Yamanashi Broadcasting System (株式会社山梨放送, Kabushiki-gaisha Yamanashi Hōsō), also known as YBS, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with Nippon News Network (NNN) and Nippon Television Network System (NNS). Its headquarters is located in Kōfu, Yamanashi.
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Yamanashi Broadcasting System Headquarters in Kofu, Yamanashi designed by Kenzō Tange
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Native name | 株式会社山梨放送 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Kabushikigaisha Yamanashihōsō |
| Formerly | Radio Yamanashi Co., Ltd. (March 25, 1954 – October 31, 1961) |
| Company type | Kabushiki gaisha |
| Industry | Television and Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | March 25, 1954; 70 years ago (1954-03-25) |
| Headquarters | 2-6-10 Kitaguchi,
,
Japan
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Key people | Eiichi Noguchi (President and CEO) |
| Website | www |
| Footnotes / references Data from its Corporate Profile | |
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| Channels |
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| Branding | YBS |
| Programming | |
| Affiliations | Nippon News Network and Nippon Television Network System |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Yamanashi Broadcasting System Inc. |
| History | |
| Founded | July 1, 1954 |
First air date | December 20, 1959 |
Former call signs | JOJF-TV (1959–2011) |
Former channel number(s) | Analog: 5 (VHF, 1959–2011) |
Call sign meaning | Japan/Mount Fuji |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | MIC |
| Links | |
| Website | http://www.ybs.jp/ |
The Yamanashi Sannichi Shimbun News Agency applied for a broadcasting license for commercial radio broadcasting in 1925 and actually launched test radio broadcasts.[1]: 35 Following the end of the war, the "Three Radio Laws" were passed in 1950, enabling commercial broadcasters to appear.[1]: 39
In Yamanashi Prefecture, from 1952 to 1953, three factions, centered on local industrialist Tadahiko Natori, the Yamanashi Daily News, and the Yamanashi Jiji News, appeared to apply for commercial broadcasting licenses. After that, the first two factions merged to form Radio Yamanashi, and the Yamanashi Shimbun faction applied to open a commercial broadcast under the name of Yamanashi Broadcasting.[1]: 39 Radio Yamanashi was officially registered and established in March 1953, and launched a test radio signal on June 18 of the same year.[1]: 126 Under the advice of the Postal Ministry, Radio Yamanashi and Yamanashi Broadcasting jointly applied for a broadcast license on July 26, 1953.[1]: 39
At 11:40 am on July 1, 1954, Radio Yamanashi officially started broadcasting, becoming the first commercial radio station in Yamanashi Prefecture.[1]: 51 In May 1956, Yamanashi Radio issued 60,000 new shares and increased its capital to 60 million yen.[1]: 115 Also in fiscal year 1956, Yamanashi Radio turned a profit.[1]: 58 On December 1, 1956, Radio Yamanashi opened the Fujiyoshida relay station, greatly expanding its coverage.[1]: 59 In 1957, Yamanashi Radio realized dividends.[1]: 66
Radio Yamanashi applied to the Ministry of Postal Affairs to establish a television station on July 24, 1956.[1]: 68 Similar to the situation when the radio station was launched, the Yamanashi Jiji News Agency also applied for a separate television broadcast license under the name of "Yamanashi Television Broadcasting" (Yamanashi Telecasting).[1]: 69 On October 22, 1957, Radio Yamanashi obtained a preliminary television license, with the frequency being channel 5.[1]: 116 In May 1959, just before the launch of television, Yamanashi Radio increased its capital again to 120 million yen.[1]: 116 On the eve of the broadcast, taking into account the superior advertising business conditions proposed by Nippon Television, RYC decided to join the Nippon Television network.[1]: 71 On November 13, 1959, Radio Yamanashi launched a TV test signal and began trial broadcasting on December 13.[1]: 117 On December 20, RYC Television officially launched.[1]: 117 In the early days of broadcasting, Radio Yamanashi broadcast for 5 hours from Monday to Saturday and 11 hours on Sunday.[1]: 76
As the television division surpassed the radio division as Radio Yamanashi's main source of income, Radio Yamanashi changed its company name to Yamanashi Broadcasting in 1961.[1]: 117 In 1962, Yamanashi Broadcasting started broadcasting in the mornings, and in that year it was broadcast at Mount Fuji Television Station.[1]: 90 Yamanashi Broadcasting began broadcasting color television on October 1, 1964, and broadcast the 1964 Olympic Games in color.[1]: 91
In 1961, Yamanashi Broadcasting and Yamanashi Nikichi Shimbun decided to build a new headquarters and purchased land at the north exit of Kofu Station for 147.6 million yen as the land for the new headquarters. At the same time, the famous architect Kenzo Tange was invited to serve as the designer of the new headquarters.[1]: 101 This building is the Yamanashi Bunka Kaikan. It has 8 floors and was completed in 1966.[1]: 106–109 In the same year, Yamanashi Broadcasting joined NNN.[1]: 102