April 1, 2025 Request for the Implementation of International Broadcasting in FY 2025 and Response from Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)

　Today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) requested the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (also called NHK, headed by INABA Nobuo, President) to implement international broadcasting in fiscal 2025, from Tuesday, April 1, 2025, to Tuesday, September 30, 2025. On the same day, NHK responded to accept the request.

　Under the provisions of Article 65, Paragraph 1 of the Broadcasting Act (Act No. 132 of 1950), the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications may specify broadcasting areas, broadcasting content, and other necessary matters and request NHK to implement international broadcasting or international satellite broadcasting by NHK.

　MIC submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council (chaired by SASASE Iwao, Professor Emeritus at Keio University) regarding a request to implement international broadcasting in fiscal 2025 and received a report on Friday, March 7, 2025, stating that it would be appropriate to make a request subject to approval from the Diet for the necessary budget.
　Accordingly, MIC notified NHK in advance on the same day about the content of the request.

　The Diet approved the necessary budget on Monday, March 31. Therefore, today, MIC requested NHK to implement international broadcasting for fiscal 2025, from Tuesday, April 1, 2025, to Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
　On the same day, NHK responded that it would accept the request.

　In light of the enforcement of the Act to Partially Amend the Broadcasting Act (Act No. 36 of 2024), on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the request to implement international broadcasting, etc. for the period from Wednesday, October 1, 2025, to Tuesday, March 31, 2026, is scheduled to be made on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.