NHK is to launch its English-language broadcasting service in February 2009. A new board of directors has been appointed for “Japan International Broadcasting” (JIB.tv, the channel’s current name). The directors take up their posts today (Sept 1).

JIB.tv was established in April 2008 with a capital investment of ¥50 million from NHK. Today the company will begin full-scale operations (including preparation for programme production and construction of a distribution network using broadband and other media) under new President and CEO Hatsuhisa Takashima, ready for the launch of its broadcasting service in February 2009. NHK invested a further ¥150 million in Japan International Broadcasting Inc. at the end of August to strengthen the company’s financial basis, bringing the total capital to ¥200 million.

By March next year JIB.tv says it will be offering its international programming to more than 110m households across the US, Europe and the Mid-East as well as the Asia-Pacific region.  JIB is working closely with satellite services provider Globecast to effect transmission and delivery.

The channel will transmit a rolling four-hour programming block. Mr Takashima said: “We’ll be broadcasting the latest news on the hour around the clock. The news slot will be 28 minutes long except during late-night hours in Japan, when it will be 10 minutes long. As well as delivering original information on Japan, we aim to establish international recognition for NHK as a source of Asian news by stationing English speaking NHK World TV reporters at NHK bureaus around Asia and taking other steps to strengthen our Asian news-gathering network. We’ll be in an unparalleled position to communicate the vibrancy of the region.”

© Rapid TV News 2008