The Structure of Independence
It is the duty of a public broadcaster to transmit impartial,
high-quality programs that are not influenced by the government
or private organizations. For the broadcaster to fulfill this
duty, its financial independence must be guaranteed. In the
case of NHK, independence is made possible by the Receiving
Fee System. Viewers are asked to pay not for specific programs
but to support the operation of NHK as a whole. As stipulated
in the Broadcast Law, receiving fees are paid equally by every
household in Japan with a television set.
In Japan, broadcasting has evolved through the coexistence of
the public broadcaster (NHK) and various commercial broadcasters,
whose source of revenue is income from advertising. The Broadcast
Law prohibits NHK from carrying commercials.
Article 32 of the Broadcast Law
Any person who has installed receiving equipment capable of
receiving the broadcasting provided by NHK shall conclude
a contract with NHK with regard to the reception of its broadcasting.
However, this shall not apply to those who have installed
receiving equipment not intended for the reception of broadcasting,
or receiving equipment solely for the reception of radio broadcasting
or multiplex broadcasting (broadcasting of voice and other
sound transmissions not coming under television broadcasting
and multiplex broadcasting classifications).
| Receiving Fees (tax included) |
| Type of
contract |
Form of
payment |
Every 2 months |
6-month
advance
payment |
12-month
advance
payment |
 |
| |
| Terrestrial
contract |
Bank transfer,etc.
* |
 2,690 |
7,650 |
14,910 |
| Door-to-door
collection * |
2,790 |
7,950 |
15,490 |
 |
| Satelite
color
contact |
Bank transfer,etc.
* |
4,580 |
13,090 |
25,520 |
| Door-to-door
collection * |
4,680 |
13,390 |
26,100 |
| * |
Bank transfer or regular payment by postal
order or credit card. |
| * |
Door-to-door collection system will end on October 1,2008. |
|
