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JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as TV Tokyo, is a Japanese television station that serves as the flagship of the TX Network. It is owned and operated by TV Tokyo Corporation, itself a subsidiary of TV Tokyo Holdings Corporation, in turn a subsidiary of Nikkei, Inc. It is headquartered in the Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo. TV Tokyo is one of the five private broadcasters based in Tokyo, and the last to have started its broadcasts on VHF.
The predecessor of TV Tokyo was Tokyo Channel 12, which was broadcast using the bandwidth returned by the US military stationed in Japan. However, similar to Nihon Educational Television (NET TV), which was also a private educational television station, Tokyo Channel 12 faced a serious business crisis after its launch due to low ratings. Nikkei, Inc. took over the operation of Tokyo Channel 12 in 1969 and officially converted it into a comprehensive television station in 1973. In 1981, Tokyo Channel 12 was renamed TV Tokyo.
Since its launch, TV Tokyo's ratings have been ranked last among the core bureaus in Tokyo, and its program production costs are also far lower than those of other stations. Moreover, TXN does not cover the whole of Japan, and its scale is much smaller than the other four network networks. However, the above-mentioned unfavorable factors also make TV Tokyo's program arrangement and news content significantly different from other private TV stations. It has unique program creativity and style, and has established unique strong areas such as Japanese anime, tokusatsu, dramas, and variety shows.
TV Tokyo is most notable for airing Pokémon the Series and other related Pokémon-related content. Besides Pokémon, the network airs other video game-related programs such as various Mario variety shows, F-Zero: GP Legend, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, Ninjala, Sonic X, the variety show Oha Suta (segments includes various gaming content, most notably Pokémon), and the Japanese dub of the Donkey Kong Country animated series.
History
TV Tokyo was established by the Japan Science Foundation in 1951 and started broadcasting, as Science TV Tokyo Channel 12 Television on April 12, 1964. It took its name from its VHF frequency channel 12. It almost went bankrupt in 1968; on 1 July that year, a limited liability company, Tokyo Channel 12 Production was established with the help of the Nikkei and Mainichi Broadcasting System.
In 1969 the Nikkei and MBS signed a memorandum of understanding which stipulates that Tokyo Channel 12 should share programs with Nihon Educational Television (NET, now TV Asahi). This forms a de facto alliance that lasts until 1975.
In October 1977, Tokyo Channel 12 Production was renamed Tokyo Channel 12, Ltd.; and shortened the channel's name to Tokyo Channel 12, dropping "Science TV" from its name. At the same time, the station moved to Shiba Park. A month later, it became a general purpose TV station along with NET. On April 1, 1978, Tokyo launched a new production company, Softx.
In 1981, it was again renamed, this time to Television Tokyo Channel 12, Ltd. d/b/a TV Tokyo; the current Japanese name of the company was also assumed in the same year.
In 1983, TV Tokyo formed the Mega TON Network (now TX Network) with TV Osaka, and Aichi Television Broadcasting. The company shifted its head offices from Shiba Park to Toranomon in December 1985. In 1983, TV Tokyo formed the Mega TON Network (now TX Network) with TV Osaka, and Aichi Television Broadcasting. The company shifted its head offices from Shiba Park to Toranomon in December 1985.
TV Tokyo aired episodes of Pokémon the Series since its debut in 1997. Currently, the anime airs on Fridays at 6:55 PM JST (9:55 AM UTC/4:55 AM EST). Starting with Pokémon the Series: Black and White, the broadcast of the anime on TV Tokyo uses data broadcasting.
On October 4, 1999, Tokyo's production company Softx was renamed TV Tokyo MediaNet. In 2004, TV Tokyo MediaNet was shortened to MediaNet. On June 25, 2004, the company assumed its current English name TV Tokyo Corporation. After the digital transition, the channel began broadcasting on digital channel 7. On November 7, 2016, TV Tokyo moved its headquarters to the new building at Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower from its old studios in Toranomon. The network initially used a Circle 7-style logo to broadcast animated programs. The station mascot is a cartoon banana with eyes, a nose, and a mouth which is bent into a 7, named Nanana (ナナナ).
The network is part of the Japan Consortium, which covers the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup.
Broadcasting
- Call sign: JOTX-DTV
- Remote controller ID 7
- Tokyo Skytree: Channel 23
Related companies
- TV Tokyo Holdings
- BS TV Tokyo
- TV Tokyo Production
- TV Tokyo Music
- PROTX
- AT-X
- FM Inter-Wave Inc.
- IntaracTV
- Nikkei CNBC
- TV Tokyo America Inc.
- MediaNet
- Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions
Notable video game-based programs air on TV Tokyo
Pokémon series
- Pokémon animation
- Pokémon the Series (1997-present)
- Pokémon Chronicles
- Pokémon movies
- Pikachu shorts
- Pocket Monsters Encore (1999-2002)
- Weekly Pokémon Broadcasting Station (2002-2004)
- Pokémon Sunday (2004-2010)
- Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (2010)
- Pokémon Smash! (2010-2013)
- Pokémon Origins (2013)
- Pokémon Get☆TV (2013-2015)
- Pokémon XY Pre-Start Special: Road to Kalos (2013)
- Meet Up at the Pokémon House? (2015-2022)
- Pocket Monsters Premier 10 (2017)
- Where are we going with Pokémon!? (2022-present)
- Pokémon Music Festival (2023)
- New Series Pocket Monsters Pokémon Investigation Team (2023)
- Pack Your Pocket With Adventure (2023)
- News Pokémon Satellite (2024)
Mario series
- Super Mario Club (1990-1993, 2010)
- Super Mario Stadium (1993-1996)
- 64 Mario Stadium (1996-2000)
- Donkey Kong Country (1999-2000, Japanese dub)
- Mario School (2000-2001)
- Oha Suta (1997-present)
- F-Zero: GP Legend (2003-2004)
- Ninjala (2022-present)
- Sonic X (2003-2005)
- Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (2024)
Gallery
_2023.png "TV Tokyo HD (Japanese) 2023.png (3 KB)")
See also
- Other networks that aired Pokémon and other Nintendo TV shows:
- 4Kids TV
- TBS Television (for Kirby: Right Back at Ya!)
- Kids' WB (Pokémon seasons 1-8)
- Cartoon Network (Pokémon seasons 9-19)
- Disney XD (Pokémon seasons 20-22)
- Netflix (Pokémon seasons 23-present)
External links
- TV Tokyo at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- TV Tokyo at Bulbapedia, the Pokémon wiki.
- TV Tokyo at Pokémon Wiki, the Fandom wiki on Pokémon.
- TV Tokyo at Sonic Wiki Zone, the Fandom wiki on Sonic.