Tokyo News Service
Japanese news agency and publisher best known for the TV Guide family of television listings magazines and program-schedule distribution.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Tokyo News Service (株式会社東京ニュース通信社, Tōkyō Nyūsu Tsūshinsha) is a Japanese news agency and publishing house whose business centers on television and radio program information. Its origins trace to 1933, when Okuyama Service was founded and began publishing an English-language daily news bulletin. The company was incorporated as Tokyo News Service in March 1947. Over the following decades it expanded from shipping and trade news into television listings, becoming one of the most recognized publishers of TV schedule magazines in Japan. The company's best-known product is Weekly TV Guide (週刊TVガイド), first published in 1962, which grew into a family of titles including Monthly TV Guide, Digital TV Guide, TV Bros., B.L.T., and various satellite and cable TV guides. Beyond publishing, Tokyo News Service operates a program-schedule distribution business, supplying radio and television listings to newspapers, and a digital content business providing program information to internet, mobile, and cable TV platforms. Tokyo News Service is headquartered in the Harumi Island Triton Square Office Tower Z in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, with a West Japan Media Center in Fukuoka. It remains a private company. The current president is Taku Okuyama, and the company is approaching its 80th anniversary in 2027. It also administers the Mukoda Kuniko Award, a literary prize for television screenwriting established in 1982.
History
The company's history begins in 1933, when Okuyama Service was founded and began publishing an English-language daily news bulletin. In March 1947, the business was incorporated as Tokyo News Service (株式会社東京ニュース通信社). In 1949 it launched the English-language daily Shipping and Trade News, reflecting its early focus on shipping and trade during the post-war recovery and high-growth era. An Osaka branch was opened in 1950. The 1960s marked a major turning point with the spread of television. In August 1962 the company launched Weekly TV Guide (週刊TVガイド), which became its flagship publication and a household name in Japan. In 1971 Tadashi Okuyama became president. In 1973 the company began distributing radio and television program listings to newspapers, a business that would become a third pillar alongside publishing. A western branch was established in 1975, and in 1979 it began issuing special bulletins for radio and TV news and weekly program highlights. The 1980s saw further expansion: the Mukoda Kuniko Award was established in 1982, English-language radio and TV listing distribution began in 1984, weekly program listing distribution started in 1985, and the biweekly magazine TV Bros. was launched in 1987. In the 1990s the company launched TOKYO NEWS MOOK (1994), enlarged Weekly TV Guide (1995), started the Internet TV Guide service (1997, now TV Guide), launched the monthly B.L.T. (1997), and the monthly Sky PerfecTV! Guide (1998). In 1999 it established Interactive Program Guide Inc. as a joint venture with Dentsu and Gemstar, and reached 100 member companies in its radio and TV listing distribution network. In the 2000s, the company launched TOKYO NEWS WebStore (2000), Digital TV Guide (2001), Sky PerfecTV! 2 TV Guide (2002), and TV Japan (2004, later renewed as Monthly TV Guide). In 2006 Tadashi Okuyama became chairman and Taku Okuyama became president. In 2009 the western branch and Osaka branch distribution functions were integrated into the West Japan Media Center. In 2010 the Tokyo head office moved to the Ginza Nippon Steel Kobiki Building. In 2011 TV Japan was renewed as Monthly TV Guide. In 2016 TOKYO NEWS BOOKS was launched, B.L.T.web began, and the webstore was renewed as TOKYO NEWS magazine&mook. In 2017 Weekly TV Guide reached its 3000th issue, and the company marked its 70th anniversary. In 2022 Weekly TV Guide celebrated its 60th anniversary. In 2023 the Tokyo head office moved to Harumi Island Triton Square Office Tower Z. In 2024 the biweekly magazine TV station was launched. The company is approaching its 80th anniversary in 2027.
Okuyama Service founded; English-language news bulletin launched
Tokyo News Service Inc. established
Launched English-language daily Shipping and Trade News
Osaka branch opened
Weekly TV Guide launched
Tadashi Okuyama became president
Began distributing radio and TV program listings to newspapers
Western branch opened
Began issuing special bulletins for radio/TV news and weekly highlights
Mukoda Kuniko Award established
Products and positioning
A long-established Japanese information company specializing in television and radio program information, combining publishing, schedule distribution, and digital content.
Weekly TV Guide
Flagship weekly television listings magazine launched in 1962.
Monthly TV Guide
Monthly television listings magazine, renewed from TV Japan in 2011.
Digital TV Guide
Monthly digital television listings magazine launched in 2001.
TV Bros.
Biweekly magazine launched in 1987.
B.L.T.
Monthly magazine launched in 1997.
TV station
Biweekly magazine launched in 2024.
TOKYO NEWS MOOK
Mook series launched in 1994.
TOKYO NEWS BOOKS
Book imprint launched in 2016.
Program schedule distribution
Distribution of radio and TV program listings to newspapers.
Digital content services
Provision of program information to internet, mobile, and cable TV platforms.
Sources6 sources
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