information in Japan and the rest of Asia.