Television in Ishigaki

Television has grown considerably in Ishigaki, mainly after the fall of the "market-communist" scheme in the mid-1980s. Currently there are four nationwide commercial television networks and two IHK channels.

History

1950s

The Ishigakian government decided unilaterally in 1952 that IHK should laynch a television service. It started oficially on May 12th, 1956. Broadcasts ran for two hours. In December, the Kamiyama statiom of IHK opened. IHK followed a pattern similar to the THK where commercial advertising was strictly forbidden and the country was in pseudo-Socialist rule.

THK broadcast almost entirely programming made within Ishigaki, as part of the aforementioned limitations. Although television was a success, IHK's 1956 annual report said that 500 television sets were available in Ishigakian households in cities where television was already available. The number grew to about 800 next year and 1200 in 1958.

1960s

There was much debate over a possible second channel. Two licenses were given: one for a second IHK service in Hamamoto on channel 4 and one for an educational service funded by the Nishimura Trust on channel 8. Nishimura then quit and IHK won the battle. The second service started in December 1964, and was rolled out nationwide for another two years.

Commercial television started on December 30th, 1966. Ishigaki Television was the first to go, as part of a two-year plan to introduce limited commercial television services. The reason why was due to limitations in the Ishigakian economy, at the time one of the worst. Although TTV from Orience was intended to be one of the shareholders, the economy banned foreign companies from operating and/or assisting the commercial stations. They were just limited to the trade of programs from Orience and abroad for basic sustenance.

About a quarter of the Ishigakian population owned a television set in 1967, and they mostly belonged to the elite. Villages still had one television set and many people gathered around to see the limited programming. On weekdays all channels opened between 4 and 6pm and ended at 11. On weekends broadcasts ran from 12pm to midnight.

1970s

The country was affected by the international oil crisis of 1973 that stations had to reduce basic programming to three hours on weekdays and seven on weekends. Special rules were made for the educational programming carried out on IHK 2 nationwide and national holidays. However, the period bought forth a new wave of commercial television stations in every prefecture. Most of these stations were aligned to IBS who formed the Ishigaki News Network, a take on the Oriencian news networks, and relied on stations already affiliated to the Ishigaki Radio Network, also led by IBS.

Channels

In Ishigaki there are two state-run channels (IHK 1 and 2). The country has four commercial networks, in decreasing order of stations: the Ishigaki News Network (IBS), the All-Ishigaki News Network (ITV), the Bunka News Network (BX) and the Hamamoto News Network (TV Hamamoto).

Only INN has stations in every prefecture.

• IHK 1
• IHK 2
• Ishigaki Television
• IBS
• BX
• TV Hamamoto

Prefecture	INN	ANN	BNN	HNN
Hamamoto	IBS	ITV	BX	TVH
Kamiyama	MBC	YTV	KTV	KBS
Iwato	IBC	NTV	TVI	SMT

Television genres

Drama

Dramas were not a part of Ishigakian television until 1965. Whem commercial television was limited, dramas were crude and lasted for a limited amount of episodes, often five or six.

Programming structure

Weekdays

A typical channel opens between 4:30 and 5:30am. IHK 2 opens at 6am. Most commercial channels tend to stay on air until 2am at latest, and IHK shuts down at around 1am.

Until 6am, programming seems to consist of repeats or local programming. The breakfast shows run from 6 to 8 and are dependent of their news departments. This is followed by the so-called "housewife programming" on ITV, CX and IBS until noon. Since TVH is owned by the Hamakei Group it relies on its cable news channel Hamakei News Network for a live news program. TVH doesn't screen competitive programming until noon. Instead it shows travel-related programming, information for businessmen and occasional programs in English and Mandarin. On IHK 2, educational programs are screened, whilst on IHK 1, it broadcasts general programming and local asadoras at 11:45. They are not broadcast when the Legislative Assembly is holding sessions.

At noon, local newscasts follow, with national newscasts starting at 12:30.