Japan’s five main commercial broadcasters have come together to develop a system that will serve as the lynchpin for simultaneous broadcasting of television programs over the air and the internet.
The Nikkei Asian Review website said Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo and Fuji Television Network have reached a basic agreement to invest in a joint venture established by Nippon Television Network and internet service provider Internet Initiative Japan.
The joint venture, entitled JOCDN, is set to be 20 per cent owned by IIJ with the remaining 80 per cent stake set to be divided equally among the five broadcasters.
JOCDN is developing a proprietary system that will enable the streaming of television broadcasts over the internet in real time in a picture quality comparable to that offered by Japan’s free-to-air digital television services.
The new venture is reportedly being looked upon to play a key role in realising integrated coverage of the 2020 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo across television and the internet.
The Japan Consortium, which includes public-service broadcaster NHK and the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (JBA), extended its Olympic Games rights deal through to the 2024 summer edition of the multi-sport event under a deal struck in June 2014.