NHK is Japan’s model of the BBC – it was really modelled after the Beeb method again within the 1920s. It has 4 terrestrial, two satellite tv for
NHK is Japan’s model of the BBC – it was really modelled after the Beeb method again within the 1920s. It has 4 terrestrial, two satellite tv for pc TV stations, and three radio stations. It’s advert-free, and funded by a license price. It could possibly be seen as one among Auntie’s nephews maybe, with most of the identical household traits, however a couple of essential variations that embattled BBC executives may do properly to take discover of.
Until you will have a bizarre fondness for the noisy and inane (see the Takashi Fuji episode in ‘Misplaced in Translation’) NHK might be the one ‘terebi’ you’d need to watch in Japan. It’s famend for the superior manufacturing values and extra grown up tone of its output, significantly information and climate, the latter particularly essential in a disaster-prone nation with distant communities with excessive concentrations of aged individuals.
A key distinction between NHK and the BBC is that the NHK license price (round 95 kilos) is collected in what quantities to an honesty system. Regardless of occasional crackdowns on lodge chains and probably the most egregious offenders, for most people, in case you are decided to not pay and may put up with the NHK consultant tapping in your window, nothing critical will occur. It’s extremely unlikely you’ll find yourself in courtroom, like Charles Moore, and 180,000 others within the UK annually.
Regardless of lazy stereotypes of the Japanese as faultlessly trustworthy, the variety of non-payers is excessive – an estimated 20 per cent of Japanese disguise behind the couch when the gathering agent comes spherical, not less than among the time. Most pay up ultimately although. And total criticism of the company has been gentle in comparison with the every day battering the BBC endures. That is partly because of the decrease price and fewer vindictive perspective to non-payment, but in addition to NHK’s political stance and conservative method to programme making.
Whereas the BBC was arguably arrange as a counterweight to the right-wing press of Fleet Avenue and has been dogged by accusations of left-wing bias, NHK has all the time been seen as basically on the aspect of Japan; not a mouthpiece of the federal government (which for nearly 65 years has been within the palms of the conservative LDP), however not particularly sympathetic to its opponents both.
In addition to its supportive picture, NHK has made a advantage of predictability and restricted ambition. Quite than combating on each media frontline, NHK focuses on a restricted variety of areas and offers dependable, if unchallenging programming.
It’s best recognized for secure mildly patriotic interval dramas that offend completely nobody – together with the well-known ‘taiga’ dramas that final a full 12 months and have historically been among the many hottest programmes on Japanese TV.
Then there are well-made documentaries, high-profile sport together with stay sumo – or if that’s too thrilling – the board sport shogi, together with stay Kabuki, Noh, Bunraku and classical music within the evenings.
The intellectual content material helps NHK justify the license price on a public service argument and retain public assist, even when viewing figures aren’t excessive. The scenario remembers the phrases of Sir Humphrey Appleby on Radio 3 (of 30 years in the past): ‘I by no means hear, however it’s good to understand it’s there’.
NHK’s presentation is low key and modest. In contrast to the BBC’s shouty, self-promotion with the endlessly repeated trailers that make you are feeling like you might be being grabbed by the lapels and screamed at, NHK’s presenters are mild-mannered and respectful and never noticeably chosen for his or her youth or attractiveness. They seem slightly humbled by the privilege of serving the general public by the nationwide broadcaster.
The idea of ‘wokeness’ and political correctness has made little impression on NHK too; its dramas can be placing to British viewers for his or her workplace settings that includes stern hard-drinking male bosses, feminine subordinates and mono racial home scenes of housewives…doing house responsibilities. Variety, inclusivity and ‘feminine empowerment’ aren’t relentlessly pressured at viewers. Amazingly, this has not led to howls of shock. NHK’s content material can appear old style, even uninteresting at instances, however it’s snug and other people appear fairly pleased with it.
Which isn’t to say that calls to scrap the license price are by no means heard in Japan. The problem is sometimes raised and there’s even a fringe political occasion devoted to the trigger. ‘The occasion to guard the individuals from NHK’, initially seen as a group of fruitcakes and loons, nonetheless scored a sensational triumph final 12 months after they fluked one seat within the Higher Home elections (which use proportional illustration) regardless of a tiny vote share. However commentators have dismissed the anti-NHK occasion as a manifestation of voter disillusionment with politicians basically slightly than a critical touch upon the nationwide broadcaster – the occasion is usually thought-about a joke.
In addition to the license price query, NHK has most of the identical issues because the BBC, most worryingly the haemorrhaging of younger…