Order for Conduct of International Broadcasting, etc. in FY2007 for NHK -- Strengthening the dissemination of information overseas from Japan
Article 33 paragraph (1) of the Broadcast Law regulates that the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may order NHK to conduct international broadcasting (international short-wave broadcasts) by designating broadcast service areas, broadcast topics and other relevant matters, or may order NHK to carry out entrusted international broadcasts (international video broadcasts) by designating the service area in which the broadcaster will operate, as well as necessary topics for entrusted broadcasts and other relevant matters.
In addition, Article 35 paragraph (1) of the Broadcast Law regulates that the expenses required for these services shall be borne by the State.
Based on this, and from the point of view of promoting understanding of Japan within international society and providing timely and appropriate information to Japanese residents overseas, the Order for Conduct of International Broadcasting has been implemented since 1951.
Also, with a strong movement towards aggressively supporting international video broadcasts in various countries, Japan too is working to strengthen the dissemination of information via video overseas and so saw the necessity of implementing a new order for conduct of international broadcasting with regard to international broadcasts entrusted by NHK.
This situation led to the inquiry submitted to the Radio Regulatory Council regarding international broadcasts in FY2007 and the order for conduct of international broadcasts entrusted by NHK.
Since a report was then received by the Radio Regulatory Council stating that the order as per the inquiry was appropriate, implementation has been ordered as below.
Concerning the designated issues in conjunction with the order (outline)
The following issues are designated in conjunction with the order.
1. International Broadcasts (Short-Wave International Broadcasts)The editing and broadcasting of programs will be based on Article 44 paragraph (4) of the Broadcast Law and on this order, and will take place together with international broadcasts according to the regulations in Article 9 paragraph (1)-iv of the law, in order to strive for am improvement in the effectiveness of broadcasting.
(1) Broadcast Topics
a- Broadcast topics will provide information and explanations on the following topics:
- Current affairs
- Major government policy
- The governmentfs viewpoint on major international problems
b- With regard to broadcasts on the topic above, the problem of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea will be paid particular attention to.
(2) Broadcast areas and antenna power for transmissions by broadcast area
Broadcast areas and antenna power for transmissions by broadcast area will be as follows.
Furthermore, transmissions to each broadcast area will be implemented from the Yamata Transmitting Station or overseas broadcast stations.
a- Broadcast areas
Europe, North America, Hawaii, Central America, South America, Middle East and North Africa, Africa, Far Eastern Russia, Asian continent (northern part), Asian continent (central part), Asian continent (southern part), East Asia, Korea, South-East Asia, Philippines, Indonesia, South-West Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
b- Antenna power for transmissions by broadcast area
Decisions will be made after taking into consideration the conditions of reception in each broadcast area.
(3) Broadcast times
With regard to broadcast times, decisions will be made after taking into consideration the number of recipients in each broadcast area and the demand from recipients.
(4) Languages used in broadcasts
The language that is suited to the recipients in that area will be used for each broadcast area.
(5) Publicity regarding broadcasts
Adequate publicity shall be carried out regarding the contents of the broadcasts for the convenience of recipients and also to increase the number of recipients.
(6) The State’s cost burden
The implementation of international broadcasts as regulated in Article 33 paragraph (1) of the Broadcast Law for FY2007 will see costs of 2,157,617 thousand yen to be borne by the State as stipulated in Article 35 paragraph (1) of the law.
Procedures for distributing the expenses are shown separately.
(7) Implementation period
The implementation period for this order runs from April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008.
The editing of broadcast programs and the entrustment of broadcasts will be based on Article 44 paragraph (4) of the Broadcast Law and on this order, and will take place together with entrusted international broadcasts according to the regulations in Article 9 paragraph (1)-iv of the law, in order to strive for am improvement in the effectiveness of broadcasting.
Particular consideration should also be paid to the fact that foreigners will be watching these programs.
(1) Entrusted Broadcast Topics
Entrusted broadcast topics will provide information and explanations on the following topics:
- Current affairs
- Major government policy
- The government’s viewpoint on major international problems
(2) Entrusted broadcast areas
North America, Central and South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Oceania
(3) Entrusted broadcast times
With regard to entrusted broadcast times, decisions will be made after taking into consideration the number of recipients in each broadcast area and the demand from recipients.
(4) Languages used in entrusted broadcasts
Japanese and English will be used.
(5) Publicity regarding entrusted broadcasts
Along with adequate publicity being carried out regarding the contents of the broadcasts, efforts will be made for the convenience of recipients and also to increase the number of recipients, through actions such as putting in place a reception environment that will make it possible to receive the broadcasts easily.
(6) The State’s cost burden
The implementation of entrusted international broadcasts as regulated in Article 33 paragraph (1) of the Broadcast Law for FY2007 will see costs of 300 million yen to be borne by the State as stipulated in Article 35 paragraph (1) of the law.
Procedures for distributing the expenses are shown separately.
(7) Implementation period
The implementation period for this order runs from April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008.
Release of "Report on Economic Trends in the ICT Industry (4th Quarter of 2006)"
MIC released the "Report on Economic Trends in the ICT Industry (4th Quarter of CY2006)."
Outline
In the report of 4th quarter of CY2006, MIC compiled trends in domestic macro-economy and ICT industry as in the 3rd quarter report (released on December 27, 2006).
Points
- The gradual expansion of the entire ICT industry continues.
- The economic climate maintains favorable trends.
- However, inventories related to ICT have been increasing; and ICT-related investments continue to decline.
Outline of Reports on Economic Trends in the ICT Industry (4th Quarter of 2006)
Main points of “Trends in the Information and Communications Industry”The gentle growth in the information and communications industry overall continued. Business confidence also remained strong. However, there was a continuation in the increase of information and communications related inventories and a trend towards less information and communications related investment.
NB: The upward arrows refer to “increase/upswing” and the downward arrows refer to “decrease/drop”
Figure 1: State of Production, Shipments and Inventories for the Information and Communications Manufacturing Industry (year on year)
NB: Produced by calculating the primary coefficient from the production, shipment and inventory indices for mining and manufacturing
Data: METI “Indices of Industrial Production”
Figure 2: State of Activity in Information and Communications Services (year on year)
Data: METI “Indices of Tertiary Industry Activity”
Figure 3: Information and Communications Related Equipment Orders
NB: The bar chart shows the level of contribution of information and communications equipment related orders compared to the previous year.
Information and communications equipment related orders are the total of computers, communications equipment, electronic applied equipment, electronic measuring instruments and semiconductor manufacturing equipment from machinery orders (private-sector demand excluding ships and electric power)
Data: Cabinet Office “Orders Received for Machinery”