Yamagata Television System

Yamagata Television System, Inc., commonly known as YTS, is a Japanese commercial television broadcaster based in Yamagata Prefecture. The station operates JOYI-TV and serves viewers across the prefecture through terrestrial television broadcasting. It is affiliated with the All-Nippon News Network (ANN), the Japanese commercial broadcasting network associated with TV Asahi, and carries news, information, entertainment, sports, and other programming for the local market. YTS began broadcasting on 1 April 1970. At launch, it was Yamagata Prefecture's primary affiliate of the Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System, making Fuji Television-related news and general programming a central part of its early identity. During this period, the station also carried selected programming from other Japanese commercial networks through program-sales arrangements. In particular, it carried some TBS programs in cooperation with Yamagata Broadcasting until the launch of TV-U Yamagata in October 1989, when that station became the prefecture's JNN affiliate. A major strategic change occurred in the early 1990s. In September 1992, YTS announced that it would leave the Fuji network relationship after its contract expired and become an ANN affiliate. The switch took effect on 1 April 1993, establishing YTS as the local station carrying TV Asahi network programming. The change reshaped the commercial television landscape in Yamagata: for several years, the prefecture no longer had a locally based FNN/FNS affiliate. Viewers in parts of the area instead relied on stations from neighboring prefectures, including Sendai Television, Akita Television, and Fukushima Television, through over-the-air reception or cable distribution. A new local FNN/FNS affiliate, Sakuranbo Television, began broadcasting in 1997. YTS later moved from analog to digital terrestrial broadcasting, beginning digital transmissions on 1 June 2006. Its service area was affected by the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in the Tohoku region, although the station experienced substantially less physical damage than many broadcasters and communities in eastern Tohoku. YTS ended its analog television service on 24 July 2011 as part of Japan's nationwide transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting. As a regional broadcaster, YTS's role extends beyond relaying national network programs. Its local output provides news and information focused on Yamagata Prefecture, while its ANN affiliation supplies national and international reporting and network entertainment. The station's principal public identity is therefore built around a combination of local coverage and network programming rather than a broad national consumer brand. Its current operations are centered on terrestrial television broadcasting and related media activities under the YTS name.

Yamagata Television System is a Japanese regional commercial broadcaster serving Yamagata Prefecture. Its television station, JOYI-TV, began broadcasting on 1 April 1970. The station initially operated as the main Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System affiliate in the prefecture, carrying Fuji Television news and network programming during its first 23 years. YTS also participated in Japan's inter-network program-sales system. Before October 1989, it carried selected TBS programs in cooperation with Yamagata Broadcasting. This arrangement changed when TV-U Yamagata began broadcasting and became the local JNN affiliate. The existence of multiple stations carrying programs through formal affiliations and sales arrangements reflected the limited number of commercial broadcasters available in regional Japanese markets at the time. In September 1992, YTS announced a major network affiliation change. After its Fuji Television affiliation agreement expired on 31 March 1993, the station joined the All-Nippon News Network and began carrying TV Asahi programming from 1 April 1993. The move made YTS the ANN station for Yamagata Prefecture. It also temporarily left the prefecture without a locally based FNN/FNS affiliate. During that period, viewers could receive relevant programming from neighboring stations, including Sendai Television, Akita Television, and Fukushima Television, through regional over-the-air reception or cable systems. The gap ended when Sakuranbo Television launched on 1 April 1997 as the new local FNN/FNS affiliate. YTS adopted digital terrestrial broadcasting on 1 June 2006. Its coverage area was affected by the 11 March 2011 earthquake, which caused extensive destruction across eastern Tohoku. Compared with the hardest-hit areas, however, Yamagata and the station suffered limited damage. YTS continued its transition to digital broadcasting and officially discontinued analog television transmissions on 24 July 2011, in line with Japan's planned analog shutdown. The station's business remains that of a regional television broadcaster. It combines locally originated news and information about Yamagata with national and wider-area programming delivered through the ANN and TV Asahi network relationship. Its significance lies primarily in its role as a local media institution and prefectural broadcast outlet rather than as a national consumer brand.

• 2011

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]Yamagata Television Systemen.wikipedia.org

  YTS terminates analog television service on 24 July as part of Japan's nationwide digital transition. The station's service area had also been affected by the 11 March Tohoku earthquake.

• 2006

  Digital broadcasting begins

  [1]Yamagata Television Systemen.wikipedia.org

  YTS starts digital terrestrial television broadcasting on 1 June.

• 1997

  Local FNN/FNS service returns to Yamagata

  [1]Yamagata Television Systemen.wikipedia.org

  Sakuranbo Television launches on 1 April as the prefecture's new FNN/FNS affiliate, ending the four-year period without a locally based Fuji network affiliate.

• 1993

  Network affiliation switches to ANN

  [1]Yamagata Television Systemen.wikipedia.org

  YTS becomes an ANN affiliate on 1 April and begins carrying TV Asahi network programming.

• 1992

  ANN affiliation is announced

  [1]Yamagata Television Systemen.wikipedia.org

  YTS announces in September that it will join the All-Nippon News Network after its Fuji Television affiliation contract expires.

• 1989

  Local JNN affiliation changes the program-sales landscape

  [1]Yamagata Television Systemen.wikipedia.org

  TV-U Yamagata begins broadcasting in October as the prefecture's JNN affiliate, ending YTS's earlier arrangement of carrying selected TBS programs through program sales with Yamagata Broadcasting.

• 1970

  Television service launches

  [1]Yamagata Television Systemen.wikipedia.org

  JOYI-TV, operated by Yamagata Television System, begins broadcasting on 1 April as the primary Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System affiliate in Yamagata Prefecture.

A prefectural commercial broadcaster combining locally produced Yamagata news and information with programming supplied through the All-Nippon News Network and TV Asahi.

• Broadcast television · 1970

  JOYI-TV terrestrial television service

  YTS's core offering is its terrestrial television service for Yamagata Prefecture, operating under the JOYI-TV call sign. The service combines locally produced programs with national and network content distributed through the All-Nippon News Network and TV Asahi. Its programming mix includes news, regional information, entertainment, sports, and other general television content.

• Television programming

  Local news and information programming

  YTS produces and broadcasts programming focused on Yamagata Prefecture. This local output supports the station's public role by covering prefectural events, community issues, weather, and other information relevant to residents, alongside news and programs supplied by the ANN network.

• Network programming · 1993

  ANN and TV Asahi network programming

  Since 1 April 1993, YTS has carried programming associated with the All-Nippon News Network and TV Asahi. This network relationship provides national news, entertainment, sports, and other scheduled content that complements YTS's locally produced broadcasts.

• 2011

  Complete transition from analog to digital televisionGeneration change

  Background

  Japan scheduled the nationwide termination of analog terrestrial television service for 24 July 2011. YTS's coverage area was also affected by the 11 March earthquake in Tohoku.

  Action taken

  YTS officially ended analog television transmissions on 24 July 2011.

  Aftermath

  YTS completed its transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting while continuing to serve Yamagata Prefecture.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch digital terrestrial broadcastingProduct launch

  Background

  Japan was transitioning commercial television services from analog terrestrial transmission to digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  YTS began digital television broadcasting on 1 June 2006.

  Aftermath

  The station continued its migration to digital service and later ended analog transmissions in 2011.

  Source

• 1992

  Change national network affiliationStrategy

  Background

  YTS had operated as the main Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System affiliate in Yamagata since its 1970 launch. Its affiliation contract with Fuji Television was scheduled to expire at the end of March 1993.

  Action taken

  The station announced in September 1992 that it would leave the Fuji relationship and join the All-Nippon News Network, beginning to carry TV Asahi programming on 1 April 1993.

  Aftermath

  YTS became Yamagata Prefecture's ANN affiliate. The change temporarily left the prefecture without a local FNN/FNS affiliate until Sakuranbo Television launched in 1997.

  Source

1. 1Yamagata Television Systemen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Yamagata Television System official websiteyts.co.jp