As a public broadcaster, NHK carries on data broadcasting on the core concept to　provide information useful in emergencies and for viewer’s lives. This include information like local news, regional weather forecasts, information on local activities, national news, and notices from NHK.　In addition, it provides emergency information on typhoons, heavy rainfall and other potential natural disasters. In weather forecasting, this service allows viewers to “arrange” program layouts. The program, for instance, can be arranged to inform viewers when the rain is likely to start. Data broadcasting also supplies information on health, living, nursing care and others that are closely related to people’s lives, as well as interactive quizzes that can be enjoyed and used for learning by children. General Information News Weather Report Sports Program Song Program Program Information    Data broadcasting content for both BS and terrestrial waves are described by a language called BML (broadcast markup language) based on the multimedia coding method. These contents comprise two sections - one is a fixed part called the template that describes the screen arrangement and remote control operations, and the other is a renewal data portion that can be rewritten when necessary. The template and renewal data are combined into data broadcasting contents, which are automatically transmitted in accordance with the broadcasting schedule. Depending on the mode of production and registration, these contents are classified into three groups: automatic production mode, manual production mode, and studio live transmission mode. 1. Automatic production  In automatic production, contents are made by first receiving data, such as weather forecasts, foreign exchange rates and stock prices, and then the data and tempates are automatically combined. The contents thus produced are registered. In this way, new information can be immediately incorporated in data broadcasting. News scripts are written and registered manually, but their combining is done automatically. 2. Manual production   In manual production, producers manually combine the template and the renewal data on the authoring terminal to create contents for data broadcasting. After the contents are checked on the preview terminal, they are registered with the transmitter. This technique is used in the data broadcasting of welfare-related and useful information and other programs recorded on VCR tape (Historical drama: Yoshitsune, Science Variety: Trial & Success). 3. Live Transmission  Live transmission, which is used for such programs as NHK's Year-End Song Festival. Programs are broadcast live from the studio while viewers participate by giving answers to quizzes and responding to questionnaires. This is made possible by two-way data transmission. In the studio, producers use a transmission terminal to edit the contents of data broadcasting and also send a switching signal (event message) and gathered data. In this way, television viewers can enjoy data broadcasts in real time.  In April 2004, NHK inaugurated a new service called NHK Data Online, which combines broadcasting and communication. The service uses the internet access feature of digital television receivers to display photos and other supplementary program information on demand. The use of telecommunication lines allows far larger amounts of data to be transmitted than with conventional data broadcasting. In January 2005, the service menu was expanded to include local news, letting viewers access news not only for localities in which they live but also in other areas of their interest. Top page of “Regional News” News in Hyogo station