Where Will “Broadcasting to Come” Be Headed? [Vol.8]

“The Study Group on the Ideal Broadcasting System in the Digital Age” launched in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC) in November 2021 has been discussing various topics in its subcommittees and working groups. It publicly released a summary in August 2022, presenting both defensive and offensive strategies as the policy for the future of broadcasting.The defensive strategy involves considerations of the infrastructure for the broadcasting network in the future, specifically, (1) the vision for future master control facilities including the introduction of cloud master control, (2) how to maintain, operate, and upkeep relay stations, such as possible shared use of facilities by multiple broadcasters, and (3) discussions on the broadcasting areas of small-sized relay stations, whose upkeep and renewal costs are relatively high, including the use of broadband as an alternative, in addition to the rebroadcasts of broadcasting by cable TV systems.The offensive strategy is about considering how broadcasters should distribute their content online, specifically (1) measures to provide people better accessibility to “streaming services that every user can place confidence in to feel assured to view,” and (2) the roles of public service broadcasters in the internet age and, the positioning of internet-based services in NHK, which are now regarded as complementary to broadcasting.Since each of the issues put on the table is weighty and complicatedly intertwined with each other, the author’s basic perception is that the future of broadcasting will remain uncertain unless discussing these issues from a bird's eye view. In addition, it is important not only to keep up with the discussion process but also to raise questions at the most appropriate time on whether significant issues are not avoided or postponed—perhaps more important than just examining what conclusions were reached.This paper is a re-publication of the past three articles posted on the website of the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute (#413, #418, and #423 of “BUNKEN Blog”) which the author wrote as prompt reports in response to the summary published in August 2022. Please note some issues featured in the blog saw changes in the content as the discussions progressed, but the author keeps them as a record of the discussion process.