Television Hokkaido

Television Hokkaido Broadcasting Co., Ltd., commonly known as TV Hokkaido or TVh, is a Japanese commercial television station headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido. It operates as the Hokkaido affiliate of the TX Network and broadcasts under the callsign JOHI-DTV on digital channel 7. The station provides a mix of locally produced programming, network programming supplied through the TX Network, news, information programs, entertainment, sports, and advertising-supported television services for viewers across Japan's northernmost main island. The station emerged from a government policy initiative in the 1980s to expand the number of commercial television broadcasters in regional markets. In 1985, Yoshiro Ito, then president of Ito-gumi Civil Engineering, sought the release of a new television license on behalf of business and financial interests in Sapporo. After the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications announced plans to establish additional private stations, the fifth private television license in Hokkaido attracted applications from 176 companies. Those applications were consolidated through coordination among Hokkaido's business community, ultimately leading to the creation of TV Hokkaido. The company obtained its broadcasting license in June 1988, held its founding meeting on August 22 of that year, and was formally incorporated on August 24, 1988. Construction of its Sapporo headquarters began in September 1988 on land provided by Ito-gumi Civil Engineering. TV Hokkaido began broadcasting at 6:00 a.m. on October 1, 1989, initially reaching approximately 52.5 percent of Hokkaido households. Its expansion was constrained by the island's large geographic area, mountainous terrain, and the high cost of building transmitters in sparsely populated eastern and northern districts. During the early 1990s, TV Hokkaido increased its reach through new relay stations. An Asahikawa station began operation in 1991, followed by stations in Muroran and Hakodate in 1993. These additions raised household coverage to roughly 80.7 percent. The station also developed its audience and commercial profile; its reported prime-time and evening ratings reached station records in 1993. Around its tenth anniversary in 1998, it organized a large flea-market event described as the largest of its kind in northern Japan. TV Hokkaido began preparing for the transition to digital broadcasting by installing high-definition production equipment in 2004. Digital transmissions started on June 1, 2006, alongside coordinated digital-transition awareness programming involving the other commercial television stations in Hokkaido. Existing relay stations in Asahikawa, Muroran, and Hakodate were digitized in the following year. The broadcaster reported record average daily ratings of 4.1 percent in 2006 and 2007. Analog broadcasting ended on July 24, 2011, completing TV Hokkaido's transition to digital television. That year the station added relay stations in Kushiro, Obihiro, Kitami, and Abashiri, extending service into eastern Hokkaido. A Wakkanai station followed in 2014, with further facilities including Nemuro helping the broadcaster achieve substantially complete household coverage across the prefecture approximately 26 years after its launch. To support advertising and business development, TV Hokkaido also maintains offices outside Hokkaido, including branches in Tokyo and Osaka and a Fukuoka branch established in 2010. Its business remains centered on regional terrestrial broadcasting, local advertising, network affiliation, and the production and distribution of television content.

Television Hokkaido was created during a Japanese policy push to increase the number of commercial television stations serving regional communities. In June 1985, Yoshiro Ito, president of Ito-gumi Civil Engineering, requested the release of a new television license on behalf of Sapporo's business and financial community. A subsequent Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications policy called for additional private broadcasters, including a fifth commercial station in Hokkaido. When the license was opened for applications in 1986, 176 companies applied. The applications were consolidated through coordination among Hokkaido's financial and business interests, forming the basis for TV Hokkaido. TV Hokkaido received its broadcasting license in June 1988. Its founding meeting took place on August 22, 1988, and the company was formally established on August 24. Construction of the Sapporo headquarters began on September 3, 1988, on land supplied by Ito-gumi Civil Engineering. The station began broadcasting at 6:00 a.m. on October 1, 1989, using the callsign JOHI-TV in the analog era and later JOHI-DTV for digital broadcasting. At launch, its signal reached about 52.5 percent of Hokkaido households. The station's growth was shaped by Hokkaido's exceptional size and low population density outside its major cities. Building transmitters and relay stations across the prefecture was expensive, so some northeastern and eastern communities did not receive TV Hokkaido's analog signal. Coverage expanded with an Asahikawa relay station in September 1991 and with stations in Muroran and Hakodate in 1993. These developments raised household coverage to approximately 80.7 percent. In 1993, the station also recorded its strongest reported ratings to that point, including a 9 percent average during prime time and an 8 percent average during the broader evening period. In 1998, near its tenth anniversary, TV Hokkaido held a major flea-market event described as the largest in northern Japan. Digital transformation became a central operational priority in the 2000s. TV Hokkaido introduced high-definition program-production equipment in 2004, enabling its first studio to produce HD programming. Digital terrestrial broadcasting began on June 1, 2006. The launch was accompanied by special programming coordinated with the other television stations in Hokkaido to promote awareness of the digital transition. The Asahikawa, Muroran, and Hakodate relay stations were digitized in 2007. TV Hokkaido reported average daily ratings of 4.1 percent in both 2006 and 2007, its highest level since its launch. Analog transmissions ceased on July 24, 2011, bringing the station fully into the digital broadcasting era. The same year, TV Hokkaido opened relay stations in Kushiro, Obihiro, Kitami, and Abashiri, significantly improving access in eastern Hokkaido. A Wakkanai relay station opened in 2014, while stations in Nemuro and other locations further improved regional service. These investments allowed TV Hokkaido to achieve essentially full household coverage across Hokkaido about 26 years after beginning operations. The broadcaster also developed a commercial presence beyond its Sapporo headquarters. It maintains branches in Tokyo and Osaka to support advertising and business relationships, and established a Fukuoka branch in 2010 to pursue opportunities in the Kyushu market. Nikkei, Inc. is identified as TV Hokkaido's largest shareholder. The station continues to operate as a regional commercial broadcaster and TX Network affiliate, combining network-supplied programming with local news, information, entertainment, and other Hokkaido-focused content.

• 2014

  Northern and eastern household coverage substantially completed

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  The Wakkanai station and additional facilities, including Nemuro, helped TV Hokkaido reach essentially all households in the prefecture.

• 2011

  Analog transmissions end and eastern relay expansion begins

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  Analog broadcasting ended on July 24, while new facilities in Kushiro, Obihiro, Kitami, and Abashiri extended digital service across eastern Hokkaido.

• 2006

  Digital terrestrial broadcasting launches

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  TV Hokkaido started digital television transmissions on June 1 and reported a record average daily rating of 4.1 percent during the year.

• 2004

  High-definition production begins

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster installed HD production equipment, allowing Studio 1 to produce high-definition programs.

• 1993

  Muroran and Hakodate coverage added

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  New relay stations raised household coverage to approximately 80.7 percent, while reported prime-time and evening ratings reached launch-era records.

• 1991

  Asahikawa relay station opens

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  The Asahikawa facility increased the station's household coverage to approximately 62.7 percent.

• 1989

  Television Hokkaido begins broadcasting

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  TV Hokkaido began commercial broadcasting on October 1, initially reaching about 52.5 percent of Hokkaido households.

• 1988

  Company established and broadcasting license obtained

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  TV Hokkaido obtained its license in June, held its founding meeting in August, and was formally incorporated on August 24.

• 1986

  Fifth Hokkaido private television license opened

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  The licensing process attracted 176 applicants before the proposals were consolidated into the TV Hokkaido project.

• 1985

  Proposal for a fifth commercial television station

  [1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  Yoshiro Ito sought the release of a new television license on behalf of Sapporo's business and financial community, helping initiate the process that led to TV Hokkaido.

A regional commercial broadcaster combining locally relevant Hokkaido programming with content from Japan's TX Network.

• Terrestrial television channel · 2006

  JOHI-DTV Channel 7

  TV Hokkaido's primary digital terrestrial television service in Hokkaido. Broadcasting on digital channel 7 under the callsign JOHI-DTV, it carries TX Network programming alongside local news, information, entertainment, sports, and advertising-supported content.

• Television programming · 1989

  Local Hokkaido programming

  Locally relevant programming produced or presented for audiences in Hokkaido, including regional news, information, entertainment, and event coverage. These programs complement network content and provide a local identity for the station's regional service.

• Network affiliation · 1989

  TX Network programming service

  A schedule of programming supplied through TV Hokkaido's affiliation with Japan's TX Network. The service gives Hokkaido viewers access to network entertainment, news, sports, and other programs while the station retains responsibility for regional broadcasting and advertising.

• 2006Digital television awareness programming

  Hokkaido, Japan

  TV Hokkaido joined the other commercial television stations in Hokkaido in broadcasting special programs to raise public awareness of the transition to digital television.

  Source
• 1998Tenth-anniversary flea-market event

  Hokkaido, Japan

  TV Hokkaido organized a large flea-market event around the time of its tenth anniversary, described in reference material as the largest flea-market event in northern Japan.

  Source

• 2011

  Completion of the analog-to-digital transitionGeneration change

  Background

  Japan's national transition schedule required terrestrial broadcasters to end analog transmissions.

  Action taken

  TV Hokkaido stopped analog broadcasting on July 24, 2011 and operated fully as a digital terrestrial broadcaster.

  Aftermath

  The station continued expanding digital relay coverage, particularly in eastern Hokkaido.

  Source

• 2011

  Expansion of eastern Hokkaido relay coverageStrategy

  Background

  Hokkaido's large geography and dispersed population had left parts of the east without full access to TV Hokkaido's analog service.

  Action taken

  The broadcaster established relay stations in Kushiro, Obihiro, Kitami, and Abashiri.

  Aftermath

  The expansion enabled viewers in eastern Hokkaido to receive the station's programs and laid the foundation for near-complete prefectural coverage.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch of digital terrestrial televisionProduct launch

  Background

  Japan's broadcasting system was moving toward digital transmission, requiring regional broadcasters to introduce digital services and upgrade relay infrastructure.

  Action taken

  TV Hokkaido began digital television broadcasting on June 1, 2006, and later digitized major relay stations.

  Aftermath

  The station continued the transition until analog broadcasting was discontinued in 2011.

  Source

• 2004

  Investment in high-definition productionStrategy

  Background

  The broadcaster needed to prepare its production operations for the transition from analog television to digital and high-definition broadcasting.

  Action taken

  TV Hokkaido installed high-definition production equipment and enabled its first studio to produce HD programs.

  Aftermath

  The investment supported the station's subsequent digital launch and modernization of its production capabilities.

  Source

• 2014

  Television Hokkaido extends coverage to Wakkanai and other northern and eastern areas[1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The opening of a Wakkanai relay station, together with facilities such as Nemuro, helped TV Hokkaido reach nearly all households in Hokkaido.

• 2011

  Television Hokkaido completes the end of analog broadcasting[1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Other

  The station discontinued analog television transmissions on July 24, 2011, completing its move to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

• 2011

  Television Hokkaido expands relay coverage in eastern Hokkaido[1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  New relay stations in Kushiro, Obihiro, Kitami, and Abashiri extended the station's terrestrial service to eastern parts of the prefecture.

• 2006

  Television Hokkaido begins terrestrial digital broadcasting[1]Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  TV Hokkaido launched digital television transmissions and participated in coordinated digital-transition awareness programming with other Hokkaido broadcasters.

1. 1Television Hokkaidoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Television Hokkaido official websitetv-hokkaido.co.jp