October 13, 2023 Administrative Guidance for Certified Broadcasting Holding Companies

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has today issued administrative guidance to Nippon Television Holdings, Inc. (corporate No. 1010401051458, headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, and headed by SUGIYAMA Yoshikuni, Representative Director and Chairman) because MIC confirmed that the company violated the so-called “principle of excluding multiple ownership of the media” stipulated in regulations related to the Broadcasting Act, as some specific officers of the company had a concurrent relationship that exceeded the standards with a core broadcasting business operator affiliated with the company.

1. Subject of administrative guidance

Nippon Television Holdings, Inc. (SUGIYAMA Yoshikuni, Representative Director and Chairman)

2. Reasons for the guidance

Nippon Television Holdings, Inc. reduced the total number of specified company officers. As a result, it was confirmed that since June 2021, the number of persons concurrently serving as specified officers of the company and specified officers of its affiliated basic broadcasting business(*) had exceeded one-fifth of the company’s total number of specified officers.
As a result, the company is no longer qualified for the special provisions stipulated in the Broadcasting Act (Act No. 132 of 1950) and in the Ministerial Ordinance on the Definition of Specified Officers and Control Relationships and Special Provisions for the Standards for the Enjoyment of Freedom of Expression in Connection with Fundamental Broadcasting Operations (Ministerial Ordinance No. 26 of 2015). The affiliated flagship broadcaster with which the company has a controlling relationship was found to have violated the so-called “principle of excluding multiple ownership of the media.” The company and its affiliated flagship broadcasters have confirmed that the conflict has been resolved through a notification regarding the change of specified officers since Tuesday, October 3 of this year.
To prevent such a situation from occurring in the future, MIC has issued administrative guidance to the company today to ensure that it understands and complies with all relevant laws and regulations and otherwise prevents recurrence.

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  Television Iwate Co., Ltd., Miyagi Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd., Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, Hiroshima Telecasting Co., Ltd., Television Oita System Co., Ltd. (Television Oita has been in non-compliance since June 2022)