NHK is funded mainly by receiving fees. They make up nearly 100% of the corporation’s total income.

NHK’s mission as a public service media organization is to deliver impartial, high-quality programs. Programs should never be influenced by the government or private organizations. NHK considers it to be its responsibility to provide a wide range of programs that are balanced, without the influence of ratings or third-party interests.

The receiving fee system ensures NHK’s financial independence, which guarantees NHK’s editorial independence and impartiality.

Viewers are not asked to pay to access specific programs, but to support the operations of NHK as a whole. The Broadcasting Act stipulates that the fees shall be paid equally by every household and business in Japan with a television set.

Receiving Fees

Anyone who has installed equipment capable of receiving satellite broadcasts is required to pay a fee for the Satellite Contract. Viewers who are only able to receive terrestrial broadcasts are required to pay for the Terrestrial Contract.

Receiving fees (tax included, as of October 2023)

• Receiving fee in Okinawa Prefecture is different from that in the rest of Japan
• Viewers can choose their payment cycle: every two months, every six months, or every year

NHK will continue to pursue an equitable sharing of the burden of receiving fees and promote viewers’ understanding of the receiving fee system.

Article 64 of the Broadcasting Act:

Any person who has installed receiving equipment capable of receiving the broadcasting provided by NHK shall conclude a contract with NHK with regard to the reception of its broadcasting. However, this shall not apply to those who have installed receiving equipment not intended for the reception of broadcasting, or receiving equipment solely for the reception of radio broadcasting or multiplex broadcasting (broadcasting of voice and other sound transmissions not coming under television broadcasting and multiplex broadcasting classifications).