Tokyo's Three AM Stations to Begin Simultaneous FM Broadcasts Next Spring for Disaster and Hearing Loss Countermeasures

On the 5th, TBS Radio & Communications, Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, and Nippon Broadcasting System—the three Tokyo-based AM radio broadcasters—held a joint president's press conference at Nippon Cultural Broadcasting in Minato Ward, Tokyo, announcing plans to establish FM relay stations. Following the issuance of provisional licenses for "FM Supplementary Relay Stations" by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on the 3rd, they announced the start of simultaneous FM broadcasts next spring as a countermeasure against disasters, urban reception difficulties, foreign wave interference, and geographical/topographical reception issues.

From left: TBS Radio & Communications President Kiyohiko Irie, Bunka Broadcasting President Akihiro Miki, Nippon Broadcasting System President Sotaro Murayama

 

The transmission frequencies are 90.5 MHz for TBS Radio, 91.6 MHz for Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, and 93.0 MHz for Nippon Broadcasting System. Antennas will be installed on Tokyo Skytree, with the reception area covering Tokyo's 23 wards and major cities and surrounding areas in Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa Prefectures. At this stage, many radios, including car radios, only support frequencies up to 90 MHz. Therefore, the companies expect manufacturers to cooperate in promoting compatible receivers.

At the press conference, President Miki stated, "We aim to further deepen the collaboration among the three companies and work towards the earliest possible launch of the FM complementary relay stations." President Irie emphasized during his detailed explanation, "The FM complementary relay stations will broadcast the same content as the AM broadcasts; they are purely supplementary. We are not discontinuing the AM broadcasts." President Murayama expressed enthusiasm, stating, "With FM broadcasting, we aim to create programs with even greater care, keeping in mind the reduced noise and significantly improved sound quality. We also want to actively produce commercials that prioritize sound quality."
Concluding his remarks, President Murayama stated, "We aim to contribute to society by having as many people as possible utilize the FM complementary relay station. We want to demonstrate how radio can move hearts, move people, and move things."