Japan networks to offer TV via Internet

Japan's major TV networks will start distributing television programs on the Internet for a fee, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Wednesday.

Nippon Television Network Corp. plans to distribute more than 10,000 programs as early as this autumn, using a video-on-demand method in which viewers can choose what they want to view anytime.

Fuji Television Network Inc. will offer satellite TV programming over the Internet for a fee from late July, working with major Internet service providers.

Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc., TV Asahi Corp. and TV Tokyo Corp. are also studying the same project, including their own streaming services.

However, Nippon Television's plan is the largest in scale for a key commercial television station, and it is expected to be closely watched as an effort toward fusing broadcasting and other communication methods. Prices will start at 90 cents for a 15-minute program.

In Japan, online distribution of TV programs has been limited because of copyright concerns.

For the time being, Nippon Television Network plans to restrict online offerings to those programs for which it has obtained approval for secondary use from actors, performers and others involved, the Asahi Shimbun reported.

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