Nagoya Broadcasting Network

Nagoya Broadcasting Network, legally Nagoya Broadcasting Network Co., Ltd., is a Japanese commercial television broadcaster headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Its terrestrial station is JOLX-DTV on digital channel 6, and its consumer-facing brand is Mētele, written in Japanese as メ～テレ. The station serves Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures and functions as the Chūbu-region flagship of the All-Nippon News Network (ANN), the television network associated with TV Asahi. The company originated in a 1959 effort to secure a license for a third commercial television station in the Tokai area. Shotaro Kamiya, then associated with Toyota's sales organization, and other investors established the licensing organization that eventually became the broadcaster. The company received its license in 1961 and began regular transmission on April 1, 1962. Before launch, it adopted a dual affiliation arrangement involving Nippon Television and NET Television, the predecessor of TV Asahi. This gave the new station access to a broad program supply but also created an unstable balance between the two networks. A major turning point came in the early 1970s. Disputes over program allocation led to negotiations among the broadcaster and the two national networks. In the resulting reorganization, Chukyo Television became a full Nippon Television affiliate while Nagoya Broadcasting Network became a full NET Television affiliate. The change established the station's long-term ANN identity and shaped its programming, news, and sports relationships. News and regional information have remained central to the business. The station developed reporting capabilities through coverage of major accidents, political events, international affairs, and regional issues. It also became notable for overseas reporting and for its long-running interest in China and other Asian markets. Local information programs such as UP! and Dodesuka! have helped connect the station to audiences in the Tokai region, while network programming gives it national reach. The broadcaster is particularly associated with anime production. Through its close relationship with Sunrise, now Bandai Namco Filmworks, it participated in the production and broadcast ecosystem surrounding titles including Mobile Suit Gundam, Zambot 3, Daitarn 3, and Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. This association made the station familiar to anime audiences beyond its immediate broadcast area. Nagoya Broadcasting Network adopted the Mētele brand and its Wolfy mascot in 2003. The name was derived from the first character of Nagoya's Japanese name, while the sheep-and-wolf character represented the brand's combination of approachable local broadcasting and ambitious television production. The company has also pursued community activities, including tree planting, public amenities, cultural events, and programming connected with the 2005 Aichi International Expo. The station moved from analog to digital broadcasting in 2011. It introduced 4K capability to a satellite rebroadcast vehicle in 2020, becoming the first Japanese commercial television station reported to operate such a vehicle. In 2023, it joined Locipo, a web video platform established by other Nagoya-area broadcasters. In addition to broadcasting and digital content, the company has maintained interests in property and related facilities, including the NBN Izumi Building and Central Park projects. Its present role combines regional news and information, network entertainment, sports, anime-related production, digital distribution, and local public engagement.

The broadcaster's origins date to November 1959, when Shotaro Kamiya and other investors organized an application for a license for a third commercial television station in the Tokai area. The licensing process consolidated several competing applications. In July 1961, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications awarded the license to the organization, initially associated with the name Chūkyō Television Broadcasting. A founding meeting followed in August, and the company issued shares with initial capital of 200 million yen. In November 1961, it adopted the Nagoya name, which was considered more recognizable and locally acceptable. Test transmissions took place in March 1962, followed by regular broadcasting on April 1. The station initially relied heavily on programs from Nippon Television, while also carrying material from NET Television and producing a smaller amount of its own programming. It joined both the Nippon Television Network and the NET Television network, a dual arrangement that reflected the competitive structure of Japanese commercial television at the time. Early output emphasized news, sports, and general entertainment. The broadcaster also developed a reputation for live and special reporting, including coverage of major accidents and significant political and international events. The dual-network arrangement became increasingly difficult to maintain. NET Television sought a more equal share of the station's schedule, while Nippon Television resisted losing program time. A dispute over Saturday evening programming in 1972 escalated into legal and organizational negotiations. At a four-party meeting in December of that year, the parties agreed that Chukyo Television would become a full Nippon Television affiliate and Nagoya Broadcasting Network would become a full NET Television affiliate. The network transition established the station's enduring relationship with the organization now known as All-Nippon News Network. The company's early decades also included labor conflict. A prolonged confrontation in 1966 was followed by the formation of a separate employee group in 1969. Through later negotiations involving the union and the employee association, the broadcaster became one of the early private television stations in Japan to adopt a two-day weekend system in 1974. During the same period, it expanded its technical capabilities: afternoon off-air periods were eliminated in 1966, color programming began that year, and news programming was fully converted to color by 1969. Nagoya Broadcasting Network strengthened its editorial and international profile during the 1970s and 1980s. It obtained permission to conduct independent reporting in China in 1972, and its continuing China coverage received recognition from the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association. A multi-episode documentary assembled from that reporting was distributed nationally through the ANN network in 1976. In 1986, the station sent a correspondent to the ANN Washington bureau and launched a larger evening news program. It later created an overseas presence through the ANN Singapore branch and continued international reporting through other ANN bureaus. The station's relationship with Sunrise was another important part of its identity. It participated in the production and broadcast of influential anime, including Mobile Suit Gundam and other Sunrise works. The national success of Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979 helped raise the station's visibility, alongside special national programming. It achieved strong audience results in the early 1980s, including daily ratings leadership in 1981 and 1982 and several triple-crown periods. In 1987, the company revised its official Japanese name and English presentation and introduced a new logo. It launched the morning program Good Morning Nagoya TV and continued expanding local news and information. The station opened an official website in 1995, making it one of the earliest private Japanese television stations to establish a web presence. Around the turn of the century, it also entered cooperation agreements with broadcasters in Dalian, Ho Chi Minh City, Suzhou, and other locations. A new corporate identity arrived in 2003. The Mētele name and Wolfy mascot were designed to communicate a distinctive regional personality. Mētele derives from the first character in Nagoya's Japanese name, while Wolfy combines sheep and wolf imagery to suggest an approachable but energetic broadcaster. The same period saw the completion of a new headquarters with multiple studios and modern news facilities. The broadcaster continued investing in local programming and community activity. UP! became a long-running evening information program, while Dodesuka! developed into a prominent weekday morning show. The station produced special coverage and events around the 2005 Aichi International Expo. It also maintained tree-planting and civic-improvement projects in Nagoya and other municipalities. Financial pressure following the global financial crisis contributed to losses in 2009 and 2010, but the company returned to profitability in 2011. The 2010s and 2020s brought further technological and distribution changes. Analog broadcasting ended in 2011, and the station marked its fiftieth anniversary with extensive programming and a sheep-and-wolf promotional theme. It achieved strong local ratings in the early 2010s. In 2020 it introduced 4K-capable satellite rebroadcast equipment. In 2023 it joined Locipo, extending the Mētele service into a shared regional web-video environment. Today the organization operates as a regional ANN broadcaster whose activities encompass terrestrial television, local journalism, entertainment, sports, anime participation, digital video, outside broadcasting, and selected property-related businesses.

• 2023

  Locipo participation begins

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster joined the Locipo web-video platform on October 2.

• 2020

  4K satellite rebroadcast vehicle introduced

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  The station began operating a satellite rebroadcast vehicle equipped for 4K transmission.

• 2011

  Analog television ended

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  The station completed its transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting on July 24.

• 2003

  Mētele identity introduced

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  The Mētele brand and Wolfy mascot were introduced on March 31.

• 1995

  Official website launched

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  Nagoya Broadcasting Network launched an official website and became one of the earliest Japanese private stations to do so.

• 1981

  Daily ratings leadership

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  The station ranked first in daily ratings, a position it also held in 1982.

• 1979

  Mobile Suit Gundam raises national visibility

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  The success of Mobile Suit Gundam and other network programming increased the station's national profile.

• 1973

  Exclusive NET Television affiliation established

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  After a network dispute, Nagoya Broadcasting Network became a full NET Television affiliate, laying the foundation for its ANN role.

• 1962

  Regular broadcasting begins

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  Regular television transmission began on April 1 from Nagoya.

• 1961

  Broadcasting license awarded and company reorganized

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  The license was awarded in July, and the company adopted the Nagoya Broadcasting name in November.

• 1959

  License organization established

  [1]Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org

  Shotaro Kamiya and other investors organized an application for a third commercial television license in the Tokai area.

A regional commercial broadcaster combining strong Tokai-area news and information coverage with national ANN programming, entertainment, sports, anime participation, and expanding digital distribution.

• Television broadcasting · 1962

  Mētele terrestrial television

  The station's principal service is digital terrestrial television channel JOLX-DTV, branded Mētele. It provides locally produced news, information, weather, sports, cultural coverage, and community programming for viewers in Aichi, Gifu, and Mie, while also carrying national programming through the All-Nippon News Network.

• Regional information programming · 2005

  UP!

  UP! is a long-running local information program centered on the Tokai region. Its format combines regional news, reporting, consumer and lifestyle material, interviews, and practical information, helping Mētele maintain a distinctive local service alongside national network content.

• Morning information programming

  Dodesuka!

  Dodesuka! is a weekday morning local information program broadcast from Nagoya. It focuses on news, weather, transportation, regional events, lifestyle features, and topical reporting for audiences in the Tokai area. Reference material identifies it as a particularly successful local morning program.

• Anime production and broadcasting

  Anime co-productions

  Nagoya Broadcasting Network has a longstanding relationship with Sunrise, now Bandai Namco Filmworks, and has participated in the production or broadcast ecosystem of major anime works. Associated titles include Mobile Suit Gundam, Zambot 3, Daitarn 3, and Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. This activity gives the regional broadcaster an audience and cultural presence beyond its terrestrial service area.

• Broadcast production technology · 2020

  4K satellite rebroadcast service

  In 2020, the station began operating a satellite rebroadcast vehicle with 4K capabilities. The equipment supports high-resolution field transmission and outside-broadcast operations, extending the technical capacity of a regional commercial broadcaster.

• Digital media · 2023

  Mētele digital video

  Mētele distributes selected programming and video content through online channels, including its participation in Locipo from 2023. The digital offering complements terrestrial broadcasting by making regional news, information, and selected programs available through web-based distribution.

• 2012Sheep and Wolf are both Mētele

  Japan · Tokai region

  For its fiftieth anniversary, the broadcaster used the promotional slogan 'Sheep and Wolf are both Mētele' and produced anniversary programming.

  Outcome. The campaign reinforced the Mētele identity and commemorated five decades of broadcasting.

  Source
• 2005Aichi International Expo coverage and concert

  Aichi Prefecture · Japan

  Nagoya Broadcasting Network produced special programming around the Aichi International Expo and co-organized a concert with the exposition association.

  Outcome. The activity expanded the broadcaster's role in a major regional cultural and tourism event.

  Source
• 2003Mētele and Wolfy brand launch

  Japan · Aichi · Gifu · Mie

  The station introduced the Mētele name and Wolfy mascot as a unified consumer identity. The sheep-and-wolf concept was intended to express both friendliness and a more assertive television personality.

  Outcome. The identity became the station's continuing public-facing brand.

  Source

• 2023

  Join LocipoStrategy

  Background

  Regional broadcasters were developing shared web distribution to complement terrestrial television.

  Action taken

  Nagoya Broadcasting Network joined the Locipo web platform on October 2.

  Aftermath

  Mētele gained a formal presence on a shared Nagoya-area digital video service.

  Source

• 2020

  Deploy 4K-capable satellite rebroadcast vehicleProduct launch

  Background

  Higher-resolution production and field transmission were becoming increasingly important for live news, sports, and event coverage.

  Action taken

  The station began operating a satellite rebroadcast vehicle capable of 4K work.

  Aftermath

  The broadcaster expanded its technical capacity for high-resolution outside broadcasts.

  Source

• 2011

  Complete transition from analog to digital televisionGeneration change

  Background

  Japan's terrestrial television system was being migrated from analog transmission to digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  Nagoya Broadcasting Network ended analog transmissions and operated as a digital terrestrial broadcaster.

  Aftermath

  The station entered the fully digital phase of its terrestrial operations.

  Source

• 2003

  Launch Mētele consumer brandStrategy

  Background

  The broadcaster sought a distinctive public identity as it moved into a new headquarters and prepared for the changing digital television environment.

  Action taken

  It introduced the Mētele name, a new visual identity, and the Wolfy mascot.

  Aftermath

  Mētele became the continuing on-air and consumer brand of the broadcaster.

  Source

• 1973

  Adopt sole NET Television affiliationStrategy

  Background

  The station's simultaneous relationships with Nippon Television and NET Television produced disputes over scheduling and program share.

  Action taken

  Nagoya Broadcasting Network became a full NET Television affiliate, while Chukyo Television took the full Nippon Television affiliation in the Tokai market.

  Aftermath

  The decision established the station's long-term position within the ANN network and clarified the regional commercial television structure.

  • Chukyo Television — Chukyo Television became the area's full Nippon Television affiliate under the negotiated network realignment.

  Source

1. 1Nagoya Broadcasting Networken.wikipedia.org
2. 2Nagoya Broadcasting Network official websitenagoyatv.com