NHK President Genichi Hashimoto announces a "revival plan" Sept. 20.

Households refusing to pay and citing the recent NHK scandals and other reasons are estimated to number about 1.3 million at the end of September, and the revenue from viewer charges for the six months through this month will be around ¥23.7 billion short of the company's projection, Hashimoto said.

If nonpayments continue at this pace, NHK could see a fiscal 2005 loss of around ¥50 billion, he said at a briefing in which he also announced an NHK "revival plan."

In the plan, which will serve as the basis for its management programs for fiscal 2006-2008 to be drawn up by January, NHK will strive to be independent and autonomous as a public broadcaster, and aim to cut its workforce by 10 percent or some 1,200 workers.

The plan also calls for considering legal action against viewers who refuse to pay fees.

On Sept. 20, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Taro Aso said the government might allow NHK to take such action.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 24, 2005
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