Are such reforms, which would lower public trust in broadcasting, necessary? The issue of how broadcasting ought to be, as a service of a highly public nature, shouldn't be discussed from the perspective of industrial policy aimed at raising competitiveness.
The government's Regulatory Reform Promotion Council has compiled a report on the review of the broadcasting business.
The report incorporates neither the removal of Article 4 of the Broadcasting Law, which has been a point at issue, nor the abolition of foreign capital regulation that limits foreign businesses' holdings of shares of broadcasters. These are both proper judgments.
Article 4 of the law calls on broadcasters to ensure that their programs do not negatively influence public order and morality and that the programs are politically fair. If those provisions to maintain the quality of broadcast programs are removed, it is feared that extreme programs or fake news would deluge the airwaves.
There is a danger that public trust in broadcasting would be lost, which would in turn be detrimental to the people's rights to know.
Article 4 also calls on TV stations and radio stations, both of which use publicly allocated frequencies, to be accurate in their reporting. Broadcasters cannot be discussed in the same terms as business operators on the internet, where information of dubious authenticity also circulates.
The report also puts off the separation of the broadcasting equipment divisions and the program production divisions of broadcasters.
Think hard about NHK
The report, however, calls on the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry to discuss how the business foundation of local broadcasters should be reinforced. Although the report does not present any clear-cut opinions, it can be considered as having left some room for the possibility that the separation of the broadcasting equipment and the program production divisions would be made obligatory for broadcasters in the future.
The issue of how the business form of local broadcasters ought to be reviewed is a matter that should be left up to the management judgment of each broadcaster.
Regarding the issue of simultaneously distributing TV programs on the internet, the report indicated a course of action for an early and full lifting of the ban on simultaneous distribution for NHK, a public broadcaster.
NHK is allowed to simultaneously distribute its programs, though only on such occasions as natural disasters or when the Olympic Games are in progress. Should the ban be lifted fully, it will be necessary beforehand to sufficiently look at its effect as well as the demand for it.
If NHK expands its businesses little by little, using its revenues totaling 700 billion yen a year, it may risk becoming too large or put pressure on commercial broadcasters.
It is feared that the current dual structure, in which NHK and commercial broadcasters are in friendly rivalry with each other, may fall apart, thus allowing NHK to become the sole winner.
The government should prioritize the issues of having NHK thoroughly implement a reduction of subscription fees and making its business operation more efficient.
These reforms are the major themes that will be linked to the "integration of telecommunications and broadcasting." It was unreasonable for the governmental panel to have tried to come up with a conclusion in just a few months.
It also seems strange that at the venue for discussing these issues, hardly anyone can be found who specializes in broadcasting. A thorough discussion from a broad perspective is needed.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 7, 2018)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
