Iwate Menkoi Television

Iwate Menkoi Television is a commercial television broadcaster based in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The station operates as a member of the Fuji News Network (FNN) and Fuji Network System (FNS), carrying news and programming supplied through the Fuji Television network while also serving its local prefectural audience. Its commonly used identifier is mit, and its television call sign is JOYH. The station was established to provide Iwate with a dedicated Fuji network affiliate. Before its launch, some cable television operators in Iwate carried programming from Sendai Television, which could be received over the air in the southernmost parts of the prefecture. Iwate Menkoi Television therefore gave the prefecture a locally based outlet for Fuji network news and entertainment programming rather than relying on distant or indirect reception. The station received its broadcasting license in December 1989. Construction began in spring 1990, and regular broadcasting started on 1 April 1991 under the call sign JOYH-TV on analog channel 33. It became the first dedicated FNN/Fuji Television affiliate in the northeastern part of the Tohoku region. In addition to its role within Iwate, the station serves as the default FNN outlet for neighboring Aomori Prefecture, which does not have its own Fuji Television-affiliated station. Iwate Menkoi Television began digital terrestrial broadcasting on 1 July 2006. The nationwide transition away from analog television was originally expected to conclude in July 2011, but the 11 March 2011 earthquake and its consequences led to a postponement in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The station subsequently ended its analog television service on 31 March 2012 and continued as a digital broadcaster. Its business is centered on terrestrial television broadcasting, including local news, regional information, network news, entertainment, and other programs distributed through the FNN/FNS system. Publicly available reference material identifies the broadcaster's network affiliations and major technical milestones but does not establish a separate parent company, listed status, principal owner, or current executive roster.

Iwate Menkoi Television was created as part of the expansion of Fuji Television's affiliated broadcasting network in northern Japan. Its broadcasting license was awarded in December 1989, and construction of the station began during spring 1990. The project established a locally based Fuji network broadcaster for Iwate Prefecture, where some cable systems had previously carried Sendai Television because its signal was receivable in the prefecture's far south. Regular broadcasting began on 1 April 1991. The station used the analog call sign JOYH-TV and broadcast on channel 33. Its launch made it the first dedicated FNN/Fuji Television affiliate in the northeastern portion of the Tohoku region. The broadcaster joined both the Fuji News Network for news distribution and the Fuji Network System for general programming. Its Morioka base allowed it to provide local coverage of Iwate while carrying network content from Fuji Television. The station also has a cross-prefectural reception role. Aomori Prefecture does not have its own Fuji Television-affiliated station, so Iwate Menkoi Television serves as the default FNN affiliate for viewers in neighboring areas where its signal or distribution is available. This role extends the station's practical network significance beyond Iwate even though its principal operating base and local identity remain in Morioka. Iwate Menkoi Television entered the digital era on 1 July 2006, beginning digital terrestrial transmissions while analog broadcasting continued. Japan's analog shutdown timetable was affected by the 11 March 2011 earthquake and the resulting emergency conditions in the Tohoku prefectures. The planned July 2011 analog termination was postponed in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima. Iwate Menkoi Television ultimately discontinued its analog service on 31 March 2012 and continued broadcasting digitally. The available reference material describes the station's establishment, network affiliations, geographic role, and transition from analog to digital broadcasting. It does not provide enough verified information to document a detailed ownership history, named founders, executive succession, financial performance, specific local programs, or subsequent corporate developments.

• 2012

  Analog service terminated

  [1]Iwate Menkoi Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The station ended analog television transmission on 31 March 2012 after the regional postponement caused by the 2011 earthquake.

• 2006

  Digital broadcasting launches

  [1]Iwate Menkoi Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Digital terrestrial television broadcasting began on 1 July 2006.

• 1991

  Analog broadcasting launches

  [1]Iwate Menkoi Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Iwate Menkoi Television began regular broadcasting on 1 April 1991 as JOYH-TV on analog channel 33.

• 1990

  Station construction begins

  [1]Iwate Menkoi Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the broadcaster's facilities began in spring 1990 in preparation for its launch.

• 1989

  Broadcasting license awarded

  [1]Iwate Menkoi Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The station received its broadcasting license in December 1989, enabling the creation of a dedicated Fuji network affiliate in Iwate.

A regional commercial broadcaster serving Iwate Prefecture as its local Fuji network station, while also functioning as the default FNN affiliate available to viewers in neighboring Aomori Prefecture.

• Television broadcasting · 1991

  Iwate Menkoi Television terrestrial service

  The station's core offering is commercial terrestrial television for Iwate Prefecture. It combines locally oriented coverage with programming distributed through Fuji Television's FNN and FNS networks, including news, entertainment, and general-interest content. The service formerly used analog transmission and now operates as a digital terrestrial broadcaster.

• Digital terrestrial television · 2006

  JOYH digital television

  Iwate Menkoi Television's digital terrestrial service began in July 2006 and became the station's sole terrestrial transmission platform after analog broadcasting ended in March 2012. The digital service preserves the broadcaster's local Iwate role and its FNN/FNS network affiliation.

• 2012

  Complete transition from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  Background

  Japan's planned analog television shutdown was postponed in Iwate and other earthquake-affected Tohoku prefectures after the 11 March 2011 disaster.

  Action taken

  Iwate Menkoi Television discontinued its analog television service on 31 March 2012 and continued with digital terrestrial broadcasting.

  Aftermath

  The station became a fully digital terrestrial broadcaster.

  Source

1. 1Iwate Menkoi Televisionen.wikipedia.org