TV Tokyo is perhaps one of the most viewed Television channels in all of the world, with it's high programming standards, and great anime coverage it is no wonder this powerhouse has been going strong since it began broadcasting in 1964. Lead by the Nihon Kagaku Gijutsu Shinko Zaidan (Japan Science Promotion Foundation) TV Tokyo opened up it's broadcasting waves to millions of Japanese families as a commercial free broadcaster specializing in all fields including educational and Japanese cultural programs. In 1969 this already strong company was taken over by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc. (Nikkei), a leading media organization.

TV Tokyo did not always air programs aimed at entertainment and animes such as Naruto, in fact it wasn't until 1973 when the channel changed it's focus, and it's name. "Tokyo 12 Channel" that it shifted it's attention and goals to be an all around station, broadcasting many educational, and cultural programs along with the new addition of entertainment shows, news, and even sports. In 1981 there was yet another name change, this time from Tokyo 12 Channel, to what it is currently, TV Tokyo. With this name change the company once again shifted it's goals, they now had their eyes set on a strategy that would expand them into new territory, network television.

Currently, TV Tokyo broadcasts to 32 Million households in Japan, roughly about 68% of the total population, with 16 Million households in Tokyo alone. This large audience is reached through the TXN television network of six televison broadcasters which cover all of Japan's major areas: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Okayama, Takamatsu, Sapporo, and Fukuoka.

As mentioned before, TV Tokyo has exceptional broadcasting standards, and they have not lost their dedication to providing the Japanese population with a wide variety of programming focused mainly on, Business News, Anime, Information, and Entertainment. TV Tokyo has exceptional ratings and during its "Golden time" (7PM-10PM), nearly 8% of all television viewers are watching a program broadcasted on TV Tokyo, 7.3% during prime time (7PM-11PM) and an average of 3.6% all day long. In 2002, with 785 full-time employees, TV Tokyo achieved it's highest earnings ever, with a net sales value of ¥101,000,000,000 or $940,019,542.

TV Tokyo Program Lineup (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
*Some material courtesy of TV Tokyo's president newsletter.

 

Brief History:

October 1973

Changes company name to Tokyo 12 Channel (Television Tokyo Channel 12, Ltd.)

November 1973

Shifts from educational programming to general entertainment content

October 1981

Changes name to TV TOKYO (Television Tokyo Channel 12, Ltd.)

March 1982

TXN network company TV OSAKA (Television Osaka and Inc.) Begins broadcasting

September 1983

TXN network company TV AICHI (Aichi Television Broadcasting Co. and Ltd.) Begins broadcasting

October 1985

TXN network company TV SETOUCHI (TV Setouchi Broadcasting Co. and Ltd.) Begins broadcasting

December 1985

TV TOKYO headquarters moves to current broadcasting center

October 1989

TXN network company TV HOKKAIDO (Television Hokkaido Broadcasting Co. and Ltd.) Begins broadcasting

April 1991

TXN network company TVQ (TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting Co. and Ltd) Begins broadcasting. Completion of TXN network

April 1994

Completion of New York news studio

December 1997

AT-X begins satellite broadcasting

October 1998

Introduction of new corporate identity logo

December 1999

Completion of Tennouzu Studio for digital HDTV production

December 2000

B.S. Japan begins broadcasting

June 2002

Has a capital tie-up with GE Equity and CNBC Asia

June 2003

Changes company English name to TV TOKYO Corporation