No Escape From The NHK Man?

[wagyl]

NHK needs to be liquidated - not privatized, but liquidated. It serves no legitimate purpose in a democracy.

You are making the assumption that this is a democracy.

[Salty]

NHK needs to be liquidated - not privatized, but liquidated. It serves no legitimate purpose in a democracy.

You are making the assumption that this is a democracy.

Yup - you got me there....

[kurogane]

A publicly funded broadcasting authority is an indispensable cornerstone to true democracy. Sadly, Japan's Inner American has taken over the NHK. Of all the degenerate Imperialists it is both alarming and inspiring how the filth English have taken to their BBC. It's like a shining tax funded beacon in a world of private profitmongering debauchery.

I always liked Kohaku and a touch of Saturday Samurai. And the kids' shows. With those hotty totty snacky mamas. Yum.

[matsuki]

Sadly, Japan's Inner American has taken over the NHK.

Ehhh, ever noticed a lack of an equivalent of the BBC/NHK in the US?

[Samurai_Jerk]

Sadly, Japan's Inner American has taken over the NHK.

Ehhh, ever noticed a lack of an equivalent of the BBC/NHK in the US?

I think that was his point. Although we do have PBS and NPR. And the BBC ain't all it's cracked up to be.

[matsuki]

Wouldn't that be "inner North Korean, Chinese, etc?"

[Samurai_Jerk]

Wouldn't that be "inner North Korean, Chinese, etc?"

It's a pretty funny criticism coming from a Canadian. You can get jail time in Canada for "hate speech." Kurogane could probably be fined for some of the non-PC shit he posts on here.

[matsuki]

Wouldn't that be "inner North Korean, Chinese, etc?"

It's a pretty funny criticism coming from a Canadian. You can get jail time in Canada for "hate speech." Kurogane could probably be fined for some of the non-PC shit he posts on here.

[Mike Oxlong]

Oh, Canada...that's it. Right there!

[FG Lurker]

A publicly funded broadcasting authority is an indispensable cornerstone to true democracy.

Only if the broadcaster is independent of government control and generally free of direct political influence. NHK is closer to a propaganda mouthpiece than to being an independent broadcaster.

[Salty]

A publicly funded broadcasting authority is an indispensable cornerstone to true democracy. ...

Wait... that was sarcasm, right? If not, could you please explain why you think so?

[kurogane]

A publicly funded broadcasting authority is an indispensable cornerstone to true democracy. ...

Wait... that was sarcasm, right? If not, could you please explain why you think so?

Not. Very much not. Do read on...........

Sadly, Japan's Inner American has taken over the NHK.

Ehhh, ever noticed a lack of an equivalent of the BBC/NHK in the US?

I think that was his point. Although we do have PBS and NPR. And the BBC ain't all it's cracked up to be.

You thunk right. Except about the BBC. They do a fine job given their mandate and the relentless attempts of the privateers to gut and skin it. It was worth every penny of the licence I never paid because I was a student. And as much as I adore the PBS and NPR they are a qualitatively different arrangement, as you seem to think. They are public but not state entities proper, non? I mean state as in public, not state as in secessionst and such.

A publicly funded broadcasting authority is an indispensable cornerstone to true democracy.

Only if the broadcaster is independent of government control and generally free of direct political influence. NHK is closer to a propaganda mouthpiece than to being an independent broadcaster.

Sadly, you are not more than 1/4 wrong there, and lately not even that. But that is true in any advanced country with similar institutions. The relentless corporate welfare junkies and their mendacious minions have chopped away at the roots so much under this increasing rightward trend of the past 20 or so years it's actually hard to see them ever being restored to their rightful function, which is (Salty!!!) the public provision of relatively unbiased news and entertainment at low cost, free of market oriented interference and overtly political machinations intended to influence public opinion and attitudes. Canada's Abe Lite (Darth Harper) has less control over our CBC, so he starves them into submission when and as he can. As for NHK being a propaganda mouthpiece, have you always thought that, or is that speaking to the more recent Abe policy of demanding obedience and cooperation? I think there is probably also an East Asian Kulchural Thing in the mix: call it Face/Propriety or whatever you want, but I am always surprised at how many Japanese sort of agree at a gut level with the idea that the NHK should serve the government of the day, even though it is explicitly a state broadcaster not a government one. Add to that mix that widespread distrust or outright revulsion at the idea of public ownership instead of private enterprise (Japan's Inner AmeriKKKan) and you have a nice impetus for the sad state of affairs we currently endure.

Plus, given how hot button an issue the NHK is amongst FG it was a floater just begging to be whacked at. Oh, the fun one can have in a foreigner bar just by innocently remarking how much they like the NHK........... I know there are a few on here that happily pay their licence fee like adults might, and a few that froth in ecstatic rage at the very idea, but do those who don't pay actually NEVER watch NHK? I always paid because the fee was so trivial it was just easier, plus I watch it. Given how utterly shiite so much Jpn TV is anyways, between the weather, the news and a few good reruns I always find it the default station when forced to watch terrestial TV (or WTF we now call regular 8-12 channels TV ).

CONFESSION: I HATE Kohaku. It actually makes me despair it's so inane. So there's that.

[matsuki]

I think there is probably also an East Asian Kulchural Thing in the mix: call it Face/Propriety or whatever you want, but I am always surprised at how many Japanese sort of agree at a gut level with the idea that the NHK should serve the government of the day, even though it is explicitly a state broadcaster not a government one. Add to that mix that widespread distrust or outright revulsion at the idea of public ownership instead of private enterprise (Japan's Inner AmeriKKKan) and you have a nice impetus for the sad state of affairs we currently endure.

Is it really "inner American" though? I mean...here you got Abe appointing the head of the organization and that man pretty much outright confirming the fear that it's become a government spokeshole. The lack of checks and balances and never-ending amakudari

Katsuto Momii, recently appointed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, set off a firestorm last week with remarks dismissing the forcible rape of twenty thousand Asian “comfort women” as morally no worse than the red light district in modern Amsterdam. He described demands to compensate surviving victims as “puzzling.” Momii then announced his belief that NHK’s foreign news coverage should support government policy on controversial issues such as the Senkaku/Diaoyu island dispute with China.

[Salty]

Back in the day when communication technology was tube radio, newsprint, and movie house news clips (remember those?), it made sense for a state funded TV broadcast facility to reach behind the far mountains where commercial TV broadcast didn`t reach. Lest people need to resort to playing card games in their free time, since only a few could read.

But around 1970 or so – this all ended, and the need for a state sponsored alternative to mass masturbation ended. That is when NHK needed to be liquidated. Since then it has supported our more-communist-than-not run government to the detriment of democracy, truth in news reporting, and critical thinking.

Wiki reports a reporters without boarders ranking for Japan as being #59. Not a very good showing for an advanced capitalist democracy. Actually – in last place for advanced capitalist democracies. NHK isn`t the only problem in this area, but it is a major part IMO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Freedom_Index

[matsuki]

I have to quote Wags again...

You are making the assumption that this is a democracy.

It's more like a pseudo socialist hive, run by cartels and the asshole jiji that cater to them. I just wonder how much longer nationalism/ignorance/yapparinipponsugoi will keep the populace in line.

[Salty]

I have to quote Wags again...

You are making the assumption that this is a democracy.

It's more like a pseudo socialist hive, run by cartels and the asshole jiji that cater to them. I just wonder how much longer nationalism/ignorance/yapparinipponsugoi will keep the populace in line.

Agreed - but again, Kuro said... A publicly funded broadcasting authority is an indispensable cornerstone to true democracy. This not being a true democracy, maybe we don`t need NHK.

[chibaka]

Came home earlier and the wife informed me NHK man called, she told him to stick the TV license fee where the sun doesn't shine.
He only caught me once, I gave the usual wakaranai, not sure of the response when J people give them the finger...

[Taro Toporific]

I get a kick out of people who think like this. Nice going:
NHK filter gives viewers ‘legal’ way to avoid Japan’s TV tax

LOL, NHK still claiming that adding the filter will not relieve you of the NHK obligation....when the whole reason it was created was:

Kakeya says he came up with the idea for the device after witnessing NHK neglect its legal duty to uphold political neutrality, a threat, he says, to democracy. Article 4 of the Broadcast Law states NHK must be “politically impartial.”

1台約5000円：「公共性欠如のNHKはいらない」
itmedia.co.jp 2015年09月28日 (in Japanese)
The Visual Media Laboratory of the University of Tsukuba has been selling a filter that blocks NHK since July 2014 and the Lab has been flooded with inquiries from all over the country. Because the filter prevents a TV's reception of NHK broadcasts, the user may not have to pay NHK subscription fee...
...at the end of 2014, NHK estimated national average of household payment rate of the fee at 75.6% ...However, the payment rate was 46.8% in Okinawa, 59.7% in Osaka , and 64.2% in Tokyo.

5,000 yen Anti-propaganda Device -- the NHK antenna filter, "iranehk（イラネッチケー)"

ks_iranhk.jpg

[kurogane]

I get a kick out of people who think like this. Nice going:
NHK filter gives viewers ‘legal’ way to avoid Japan’s TV tax

LOL, NHK still claiming that adding the filter will not relieve you of the NHK obligation....when the whole reason it was created was:

Kakeya says he came up with the idea for the device after witnessing NHK neglect its legal duty to uphold political neutrality, a threat, he says, to democracy. Article 4 of the Broadcast Law states NHK must be “politically impartial.”

I get the plebby visceral satisfaction of the childish logic, but isn't that like arguing that you kicked your neighbour's cat because she put out glass bottles on burnable garbage day? I get that we're talking Baby Boomer Logic here (Me no Likey!!!!!!!!! I'll stomp and scream!!!!!!!!!! I'll hold my breath!!!!!!!!), but still........, and at least the device itself is a great idea, so well done, even if the inventor's logic is as solid as a 4 year old's dropped Jello.

It will be interesting to see if the device is challenged, and if they rule that since the law requires that any NHK receiving device pay the fee that thusly enabled devices are exempt. But it's even money to guess that they'll rule that Any TV is liable to pay the fee, which would be a shame. That whole licence system is so flawed I find it hard to be hard even on the free riders, crybabies that they are, never mind the people that really don't watch NHK.

[Coligny]

I get a kick out of people who think like this. Nice going:
NHK filter gives viewers ‘legal’ way to avoid Japan’s TV tax

LOL, NHK still claiming that adding the filter will not relieve you of the NHK obligation....when the whole reason it was created was:

Kakeya says he came up with the idea for the device after witnessing NHK neglect its legal duty to uphold political neutrality, a threat, he says, to democracy. Article 4 of the Broadcast Law states NHK must be “politically impartial.”

1台約5000円：「公共性欠如のNHKはいらない」
itmedia.co.jp 2015年09月28日 (in Japanese)
The Visual Media Laboratory of the University of Tsukuba has been selling a filter that blocks NHK since July 2014 and the Lab has been flooded with inquiries from all over the country. Because the filter prevents a TV's reception of NHK broadcasts, the user may not have to pay NHK subscription fee...
...at the end of 2014, NHK estimated national average of household payment rate of the fee at 75.6% ...However, the payment rate was 46.8% in Okinawa, 59.7% in Osaka , and 64.2% in Tokyo.

5,000 yen Anti-propaganda Device -- the NHK antenna filter, "iranehk（イラネッチケー)"

ks_iranhk.jpg

While brilliant in the analog days... With digital TV i can bet cheezeburger monies that the channel can be blocked by the access card that you have to put in the TV reader. Provide tv with a default No NHK card... And watch them die as nobody would pay for this shit if it was a subscription model...

[matsuki]

I get a kick out of people who think like this. Nice going:
NHK filter gives viewers ‘legal’ way to avoid Japan’s TV tax

LOL, NHK still claiming that adding the filter will not relieve you of the NHK obligation....when the whole reason it was created was:

Kakeya says he came up with the idea for the device after witnessing NHK neglect its legal duty to uphold political neutrality, a threat, he says, to democracy. Article 4 of the Broadcast Law states NHK must be “politically impartial.”

I get the plebby visceral satisfaction of the childish logic, but isn't that like arguing that you kicked your neighbour's cat because she put out glass bottles on burnable garbage day? I get that we're talking Baby Boomer Logic here (Me no Likey!!!!!!!!! I'll stomp and scream!!!!!!!!!! I'll hold my breath!!!!!!!!), but still........, and at least the device itself is a great idea, so well done, even if the inventor's logic is as solid as a 4 year old's dropped Jello.

It will be interesting to see if the device is challenged, and if they rule that since the law requires that any NHK receiving device pay the fee that thusly enabled devices are exempt. But it's even money to guess that they'll rule that Any TV is liable to pay the fee, which would be a shame. That whole licence system is so flawed I find it hard to be hard even on the free riders, crybabies that they are, never mind the people that really don't watch NHK.

Ancient Japanese cultural tradition, something something, nostalgia, shoganai, shoganai

Seriously though, even the free cable I got with my new net package, while convenient as BGM while I work, has non-stop car insurance commercials and jiji/baba oriented infomercials between every show. People should be paid to watch it, not the other way around. I can only imagine NHK is even worse.

[Takechanpoo]

they are trying to introduce a new rule in which there is a strict penalty in the case of non-payment of the fee.

[Salty]

they are trying to introduce a new rule in which there is a strict penalty in the case of non-payment of the fee.

That would be a good thing - since now the law doesn`t include a penalty.

[matsuki]

they are trying to introduce a new rule in which there is a strict penalty in the case of non-payment of the fee.

What would it actually take to either get rid of NHK or get the fee system replaced?

[Salty]

they are trying to introduce a new rule in which there is a strict penalty in the case of non-payment of the fee.

What would it actually take to either get rid of NHK or get the fee system replaced?

It would take a revolution to get rid of NHK. NHK serves as the propaganda arm of the LDP and is a massive enterprise.

[wuchan]

Strangely, if you have NTT Hikari TV you have to enter a "payment code" to view NHK without a box in the corner of your screen that says you need to enter a code. No antenna, no satiate dish, no cable line running into the house = no NHK man. We haven't seen a NHK collector since we built the new house. It is next to the old house tho, maybe they are still scared of chainsaws.

[kurogane]

they are trying to introduce a new rule in which there is a strict penalty in the case of non-payment of the fee.

What would it actually take to either get rid of NHK or get the fee system replaced?

Hopefully a lot. Public TV is a bastion of the first world, where you have only visited,.........and lived, obliviously. Since you left the US. But at least rationalise that silly licence system. That is antedeluvian silliness.

Wuchan,
Do you pay for the code to put in said box? BTW, if you (I mean all of YOU) expect TV for free, you're a fucking English teacher. But if they expect you to pay for TV you don't watch, then fuck them. But if you do watch it and refuse to pay, you're probably from New Zealand. At best. If not Wales. Or worse, the states.

[Wage Slave]

BTW, if you (I mean all of YOU) expect TV for free, you're a fucking English teacher. But if they expect you to pay for TV you don't watch, then fuck them. But if you do watch it and refuse to pay, you're probably from New Zealand. At best. If not Wales. Or worse, the states.

Be fair - Or you are a university student so don't yet understand such things as work, taxes or license fees. In which case fair enough - we've all been there.

[Salty]

TV for free, just as Internet for free, comes with a few drawbacks – those commercials that interrupt. NHK gets away from that – or they don`t, if you consider their propaganda to be the equivalent.

I told the NHK man that I wanted to enter into a contract – seriously. I asked that he provide me with an electronic copy of their proposed contract, or just give me the link where it can be found on the web, so that I could review the NHK proposal and suggest changes. Needless to say, that didn`t work out – and he even refused to leave me a paper copy. I have never entered into a contract without first reading it and negotiating changes if I found it to be wanting, and don`t see why NHK should be any different. He hasn`t come back.

[matsuki]

Can't wait til more of the world moves away from TV all together...