NO live broadcast of Nagoya basho

[Peterao 3]

Just announced. No word on what (if any) arrangements will be made for showing non-live sumo.

If you hurry, you may still be able to get 100 yen for Kintamayama's word on eBay.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Peterao

[ilovesumo 12]

And now they start to wind out of broadcasting...

[Peterao 3]

They will air a non-live "digest" show. No word yet how long it will be or what time it will air.

[Kintamayama 47,412]

Just announced. No word on what (if any) arrangements will be made for showing non-live sumo.

If you hurry, you may still be able to get 100 yen for Kintamayama's word on eBay.

And dropping fast. I must say I am totally surprised. I will also say the repercussions for NHK for this will be mindboggling. AND, I bet some other broadcaster will pick this up and try to do the broadcast, keeping the sudden popularity in mind.

[ilovesumo 12]

Maybe this was the compromise - holding the basho plus live broadcast looks like "business as usual".

SHIT man.......

[Peterao 3]

Just announced. No word on what (if any) arrangements will be made for showing non-live sumo.

If you hurry, you may still be able to get 100 yen for Kintamayama's word on eBay.

And dropping fast. I must say I am totally surprised. I will also say the repercussions for NHK for this will be mindboggling. AND, I bet some other broadcaster will pick this up and try to do the broadcast, keeping the sudden popularity in mind.

With all the sponsors that have already pulled out? What network would risk that backlash for a bunch of fickle geriatric viewers?

And doesn't NHK retain the broadcast rights regardless of whether they actually use them?

[Umigame 82]

The (Rijikai's) Revolution Will Not Be Televised.

[Peterao 3]

(Holiday feeling...) Thanks! I was thinking of making that the title, but worried that no one would get the reference.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Peterao

[kawika 123]

They will air a non-live "digest" show. No word yet how long it will be or what time it will air.

Usually it is between 1am and 3am, for about 25 minutes or so. I watch it and eat breakie.

[kawika 123]

Just announced. No word on what (if any) arrangements will be made for showing non-live sumo.

If you hurry, you may still be able to get 100 yen for Kintamayama's word on eBay.

And dropping fast. I must say I am totally surprised. I will also say the repercussions for NHK for this will be mindboggling. AND, I bet some other broadcaster will pick this up and try to do the broadcast, keeping the sudden popularity in mind.

I say that we do it! Let's fund someone to webcam the entire basho for us! We can distribute via Pirate Bay!

[Peterao 3]

The digest show will apparently air from around 6pm (there's a top of the hour newsbrief, so maybe around 6:10ish? )

They won't preempt 7 o'clock news, so the show will be at most about 45 minutes long.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

I wonder if this is going to be the same as the digests they have been broadcasting for some time now, at around midnight and four in the morning. "NHK Highlights" was roughly 30 minutes of bouts without the prelims and some brief commentary, and the occasional longer look at a couple of the more exciting bouts.

[Kintamayama 47,412]

Just announced. No word on what (if any) arrangements will be made for showing non-live sumo.

If you hurry, you may still be able to get 100 yen for Kintamayama's word on eBay.

And dropping fast. I must say I am totally surprised. I will also say the repercussions for NHK for this will be mindboggling. AND, I bet some other broadcaster will pick this up and try to do the broadcast, keeping the sudden popularity in mind.

With all the sponsors that have already pulled out? What network would risk that backlash for a bunch of fickle geriatric viewers?

And doesn't NHK retain the broadcast rights regardless of whether they actually use them?

We shall see.

[Takamizawa 0]

Well this just flat out sucks. Guess I won't be using my TV for another 2 months then... as if I'd actually turn it on to watch NHK's other (crap) programming. Pfff (Holiday feeling...)

[Peterao 3]

I'll be very surprised if this is just a one basho arrangement, as I don't think that NHK can reverse course until after the Kyokai can prove that they have their house in order.

[Kintamayama 47,412]

I'll be very surprised if this is just a one basho arrangement, as I don't think that NHK can reverse course until after the Kyokai can prove that they have their house in order.

NHK boss said it was "only this time', as he expects the Kyokai to seriously clean up its act.

[Peterao 3]

I'll be very surprised if this is just a one basho arrangement, as I don't think that NHK can reverse course until after the Kyokai can prove that they have their house in order.

NHK boss said it was "only this time', as he expects the Kyokai to seriously clean up its act.

We shall see.

[Asashosakari 20,310]

I must say I am totally surprised.

Same here. Oh well, I was recording the web stream anyway...

[Kintamayama 47,412]

I'll be very surprised if this is just a one basho arrangement, as I don't think that NHK can reverse course until after the Kyokai can prove that they have their house in order.

NHK boss said it was "only this time', as he expects the Kyokai to seriously clean up its act.

We shall see.

I'll go even further-I put it to you that the NHK see it as a golden opportunity for a "trial run" to see how bad the damage will be and maybe get rid of the hunch on the back of NHK once and for all and free two hours X 90 for something more exciting like kite flying.. As for their contract or agreement with the Kyokai, it was breached now so I don't see that as a stumbling block if the NHK decide to cancel the broadcasts altogether. And since there is no real and effective way their viewers can protest (paying the NHK fee is mandatory), what's to stop them?

Edited July 6, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Peterao 3]

As for their contract or agreement with the Kyokai, it was breached now so I don't see that as a stumbling block if the NHK decide to cancel the broadcasts altogether.

If NHK is still paying the fee (I haven't heard about this one way or the other), then there's no breach whatsoever. They can pay money and not show a second of sumo for the duration of the contract.

But even if NHK does breach their contract, no other network will touch Ozumo with a ten-foot pole. If they did, they would probably try to insert commercial breaks in between every match, and demand a lot more control over the content (Koike Eiko in a busty dress giving live dohyo-side interviews!) than the Kyokai will ever submit to.

NHK is the only game in town, and both sides know it. It was a mutual back-scratching association arrangement before this scandal; now, it's more like the relationship that China and North Korea currently "enjoy" (only one guess as to which side I am referring to as "North Korea")

And the kaicho throws the carrot out there that this is only for one basho, but if nothing has changed by then, then NHK will be facing the same backlash next basho. What makes you think that they would handle the situation any differently the second time around?

Edited July 6, 2010 by Peterao

[Kintamayama 47,412]

And the kaicho throws the carrot out there that this is only for one basho, but if nothing has changed by then, then NHK will be facing the same backlash next basho. What makes you think that they would handle the situation any differently the second time around?

Because I think a similar poll (they stressed the poll results at the press conference) in two month's time will have a different result. If Sumo manages to stay clean till then (hmmm..) then there won't be a reason not to broadcast.

[Asashosakari 20,310]

If NHK is still paying the fee (I haven't heard about this one way or the other), then there's no breach whatsoever. They can pay money and not show a second of sumo for the duration of the contract.

I don't think it's possible to assert that with any certainty. AFAIK broadcasting contracts for live events generally come with obligations for both the producing as well as the broadcasting entity; it's not analogous to a taped TV show or series for which a network will simply license the rights for a certain number of repeat broadcasts with no contractually stipulated air dates (other than a deadline at which unused rights expire).

Now, whether the Kyokai will actually push the issue in case NHK is indeed now in breach of their contract, that's a whole different question.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 47,412]

If NHK is still paying the fee (I haven't heard about this one way or the other), then there's no breach whatsoever. They can pay money and not show a second of sumo for the duration of the contract.

And you seriously think the paying public/regulators/whoever would put up with THAT?

[Takamizawa 0]

free two hours X 90 for something more exciting like kite flying..

If this whole thing didn't piss me off so much, this would be hilarious. Actually, it's still pretty damn funny. Still, doesn't NHK pump enough shite on the air -- I thought PBS was bad. Yup, let's not broadcast or promote the kokugi! Let's show diet sessions, children's sing alongs, and handicapped tenns! Woo.

[Kintamayama 47,412]

What about the video replays? The shinpan are using the NHK shots. "If there's going to be a daily digest, that means the cameras will be in place so there shouldn't be any problem", said a Kyokai guy. In any case, the Kyokai has three cameras of their own, so worst case scenario they use theirs, says the reporter.