New Demands for US-Imported Television Programmes in Japan’s New Video Distribution Environment

Abstract

This study examines and analyses imported television programming, in particular US-imported programming, in Japan’s new emerging video distribution services such as cable television and satellite broadcasting. Judging from the small markets of new networks and broadcasters, and hence their insufficient production budgets for originals, we can assume that they may be dependent on imported programming. Our research demonstrates that imports account for a large fraction of the programming of Japan’s new networks and broadcasters, compared to that of broadcast networks. Above all, the US fictional programming, which is offered by foreign-owned cable and premium networks, drives the average percentage of imported programming on the new networks and broadcasters.