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愛するNHKに望むこと
客観的な報道、見応えあるドキュメンタリーなど、
NHKの番組には民放に比べて優れた面が多い一方、
制作費の問題などでは改善の余地が大いにあるのではないか。
Loving and hating NHK
When I watch TV or listen to the radio in Japan, probably 80 percent of the time I'm tuned into NHK. Usually it's for news. Their decisions on what deserves reporting and their objective presentation of the facts is far preferable to the shameless if-it-bleeds-it-leads sensationalism that's so prevalent on the commercial networks.
What's more, most of their documentaries are spectacular and even their dramas usually feature scripts and acting that are a cut above those of other broadcasters. And they've been on the cutting edge of technology with their broad array of HDTV and interactive broadcasts, too.
But some aspects of NHK are, unfortunately, very far from cutting edge. In fact, they can be downright primitive.
NHK has been able to set their policies relatively freely because they don't have to sell commercial time and please sponsors to stay in business. Instead, they're authorized to collect a fee from anybody with a TV.
Decades ago, when a TV was a relatively rare luxury item, this may have made sense, but as TV ownership is now virtually 100 percent of households, it's time to change the system. Why not just fund NHK out of the government's general budget.That will save NHK billions of yen by eliminating the need to annoy everyone with their door-to-door begging for fee payments, a system that's only marginally effective at best.
Some have called for a plan where NHK scrambles their signal to prevent non-payers from watching. But I feel that's against the spirit of public broadcasting and the important role that NHK plays. After all, studies show that about 70 percent of the public turns to NHK when there's an earthquake!
And while NHK's independence has helped them create the programming I love, it has also bred waste. One example: the kids' show "Okasan to Issho." Many segments from that program are reused frequently. That's fine since most children can watch the exact same show every day and never tire of it. But NHK records two versions of the program with different casts, one for standard broadcast and one for satellite. What possible sense is there in that?
Another example is the needless use of live remote reports in news broadcasts. Frequently you'll see a reporter talking in front of some building related to the news, even if nothing is happening or visible in the background. The same information could be read just as effectively by a studio announcer without the added expense of a live relay. In these cases, being on the scene is adding no value to the story.
Currently both NHK and the government are exploring ways to change their funding system. Hopefully NHK will have to justify their costs better under the plan they come up with, thereby helping eliminate waste and giving them more money to continue doing the things they do best. (474 words)
Discussion:
Discuss what you think are the pros and cons of NHK.
Shukan ST: Feb. 3, 2006
(C) All rights reserved
- objective presentation
- 客観的な報道
- is far preferable to 〜
- 〜よりずっとましだ
- shameless if-it-bleeds-it-leads sensationalism
- 恥知らずの「血まみれなら大きく扱う」的な扇情主義
- (is)prevalent on 〜
- 〜にまん延する
- commercial networks
- 民放
- spectacular
- 見応えがある
- feature 〜
- 〜を扱う
- scripts and acting
- 脚本と演技
- a cut above 〜
- 〜より一段優れた
- broadcasters
- 放送局
- cutting edge
- 最先端
- broad array of 〜
- 多岐にわたる〜
- HDTV(=high-definition television)
- ハイビジョン
- interactive broadcasts
- 双方向放送
- downright
- 全く
- primitive
- 原始的な
- policies
- 方針
- stay in business
- 事業を継続する
- (are)authorized to 〜
- 事業を継続する
- fee
- 受信料
- luxury item
- ぜいたく品
- may have made sense
- 道理にかなっていたかもしれない
- households
- 家庭
- fund 〜 out of 〜
- 〜から〜に資金を出す
- general budget
- 一般会計
- save 〜 billions of yen
- 〜は何十億ものお金を使わずにすむ
- eliminating 〜
- 〜をなくすこと
- annoy everyone with 〜
- 〜で皆をわずらわせる
- begging
- お願いすること
- that's only marginally effective at best
- うまくいってもかろうじて効果が上がる程度の〜
- have called for 〜
- 〜を求めた
- scrambles their signal
- 電波にスクランブルをかける
- public broadcasting
- 公共放送
- independence
- 独立性
- (has)bred waste
- 独立性
- segments
- 番組の部分
- casts
- 出演者
- live remote reports
- 地方からの生中継
- (is)visible
- 見える
- live relay
- 生中継
- funding system
- 事業費の調達法
- Hopefully
- 願わくば
- come up with 〜
- 〜を考え出す