NO live broadcast of Nagoya basho

[Kintamayama 45,251]

During the special program, one panel member talked about he has not seen any sign of governance from the Kyokai board, more often taking rather reactionary actions every time they encounter one incident or another. It isn't NHK who is not listening to the public but the Kyokai, steadfastly perched in their cabin at the Kokugikan and hardly taking any initiative until pressed by the Ministry of Education and Science. The Kyokai has not been properly gauging the public anger over drug problems, death of recruit and conduct of yokozuna.

When you watch a special program made by the NHK itself, it's bound to be biased from the start to make their point. The NHK obviously had decided from the start not to go ahead with the broadcasts-they were just making a point to the 16 percent who were against it in the hope that they "understand". That was the only reason for this hastily put together "show". Again, your points about the Kyokai are totally valid as are Peterao's but it's not the NHK's job to play executioner. They are a TV station.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Kintamayama

[badboy27 0]

Maybe they'll sell more tickets this way!

[ilovesumo 12]

And more- the NHK is a friggin public TV station, not judge and jury and moral thermometer. They're supposed to render a service, so I say "shut up and give the service, nobody asked you for your opinion, or stop giving the service, and still shut up". Who are they punishing by not showing sumo? The Kyokai, who evidently will get paid anyway and with a side bonus-unprecedented attendance due to lack of TV broadcast thereof? Great. They are punishing the viewers, and not only local viewers (I don't get NHK so I am not affected either way). So the poll said 68%. Those numbers are meaningless. The older population doesn't like to fill in forms or go online. Ask the customers at the venues the same questions-you may get a totally different set of answers.

Jep!

People can decide on their own if they want to watch it or not. Bet the poll was to wipe that position out- they knew what result would come out- and can use it to cover the real reason - fear of lost money. There must be the money-concern as there always is. IMHO

EDIT: hehe, maybe they fear the quota of viewers goes up........this wouldn't fit the whole drama......hehehe

Edited July 6, 2010 by ilovesumo

[Fay 1,677]

Great thing to make a poll in such a situation (attention this is ironic)

You already can anticipate the result and now have a good opportunity to get rid of a program you might not want to keep anyway. You show the viewers how much you care for them and show the world that you are a really morally working TV-station.

[Peterao 3]

Again, your points about the Kyokai are totally valid as are Peterao's but it's not the NHK's job to play executioner. They are a TV station.

So who are you to decide what role NHK must play in all of this? It is for the Japanese government and the people of Japan to decide whether or not NHK is overstepping it's bounds.

And if the NSK doesn't like that, there is a simple solution: give up the tax free status, become a private entity, and sink or swim on their own merits. If they don't want to do that, then they darned well better pay close attention to public opinion, and they darned well better pay close attention to NHK...both of which are saying that this basho really should not go on.

[Asashosakari 19,440]

I trust you're going to be consistent and not watch a single second of Nagoya basho on TV.

Edit: Nor on the web stream.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Asashosakari

[Peterao 3]

Great thing to make a poll in such a situation (attention this is ironic)

You already can anticipate the result and now have a good opportunity to get rid of a program you might not want to keep anyway. You show the viewers how much you care for them and show the world that you are a really morally working TV-station.

I think you mean "sarcastic" (unless you are Alanis Morrisette) But you raise a good point. If most people don't want sumo on television, and you know that most people don't want sumo on television, they why on earth would you put sumo in television?

[Asashosakari 19,440]

If most people don't want sumo on television, and you know that most people don't want sumo on television, they why on earth would you put sumo in television?

I agree. Every television show that greater than 50% of all potential viewers have no interest in should be cancelled at once.

[Peterao 3]

I trust you're going to be consistent and not watch a single second of Nagoya basho on TV.

Edit: Nor on the web stream.

Actually, I'm going to be hypocritical and dub the first day's action, so I can see the apologies and how people react. I'm not sure what else I will watch, though I don't anticipate following it on a daily basis.

[Fay 1,677]

Great thing to make a poll in such a situation (attention this is ironic)

You already can anticipate the result and now have a good opportunity to get rid of a program you might not want to keep anyway. You show the viewers how much you care for them and show the world that you are a really morally working TV-station.

I think you mean "sarcastic" (unless you are Alanis Morrisette) But you raise a good point. If most people don't want sumo on television, and you know that most people don't want sumo on television, they why on earth would you put sumo in television?

I'm always glad when other people tell me what I mean. (Didn't I have this Alanis Morrisette thing once with John too? I seem to have another problem here ...)

Edited July 6, 2010 by Fay

[Kintamayama 45,251]

Again, your points about the Kyokai are totally valid as are Peterao's but it's not the NHK's job to play executioner. They are a TV station.

So who are you to decide what role NHK must play in all of this? It is for the Japanese government and the people of Japan to decide whether or not NHK is overstepping it's bounds.

And if the NSK doesn't like that, there is a simple solution: give up the tax free status, become a private entity, and sink or swim on their own merits. If they don't want to do that, then they darned well better pay close attention to public opinion, and they darned well better pay close attention to NHK...both of which are saying that this basho really should not go on.

NHK is a TV station. I will repeat that till you get it. They don't subsidize sumo, they pay to broadcast. What their executives think or think the "people" want is irrelevant. The only thing they can do is decide to broadcast or not. It's their prerogative-they don't want to, they don't, but they should spare us the fake morality while looking with one eye at their benefactors hoping for approval and shut the hell up. "We have decided not to broadcast" would have been sufficient. Were I the Kyokai, I would sever all ties with them. Then, we would see if sumo has fans or not-since sumo would only be available live, it would be interesting to see if the masses swarm the venue, or if sales will continue to be sluggish. We may get answers in Nagoya already.

If the NSK doesn't like what? Doesn't like the fact that NHK stopped the broadcast? You think they are going to close shop because of that? They can go on forever, as long as the Education ministry subsidizes them. NHK is not a party to this. They are a TV station. They will stop paying? The education Ministry will have to step in - no one will allow the kokugi to go under.

BTW, what is the ministry saying about this NHK travesty? For it? Against it? Can they force them to broadcast?

[Kintamayama 45,251]

I trust you're going to be consistent and not watch a single second of Nagoya basho on TV.

Edit: Nor on the web stream.

Come on.. this is the guy who back in the days decided to stop watching sumo because Governor Ota wasn't allowed on the dohyo. How long were you under self house arrest, Peterao? Was it 6 months? You can't say he doesn't practice what he preaches..

[Gusoyama 103]

Because I'm very much a gaijin when it comes to the NHK, how are the ratings on their other shows? I would think that sumo would be one of the higher rated shows, given the examples of other programming on this channel.

[Kintamayama 45,251]

Because I'm very much a gaijin when it comes to the NHK, how are the ratings on their other shows? I would think that sumo would be one of the higher rated shows, given the examples of other programming on this channel.

I'd say 12-13 % on weakdays (no typo), and around 20% when it gets really exciting, like when NHK cuts to those Diet broadcasts.

[Peterao 3]

I trust you're going to be consistent and not watch a single second of Nagoya basho on TV.

Edit: Nor on the web stream.

Come on.. this is the guy who back in the days decided to stop watching sumo because Governor Ota wasn't allowed on the dohyo. How long were you under self house arrest, Peterao? Was it 6 months? You can't say he doesn't practice what he preaches..

Contrary to what you may believe, I enjoy sumo very much, and am not too proud to admit that my enjoyment has overcome my misgivings with the Kyokai in the past. But as we're getting closer to the point where enjoying sumo will make one a social pariah in Japan, I really feel that this is my last chance to be able to remain a fan.

But who knows...you may well end up ribbing me about this 5 years from now too.

[Kintamayama 45,251]

Is B2 owned by NHK as well?

[Kotoviki 16]

Is B2 owned by NHK as well?

yes

[Kintamayama 45,251]

Contrary to what you may believe, I enjoy sumo very much, and am not too proud to admit that my enjoyment has overcome my misgivings with the Kyokai in the past. But as we're getting closer to the point where enjoying sumo will make one a social pariah in Japan, I really feel that this is my last chance to be able to remain a fan.

But who knows...you may well end up ribbing me about this 5 years from now too.

Oh, no sir-I wrote that with the deepest respect- you, as opposed to certain other sumo fans I have come across over the years, do actually stick to your principles and that is a good thing.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Kintamayama

[jakking 0]

But as we're getting closer to the point where enjoying sumo will make one a social pariah in Japan, I really feel that this is my last chance to be able to remain a fan.

So what? What you watch and enjoy is controlled by others' opinions? That's so sad and shallow.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Manekineko
quote fix

[Kintamayama 45,251]

But as we're getting closer to the point where enjoying sumo will make one a social pariah in Japan, I really feel that this is my last chance to be able to remain a fan.

So what? What you watch and enjoy is controlled by others' opinions? That's so sad and shallow.

Just like the NHK...

[Peterao 3]

Sadly, I don't live in a vacuum. Other people are affected by my decisions.

Obviously you know little about Japan, so there's no point in clarifying that further.

[Kintamayama 45,251]

Sadly, I don't live in a vacuum. Other people are affected by my decisions.

Obviously you know little about Japan, so there's no point in clarifying that further.

I would like you to expand on that. I can't believe that what you are hinting at can be true in Japan. I can't believe that you can become a social pariah just because you watch sumo or are a fan because it is in "bad mode" at the moment. I can believe even less that your family can be affected by that. Please explain.

[Pippooshu 1]

I haven't undestood...will be impossible to watch the little video streaming on NSK website???? Please...say me not...!!! :-O ;-)

[Umigame 82]

***FWIW I and my friends did not answer any poll to the NHK and all of us wanted to have the broadcasts. I'm sure we weren't the only ones who figured we just didn't need to. Learned a lesson but still, I'm just saying.... we can't be the only ones!***

I tried to warn people... ;-) I posted the link to the NHK form in two different threads. :-O

Honestly though, I think it would be very difficult to round up roughly 7,000 more "yes" votes that would be required to equal the number of "no" votes.

[omoimori 0]

Count me among those who fail to understand NHK being too embarrassed to show it live, but not too embarrassed to show taped matches.

Is NHK concerned that there will be demonstrations or other disruptions to their broadcasts? Are they worried that the front rows, like in MMA, will be

be filled with men in black suits who have folded their arms to hide their fingers?

Is the airtime too valuable to waste on Sumo? That might mean that it's gone for good.

Is NHK simply posturing? I don't quite get the point.