TV Miyazaki

TV Miyazaki, legally Miyazaki Telecasting Co., Ltd. and commonly abbreviated UMK, is a regional commercial television broadcaster based in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. It broadcasts on digital channel 3 under the callsign JODI-DTV and is known for its unusually broad network relationships. Unlike most Japanese commercial television stations, TV Miyazaki has maintained affiliations with three major national television network groups: Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System (FNN/FNS), Nippon News Network (NNN), and All-Nippon News Network (ANN). This arrangement makes it distinctive within Japan's television landscape, although the station does not carry all programming from each network. The station's origins lie in the second UHF television allocation plan announced by Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in July 1968. Fourteen areas, including Miyazaki Prefecture, were offered new station licenses. In Miyazaki, twelve proposed license holders consolidated their applications at the request of the prefectural government. The participating interests agreed in early 1969 to form a single company and received a reserved broadcasting license soon afterward. Trial broadcasts began on March 1, 1970, followed by official service commencement on April 1 of the same year. During its early years, TV Miyazaki operated without a formal network affiliation and assembled a mixed schedule. Its programming was primarily supplied by Fuji Television, with additional output from Nippon Television and TV Asahi. In April 1973, it became an FNN/FNS affiliate. It subsequently added a secondary ANN relationship in April 1976 and a tertiary NNN relationship in April 1979. The resulting structure allowed TV Miyazaki to combine programming and news services from several national networks while tailoring its schedule to local demand. Its current arrangements have included FNN services for much of its news output, ANN material in selected daytime periods, and NNN material for late-night news, alongside locally produced programs. TV Miyazaki expanded its technical and event capabilities during the 1970s and 1980s. It established relay stations, completed its transition to color broadcasting in 1973, introduced a color outside-broadcast vehicle in 1979, and built a dedicated sports studio in 1980. The station also developed event production as part of its regional role, beginning with a NASA Space Science Fair in 1982. Its activities extended beyond television: TV Miyazaki helped establish FM Miyazaki, now associated with the JOY FM brand, in 1984. During the Japanese asset-price bubble, the company pursued diversification that included real estate activity and investment in the UMK Country Club golf facility in 1991. In preparation for digital broadcasting, TV Miyazaki invested in a new headquarters project beginning in 2000. The new facility was completed in 2001 and entered formal use in 2002. Digital terrestrial broadcasts began on December 1, 2006, while analog transmissions ended nationally on July 24, 2011. In 2020, the broadcaster introduced its current logo in connection with its fiftieth anniversary. Today, TV Miyazaki remains a local television platform combining regional news, information, entertainment, sports, event coverage, and selected national programming. Its identity is defined by its Miyazaki base, its UMK operating name, and its rare three-network affiliation model.

TV Miyazaki emerged from Japan's expansion of regional UHF television licensing. On July 16, 1968, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications announced a second UHF allocation plan covering fourteen areas, including Miyazaki Prefecture. Twelve proposed license interests in Miyazaki were consolidated into one application following a request from the prefectural government. In February 1969, the participating owners agreed to form a single company, and a reserved license was granted the following month. Trial transmissions began on March 1, 1970, and regular broadcasting started on April 1. The station initially operated outside a formal network affiliation, drawing most of its schedule from Fuji Television and smaller portions from Nippon Television and TV Asahi. This arrangement changed in April 1973, when TV Miyazaki joined FNN/FNS. It added ANN as a secondary affiliate in April 1976 and NNN as a tertiary affiliate in April 1979. TV Miyazaki consequently became notable as Japan's only television station affiliated with three major national network groups at the same time. The affiliations are selective rather than comprehensive: different parts of the schedule and news day are supplied by different networks, while local production fills other periods. The broadcaster developed its technical infrastructure throughout the 1970s. In 1971 it established seven relay stations alongside Miyazaki Broadcasting. Color broadcasting was completed in 1973, and a color outside-broadcast vehicle was introduced in 1979. The vehicle was first used for coverage of the thirty-fourth National Sports Festival held in Miyazaki. In 1980, TV Miyazaki completed a sports studio described as the first of its type in Japanese television broadcasting. The station also pursued large public events, beginning with a NASA Space Science Fair in 1982. Its regional media role broadened in the 1980s. TV Miyazaki helped establish FM Miyazaki in 1984; the radio service is now associated with the JOY FM brand and operates as a JFN affiliate. During Japan's bubble-economy period, TV Miyazaki explored business diversification, including real estate. In 1991 it invested in the establishment of UMK Country Club, extending its activities into leisure and property-related operations. The company began preparing for the digital era with a new headquarters project in March 2000. Construction was completed in August 2001, and the facility entered formal use in February 2002. Digital terrestrial television began on December 1, 2006. Analog broadcasting ended on July 24, 2011, in line with Japan's national switchover. For its fiftieth anniversary in 2020, TV Miyazaki introduced its current logo. The broadcaster continues to serve Miyazaki Prefecture through local news, information, sports, entertainment, event coverage, advertising, and a schedule assembled from its three network relationships.

• 2020

  Current logo unveiled

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  TV Miyazaki introduced its current logo during its fiftieth-anniversary period.

• 2011

  Analog broadcasting ended

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  Analog transmissions ceased on July 24 as Japan completed its national terrestrial television transition.

• 2006

  Digital broadcasting launched

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  Digital terrestrial broadcasting began on December 1.

• 2002

  New headquarters entered formal use

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  A new headquarters built for the digital-broadcasting era entered formal use in February.

• 1991

  UMK Country Club investment

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  The company invested in the establishment of UMK Country Club as part of its diversification activities.

• 1984

  FM Miyazaki established

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  TV Miyazaki helped establish FM Miyazaki, now associated with the JOY FM brand.

• 1982

  Large-scale event production expanded

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  The station hosted a NASA Space Science Fair, identified as its first large-scale event.

• 1980

  Sports studio completed

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  TV Miyazaki completed a dedicated sports studio described as a first in Japanese television broadcasting.

• 1979

  Color outside-broadcast vehicle introduced

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  A color outside-broadcast vehicle was introduced and later used at the National Sports Festival in Miyazaki.

• 1979

  NNN tertiary affiliation began

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  The station joined NNN as a tertiary affiliate, completing its three-network arrangement.

• 1976

  ANN secondary affiliation began

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  TV Miyazaki added a secondary relationship with ANN, without becoming a general-programming ANN affiliate.

• 1973

  Color broadcasting completed

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  The station completed its transition to color television and joined FNN/FNS.

• 1971

  Relay network expanded

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  Seven relay stations were established alongside Miyazaki Broadcasting.

• 1970

  Official broadcasting began

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  Trial broadcasts started in March, followed by regular broadcasting on April 1.

• 1969

  Single company formed for the television license

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  Twelve proposed license holders agreed to consolidate their applications and establish one broadcasting company.

• 1968

  Miyazaki included in the second UHF allocation plan

  [1]TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org

  The national government announced a new UHF television licensing plan that included Miyazaki Prefecture.

A regional commercial broadcaster focused on Miyazaki Prefecture, differentiated by local programming capabilities and simultaneous relationships with FNN/FNS, NNN, and ANN.

• Broadcast television · 1970

  Regional television broadcasting

  TV Miyazaki operates a commercial terrestrial television service for Miyazaki Prefecture. Its output combines locally produced news, information, sports, entertainment, and event coverage with programs supplied through its FNN/FNS, NNN, and ANN relationships. The station broadcasts digitally on channel 3 under the callsign JODI-DTV.

• News and information · 1970

  Local news and information programming

  The station produces regional reporting and information programming for viewers in Miyazaki Prefecture. Its schedule includes local news alongside national bulletins supplied by its network partners, giving the broadcaster a role in both community coverage and wider Japanese news distribution.

• Sports and events · 1979

  Sports and event broadcasting

  TV Miyazaki has developed specialist sports and outside-broadcast capabilities, including a dedicated sports studio completed in 1980 and a color outside-broadcast vehicle introduced in 1979. These resources support coverage of regional sports, public events, and other live productions.

• 2020

  Introduced the current brand logoOther

  Background

  The broadcaster marked its fiftieth anniversary and refreshed its visual identity.

  Action taken

  TV Miyazaki unveiled its current logo.

  Aftermath

  The logo became the station's current stated visual identity.

  Source

• 2006

  Launched digital terrestrial televisionProduct launch

  Background

  Japan was moving regional broadcasters from analog transmission to digital terrestrial television.

  Action taken

  TV Miyazaki began digital broadcasting on December 1.

  Aftermath

  Analog broadcasting continued until July 24, 2011, when it was discontinued as part of the national switchover.

  Source

• 2000

  Invested in a new headquarters for digital broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  The company began preparing its facilities for the transition from analog to digital terrestrial television.

  Action taken

  TV Miyazaki invested in a new headquarters project, completed in 2001 and placed into formal use in 2002.

  Aftermath

  The facility supported the station's digital-broadcasting preparations and subsequent launch of digital service.

  Source

• 1973

  Adopted the FNN/FNS affiliationStrategy

  Background

  After operating without a formal network affiliation, TV Miyazaki needed a stable national programming and news relationship.

  Action taken

  The station joined Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System while continuing to develop local programming.

  Aftermath

  This became the principal element of a broader multi-network operating model later supplemented by ANN and NNN relationships.

  Source

1. 1TV Miyazakien.wikipedia.org
2. 2TV Miyazaki official websiteumk.co.jp