Abstract
On September 6th, 2023, the Study Group on the Ideal Broadcasting System in the Digital Age”—an advisory panel of experts organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication—released a draft summary of the year-long deliberation. It clearly shows an emphasis on widening the scope of NHK’s remit and the need for the cooperation among broadcasting media organizations amidst the increasing market power of foreign platform operators such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook. Including many diverse issues, the summary is 838 page long.
This paper overviews the year-long deliberation and the draft summary, which features the following five points that the author deems important in discussing the ideal future of broadcasting.
1. Updating business operation model
2. Formulating measures for matters related to platforms
3. Considering the future of broadcasting networks
4. Promoting content production
5. Securing the trust in media
Other than the above, making NHK’s internet-based operations its compulsory operation is discussed in a separate chapter.
In this digitalized society, users, technologies, businesses, and service are all shifting from broadcasting to the internet. However, there still exist a high barrier between broadcasting and telecommunications in Japan that is oriented by the Broadcasting Act. Herein lies the difficulty of the Study Group that examines the broadcasting system in digital society. In the meantime, changes surrounding broadcasting is becoming more and more drastic. The author also presented her views on what kind of discussion is needed to confront the essence and look ahead to the future.
