Mie Television Broadcasting

Mie Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd., commonly known as Mie Television or Mie TV and branded as MTV, is a commercial television station headquartered in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, Japan. It is the only commercial television broadcaster based in Mie Prefecture and belongs to the Japanese Association of Independent Television Stations, the network of Japanese commercial stations that operate outside the major national commercial television networks. The station primarily serves viewers across Mie and can also be received in some areas of neighboring Aichi Prefecture. The company emerged from Japan's expansion of UHF television licensing. During the 1960s, several groups submitted proposals for a television station serving Mie after the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications made UHF frequencies available for wider use. Earlier proposals included names such as Chubu Television, Television Mie, and TV Mie. Following the government's announcement of a Mie-area UHF allocation plan in October 1967, the competing applications were consolidated and the Mie television project was selected. The company was formally registered on March 8, 1968, and preparations began for transmission facilities in Tsu and surrounding areas. Construction delays affecting the station's transmission tower postponed the original planned launch. Mie Television conducted trial broadcasts beginning October 1, 1969, and commenced regular television broadcasting on December 1, 1969. In its early years, the station promoted the adoption of UHF-compatible receivers and supported local efforts to expand household access to its signal. This was part of a broader transition in Japanese broadcasting, as regional stations used the UHF band to provide locally focused commercial television. Mie Television's programming role has centered on regional news, information, public-affairs coverage, local events, sports, cultural features, and entertainment, alongside programming acquired through relationships with other Japanese broadcasters. Its local orientation has enabled it to cover institutions and events in Mie that are not always the primary focus of larger network stations based in nearby Nagoya or Tokyo. The station has also undertaken reporting and documentary projects beyond Japan, including coverage connected with a 1977 Japan–China friendship visit involving Mie Prefecture and an overseas reporting project sent to the West the following year. The station expanded its production capabilities during the 1970s, including the completion of a recording facility in 1979. It also reported increasing household coverage during the period, eventually reaching more than 90 percent within its service area. Mie Television began digital terrestrial broadcasting in 2005, aligning its distribution with Japan's nationwide migration from analog television. In addition to conventional terrestrial transmission, selected programming has been made available through TVer, a Japanese internet video platform. Mie Television remains an active regional broadcaster rather than a national network. Its business is based on television advertising, programming production, transmission, and related media activities, although detailed financial information is not established in the supplied reference material. The station has also developed cross-media cooperation with local radio. In April 2023, it began carrying a morning simulcast of the FM Mie program "Pick Up On Mie~Pomie!". The arrangement illustrates the station's continuing role within Mie's local media ecosystem while it adapts to digital viewing and collaboration across broadcast platforms.

Mie Television was created during Japan's 1960s expansion of UHF commercial television. The availability of UHF frequencies encouraged several organizations to propose a station for Mie Prefecture. Proposals were submitted under different names, including Chubu Television, Television Mie, and TV Mie. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications later established a formal Mie-area frequency distribution plan, announced in October 1967. The competing applications were subsequently consolidated, and the Mie television project was selected under the Mie Television name. The company was formally registered on March 8, 1968. Preparatory work included the selection and construction of a transmission tower in Tsu and the acquisition and improvement of land for broadcasting facilities. The Ministry initially requested a May 1, 1969, launch, but construction delays affecting the transmission tower caused the schedule to move. Trial broadcasts began on October 1, 1969, followed by the start of regular broadcasting on December 1. As one of Japan's regional UHF stations, Mie Television helped promote the use of UHF-compatible television receivers. The station organized and supported local receiver-promotion activities so that households could receive its signal. Its core role developed around local television service for Mie, supplemented by programming and distribution relationships associated with the independent-station sector. Although centered on Mie, the signal has also been receivable in some parts of neighboring Aichi Prefecture. The station gradually expanded its local production and reporting capacity. It broadcast the first Mie Prefecture conference in 1971 and produced special coverage connected with Ise Jingu in 1973. In 1977, Mie Television covered a Japan–China friendship visit involving Mie Prefecture and reported from the People's Republic of China. The following year, it dispatched a reporting team to Western countries for another overseas production. These activities demonstrated an ambition to combine regional coverage with international reporting projects. A recording facility completed in 1979 improved the station's production environment. During the same broad period, the station introduced a new trademark and increased its internal-area coverage rate beyond 90 percent. Coverage later rose to approximately the mid-90-percent range. The station also experienced repeated transmission or facility damage in 1981 and 1982, followed by further development of its service reach in the subsequent years. Mie Television began digital terrestrial television broadcasting in 2005 as Japan moved from analog to digital terrestrial transmission. This transition modernized the station's delivery infrastructure while preserving its regional broadcasting role. In the digital era, the station has supplemented terrestrial distribution with online access: some of its productions became available through TVer in November 2023. The station has also participated in local cross-media initiatives. From April 3, 2023, it began simulcasting FM Mie's morning program "Pick Up On Mie~Pomie!" between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. This cooperation linked local television and radio programming and reflected the broader shift toward integrated regional media services. Mie Television continues to operate as a commercial broadcaster headquartered in Tsu. It is a member of the Japanese Association of Independent Television Stations and is described as the only commercial television station in Mie Prefecture. Its present identity is therefore based on regional reach, locally relevant programming, independent-station affiliation, terrestrial broadcasting, and selected digital distribution.

• 2023

  FM Mie simulcast begins

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The station began carrying a simulcast of FM Mie's "Pick Up On Mie~Pomie!" from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m.

• 2023

  Selected programming added to TVer

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Some Mie Television productions became available through the TVer online video platform.

• 2022

  Employee arrested in alleged bribery case

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  A Tokyo-branch employee was arrested in connection with an alleged bribery scheme involving advertising outsourcing for the Tsu Boat Race Course.

• 2005

  Digital terrestrial broadcasting begins

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Mie Television began digital terrestrial television broadcasting.

• 1979

  Recording facility completed

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Completion of a recording facility improved the station's production capabilities.

• 1977

  Coverage in China

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Mie Television reported from the People's Republic of China during a Japan–China friendship visit involving Mie Prefecture.

• 1971

  First Mie Prefecture conference broadcast

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The station broadcast a Mie Prefecture conference for the first time, reinforcing its local public-affairs role.

• 1969

  Trial and regular television broadcasting begin

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Trial broadcasts started on October 1, and regular broadcasting commenced on December 1 after construction delays postponed the original launch plan.

• 1968

  Mie Television formally registered

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Mie Television was formally registered on March 8, 1968, and began preparing its transmission and production facilities in Tsu and nearby areas.

• 1967

  Mie-area UHF allocation plan announced

  [1]Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications announced a UHF frequency distribution plan for the Mie area, helping resolve competing proposals for a regional commercial television station.

A locally focused commercial television station serving Mie Prefecture, with an independent-station identity and additional reach into parts of Aichi Prefecture.

• Television broadcasting · 1969

  Regional terrestrial television service

  Mie Television's principal offering is a commercial terrestrial television service for Mie Prefecture. Its programming combines locally produced news, information, public-affairs, cultural, sports, and event coverage with acquired programming associated with Japan's independent commercial television sector. The station's signal also reaches some parts of neighboring Aichi Prefecture.

• Digital broadcasting · 2005

  Digital terrestrial television

  Introduced in 2005, Mie Television's digital terrestrial service represents the station's transition from analog transmission to Japan's digital television environment. It supports the continued delivery of the station's regional programming through modern terrestrial broadcast infrastructure.

• Online video · 2023

  TVer distribution

  Selected Mie Television productions have been made available through TVer, extending access beyond the station's terrestrial signal and allowing viewers to watch eligible content through a Japanese catch-up and streaming platform.

• Cross-media programming · 2023

  Pick Up On Mie~Pomie! simulcast

  Beginning in April 2023, Mie Television simulcast FM Mie's morning program "Pick Up On Mie~Pomie!" from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. The offering connects the prefecture's television and radio media and expands the ways audiences can access a local morning information program.

• 2022

  Alleged bribery involving Tsu Boat Race advertising contract

  On September 7, 2022, an employee of Mie Television's Tokyo branch and a manager in the Tsu City Boat Race Division were arrested over allegations that bribes were accepted from an advertising company in exchange for favorable treatment related to the advertising outsourcing contract for the Tsu Boat Race Course.

  Source

Read more

• 2023

  Launch of FM Mie morning simulcastStrategy

  Background

  Regional broadcasters were developing cross-platform cooperation and shared local content.

  Action taken

  Mie Television began simulcasting FM Mie's "Pick Up On Mie~Pomie!" from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m.

  Aftermath

  The initiative created a shared television-and-radio distribution window for local morning programming.

  Source

• 2023

  Expand selected programming to TVerStrategy

  Background

  Audience viewing was increasingly extending from linear television to online catch-up and streaming services.

  Action taken

  Some Mie Television productions were made available on TVer.

  Aftermath

  Eligible station content gained an additional online distribution channel beyond the terrestrial broadcast service.

  Source

• 2005

  Move to digital terrestrial broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  Japan's television industry was transitioning from analog to digital terrestrial transmission.

  Action taken

  Mie Television began digital terrestrial television broadcasting.

  Aftermath

  The station continued providing regional television through Japan's digital terrestrial broadcast infrastructure.

  Source

1. 1Mie Televisionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mie Television official websitemietv.com