Music On! TV
A Japanese cable and satellite music television network operated within the Sony Music Entertainment Japan group.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Music On! TV, commonly abbreviated as M-On!, is a Japanese music television network whose programming centers on music videos, artist-related features, music charts, karaoke-oriented selections, and televised music programs. The network began in the late 1990s under the name Viewsic, a combination of “view” and “music,” and was established as part of Sony Music Entertainment Japan’s effort to operate a dedicated television platform for music content. It was initially associated with SME TV, Inc., a company founded on March 2, 1998 by Sony Music management. The channel began broadcasting as Viewsic on July 1, 1998. Its early identity emphasized the presentation of music videos and related television material rather than a general-entertainment schedule. Viewsic subsequently expanded its distribution through Japanese pay-television infrastructure, including a launch on the SKY PerfecTV! e2 platform on June 1, 2002. This helped position the service as a specialist music channel available to subscribers beyond conventional terrestrial television. On May 1, 2004, Viewsic was relaunched under the name Music On! TV. The change gave the network a broader and more internationally legible brand while retaining its focus on music programming. The channel’s motto, “We Believe in Music,” expresses that editorial and brand orientation. Its schedule has included Japanese pop music video blocks, retrospective hit collections, karaoke charts, international music charts, and programs connected with Korean pop music. Examples listed for the service include J-Pop Saikyō Countdown programs, international and K-pop countdowns, karaoke rankings, Apple Music and LINE MUSIC charts, YouTube Japan music-video rankings, and themed collections of older songs. Music On! TV introduced high-definition broadcasting on October 1, 2009. This was an important technical development for a channel whose principal content consists of visually produced music videos and studio or performance programming. On March 31, 2012, Music On! TV, Inc. was merged with sister company Sony Magazines Co., Ltd. The resulting company became M-On Entertainment, Inc., linking the television operation with a broader Sony-affiliated media structure. The network also launched its own website in connection with this corporate period. The brand is operated by Sony Music Solutions, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. It therefore sits within the wider Sony Music corporate ecosystem while functioning as a Japanese specialist television service rather than as a record label or a general-purpose broadcast network. Music On! TV’s role is to provide music discovery, recurring chart formats, video programming, and genre-focused viewing for Japanese pay-television audiences. Its programming has also incorporated imported Korean music shows such as Music Bank, Show Champion, and SBS Inkigayo, alongside domestic Japanese music content. Music On! TV is distinct from MTV Japan, which is identified as a rival music television service. The available reference material does not establish a separate international broadcast footprint, current subscriber figures, financial results, or named executives. On the available evidence, the brand remains an active Japan-focused music television network within the Sony Music Entertainment Japan group.
History
Music On! TV originated within Sony Music Entertainment Japan’s media activities in the late 1990s. Sony Music management established SME TV, Inc. on March 2, 1998. The company launched a dedicated music television channel on July 1 of that year under the name Viewsic. The name combined the ideas of viewing and music and identified a service designed around music videos and related music programming. Viewsic developed as a specialist pay-television channel rather than a terrestrial general-entertainment station. On June 1, 2002, it was launched on SKY PerfecTV! e2, expanding its distribution within Japan’s subscription television market. The channel was relaunched as Music On! TV on May 1, 2004. The new name became the principal consumer-facing identity and was later shortened in common usage to M-On! or M-ON!. The network’s programming has included music-video blocks, Japanese pop countdowns, international and Korean music charts, karaoke rankings, retrospective collections, and artist or genre-focused features. Listed examples include M-On! Hits, J-Pop Saikyō Countdown 20 and 50, M-On! Countdown International, M-On! Countdown K, and karaoke countdown programs. The channel has also carried Korean music programs including Music Bank, Show Champion, and SBS Inkigayo. Other listed programming includes AniOn! World, Visualism, K-Pop Hits!, and legato ~Tabisuru Ongaku Studio~. A technical milestone came on October 1, 2009, when Music On! TV launched high-definition broadcasting. The change was particularly relevant to a service built around visually intensive music-video content. A corporate restructuring followed on March 31, 2012. Music On! TV, Inc. merged with sister company Sony Magazines Co., Ltd., and the resulting entity became M-On Entertainment, Inc. The company also launched its own website during this period. The current brand is operated by Sony Music Solutions, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Music On! TV consequently remains connected to Sony’s Japanese music business while serving as a distinct television and media brand. Its core role is the curation and distribution of music-oriented programming for Japanese audiences, including chart-based discovery, video rotation, catalog retrospectives, karaoke-related content, and selected international programming. The available reference material does not provide a confirmed headquarters address, subscriber data, revenue figures, current executive roster, or a separately documented international market presence. MTV Japan is identified as a competing Japanese music television service.
- 2012
Corporate merger creates M-On Entertainment
[1]Music On! TV, Inc. merged with Sony Magazines Co., Ltd. on March 31, with the combined company becoming M-On Entertainment, Inc.
- 2009
High-definition service begins
[1]Music On! TV launched high-definition television broadcasting on October 1.
- 2004
Viewsic becomes Music On! TV
[1]The service was relaunched under the Music On! TV name on May 1.
- 2002
Distribution expands to SKY PerfecTV! e2
[1]Viewsic launched on the SKY PerfecTV! e2 platform on June 1.
- 1998
SME TV, Inc. is founded
[1]Sony Music management established SME TV, Inc. on March 2, creating the corporate basis for the future music television network.
- 1998
Viewsic launches
[1]The channel began broadcasting as Viewsic on July 1, 1998.
Products and positioning
A specialist Japanese pay-television music network combining music videos, domestic and international charts, karaoke-oriented programming, retrospective hit collections, and selected imported music shows. Its positioning is expressed through the motto “We Believe in Music.”
Music television network · 1998
Music On! TV channel
The core Music On! TV service is a Japanese subscription television network devoted to music programming. Its schedule combines music videos, chart shows, karaoke rankings, catalog retrospectives, genre features, and selected imported music programs. The service originated as Viewsic in 1998 and adopted the Music On! TV name in 2004. High-definition broadcasting was introduced in 2009.
Music charts
J-Pop countdown programming
Music On! TV’s Japanese pop chart offering includes J-Pop Saikyō Countdown 20 and J-Pop Saikyō Countdown 50. These programs provide recurring rankings and discovery-oriented programming centered on Japanese popular music.
International music television
K-pop programming
The network’s K-pop-related offering includes K-Pop Hits! and imported programs such as Music Bank, Show Champion, and SBS Inkigayo. This programming extends the channel’s music focus beyond Japan while retaining a television-format presentation of performances, videos, and rankings.
Karaoke charts
Karaoke countdown programming
M-On! Karaoke Countdown 20 and M-On! Karaoke Countdown 50 organize popular songs through karaoke-oriented rankings. The format connects the network’s broadcast programming with the established role of karaoke in Japanese music consumption.
Music charts
Digital music chart programming
The channel has listed chart programs associated with Apple Music, LINE MUSIC, YouTube Japan, TSUTAYA rental CDs, and UtaMap. These programs broaden the network’s chart coverage by reflecting multiple listening, video, rental, and user-popularity sources.
Brand decisions
2012
Merger with Sony MagazinesM&ABackground
Music On! TV, Inc. and Sony Magazines Co., Ltd. were sister companies within the Sony-affiliated media structure.
Action taken
The two companies merged on March 31, 2012, forming M-On Entertainment, Inc.
Aftermath
The television operation became part of the merged M-On Entertainment structure, which also launched its own website during this corporate period.
2009
Introduction of high-definition broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
The network’s principal content consisted of visually produced music videos and other music television formats.
Action taken
Music On! TV launched high-definition television broadcasting on October 1, 2009.
Aftermath
The channel gained a higher-definition presentation format for its music-video and studio programming.
2004
Rebrand from Viewsic to Music On! TVOtherBackground
The channel had operated as Viewsic since its 1998 launch and had expanded its subscription distribution by 2002.
Action taken
The service was relaunched under the Music On! TV name on May 1, 2004.
Aftermath
Music On! TV became the continuing public identity of the network, with M-On! used as a common abbreviation.
Recent events
- 2012
Music On! TV, Inc. merges with Sony Magazines[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Music On! TV, Inc. was merged with sister company Sony Magazines Co., Ltd.; the combined company became M-On Entertainment, Inc.
- 2009
Music On! TV begins high-definition broadcasting[1]
Product generation · Product launch
Music On! TV launched high-definition television broadcasting, upgrading the presentation format for its music-video and other visual programming.
- 2004
Viewsic is relaunched as Music On! TV[1]
Product generation · Product launch
The Viewsic channel adopted the Music On! TV name, creating the identity under which the service is commonly known today.
- 2002
Viewsic expands to SKY PerfecTV! e2[1]
Other
Viewsic became available on the SKY PerfecTV! e2 platform, extending its presence within Japan’s subscription television environment.
- 1998
SME TV launches Viewsic music television network[1]
Product launch
SME TV, Inc., founded by Sony Music management earlier that year, launched Viewsic as a Japanese music television service on July 1, 1998.
Sources1 sources
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