Japanese-language North American television channel
Television channel
TV Japan is a moribund 24-hour Japanese-language television channel geared towards the Japanese diaspora in the USA and Canada. It is the North American carrier of the NHK World Premium service. The channel is owned by NHK CosmoMedia America Inc., a subsidiary of NHK Enterprises, the commercial arm of the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Japan's national public broadcaster. It is available on many cable providers in the United States and Canada, and through U.S. satellite provider DirecTV.
While there are a handful of local and regional channels in the United States with primarily Japanese programming, TV Japan is the only such channel available nationwide in both the U.S. and Canada.
Programming
TV Japan airs various programs from Japan including news coverage from NHK, dramas, movies, children's programs, and entertainment shows. Programming is provided mainly by NHK, but some entertainment programs originate from commercial Japanese broadcasters including TBS, Nippon TV, TV Tokyo, Fuji Television and TV Asahi. Some programming is subtitled or dubbed into English, while NHK's main news programs are available with English translation on SAP, with the original Japanese presentation on the main audio channel. TV Japan also features extensive sports coverage including coverage of the Grand Sumo tournaments (with English commentary on SAP), Nippon Professional Baseball games and J-League soccer matches.
Free previews
TV Japan typically provides a free preview through most carrying service providers for approximately two weeks in April each year.[1]
In response to the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the Northern area of Japan on the afternoon of March 11, 2011, cable and satellite TV providers across the United States and Canada provided a free-to-air broadcast giving viewers who may have friends and family in Japan with the latest news and information via a live simulcast from parent NHK.
Notice of removal of U.S Broadcasting
As of February 15, 2024 the TV Japan Website and select providers such as DirecTV have stated that TV Japan will no longer broadcast in North America. The website states: "Some providers have announced the termination of TV JAPAN. Details about the future services will be provided on our website from 2/17. Please wait for the announcement from us."[citation needed]
On February 17, 2024, the end of service via cable and satellite providers was published on the TV Japan website, with the added announcement of a new video streaming service called Jme to begin on April 1.[2]
