Let a Hundred Channels Contend: Technological Change, Political Opening, and Bureaucratic Priorities in Japanese Television Broadcasting

In the mid- 1990s, the cozy oligopoly and restrictive regulatory system governing Japanese television broadcasting gave way to an influx of new channels and programmers, including Rupert Murdoch, Time-Warner, and other foreigners. The confluence of rapid technological change, interministerial compet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of Japanese studies 2000, Vol.26 (1), p.79-109
Main Author: Noble, Gregory W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artificial satellites
Broadcasting
Broadcasting industry
Broadcasting stations
Bureaucracy
Communications satellites
Economic regulation
Industrial regulation
Market strategy
News content
Oligopoly
Regulation
Regulatory policy
Technological change
Telecommunications
Television
Television broadcasting
Television programs
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Summary:In the mid- 1990s, the cozy oligopoly and restrictive regulatory system governing Japanese television broadcasting gave way to an influx of new channels and programmers, including Rupert Murdoch, Time-Warner, and other foreigners. The confluence of rapid technological change, interministerial competition, and partial political opening caused the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to reorder its priorities. The ministry retained significant discretionary influence over the allocation of licenses, standard setting, and technology promotion, but crafted a more competitive and transparent regulatory process. The Japanese broadcasting case suggests that technological advances may prod even conservative ministries motivated largely by bureaucratic self-interest to incorporate market opening in their regulatory strategies.
ISSN:0095-6848
1549-4721
DOI:10.2307/133392