On March 27, BS Fuji and BS TV Tokyo officially announced that they will end their 4K放送 (yon-kē hōsō, 4K broadcasting). BS TV Tokyo even revealed a specific end date: January 23, 2027.
The announcements follow earlier reports that five private BS broadcasters were considering withdrawing from 4K satellite broadcasting. Now, two of them have made their decisions public.
BS Fuji: No Renewal of 4K Certification
BS Fuji, part of the Fuji TV network, announced that at a board meeting held on March 27, it decided not to renew its satellite broadcasting certification starting January 24, 2027.
In formal Japanese announcements, you’ll often see the expression 〜をもって (o motte), meaning “effective as of.” BS TV Tokyo used this structure when stating it would end broadcasts:
- 2027年1月23日をもって終了する。 2027-nen 1-gatsu 23-nichi o motte shūryō suru. “Broadcasting will end as of January 23, 2027.”
BS Fuji has not yet announced its exact final broadcast date. It stated that this will be decided after discussions with related parties.
The reason? The company explained that viewing environments have changed dramatically due to the rapid expansion of インターネット配信 (intānetto haishin, internet streaming). It also said that conditions surrounding 4K broadcasting, especially from a ビジネス面 (bijinesu-men, business aspect) perspective, have become increasingly severe.
After careful consideration, the company decided to end its “BS Fuji 4K” broadcasting operations.
BS TV Tokyo: Moving to Streaming
BS TV Tokyo also cited financial concerns, explaining that securing advertising revenue has remained difficult.
Rather than abandoning 4K content entirely, the station will shift to free 4K streaming via WOWOWオンデマンド (WOWOW ondemando), a joint platform scheduled to launch around autumn. This new initiative involves the five private BS broadcasters and WOWOW.
The companies announced the new サービス開始 (sābisu kaishi, service launch) on the 19th. On the 25th, the president of BS-TBS revealed that at launch, approximately 50 titles from the five BS broadcasters will be アップロード (appurōdo, uploaded), with additional new コンテンツ (kontentsu, content) added over time.
Importantly, BS TV Tokyo stated that it will continue producing 4K content even after satellite broadcasts end.
What This Means in Japan’s Media Landscape
Japan has long invested in high-quality broadcast technology, including 4K and even 8K satellite services. However, viewer habits are shifting rapidly toward online streaming platforms.
The phrase used by BS Fuji — changes in the viewing environment due to the rapid growth of internet streaming — reflects a larger trend. Traditional satellite broadcasting requires specific equipment and infrastructure, while streaming offers flexibility and on-demand viewing.
The move to free 4K distribution through WOWOW On Demand suggests a hybrid approach: maintaining high-resolution content while adapting to changing consumer behavior.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Let’s break down some key vocabulary and grammar you can start using right away.
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 4K放送 | yon-kē hōsō | 4K broadcasting |
| インターネット配信 | intānetto haishin | internet streaming/distribution |
| ビジネス面 | bijinesu-men | business aspect |
| オンデマンド | ondemando | on-demand (streaming) |
| コンテンツ | kontentsu | media content |
| アップロード | appurōdo | upload |
| サービス開始 | sābisu kaishi | service launch |
Notice how many of these are written in katakana. Modern Japanese media and tech language relies heavily on adapted loanwords. Mastering katakana is essential for reading news like this comfortably.
Grammar Spotlight
1️⃣ 〜をもって (as of; effective on)
A formal expression used in announcements, business notices, and official statements.
Structure: [Date] + をもって + 終了する／開始する
Examples:
2027年1月23日をもって終了します。 2027-nen 1-gatsu 23-nichi o motte shūryō shimasu. “It will end as of January 23, 2027.”
本日をもってサービスを開始します。 Honjitsu o motte sābisu o kaishi shimasu. “We will begin the service as of today.”
You’ll frequently see this in formal business Japanese.
2️⃣ 〜において (in; at; regarding)
A formal written expression meaning “in” or “at” (a place, field, or context).
Structure: [Place / Field] + において
Example inspired by the article:
- ビジネス面において厳しさが増している。 Bijinesu-men ni oite kibishisa ga mashite iru. “Conditions are becoming more severe in terms of business.”
Compared to casual で, において feels official and is common in reports and press releases.
Useful Expression
- 慎重に検討した結果 Shinchō ni kentō shita kekka “After careful consideration”
A phrase often used in corporate announcements to signal a deliberate decision.
Continue Learning
Many of the words in this article are written in katakana. Strengthening your katakana reading skills will dramatically improve your ability to read Japanese news and tech content.
- Working on your reading skills? Our Katakana Essentials: Adapting Global Words to Japanese lesson is a great next step.
- To understand more about tech, explore our Reading and Writing in Japanese II: Hiragana and Katakana lesson.
- Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties will help you master these concepts.
As Japan’s media landscape shifts from satellite broadcasting to streaming, you’re not just following tech news — you’re learning the real language used in modern business and media announcements.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.