Nippon TV keeps Studio Ghibli films off Japan streaming
Studio Ghibli films remain largely unavailable on streaming platforms in Japan, with Nippon TV's President and CEO, Hiroyuki Fukuda, stating the company will continue to prioritize terrestrial TV broadcasts. Despite international streaming availability and declining traditional viewership, the company's current policy favors its 'Friday Roadshow' slot, sparking concerns about the studio’s domestic accessibility to younger generations.
Key Takeaways
- Hiroyuki Fukuda said Nippon TV and Studio Ghibli will continue prioritizing the terrestrial TV slot “Friday Roadshow.”
- In Japan, Ghibli films are currently available only via Nippon TV broadcasts or DVDs, not on major streaming platforms.
- The article notes that Nippon TV owns Hulu domestically, yet still has not opened Ghibli titles to streaming.
- Japanese author and journalist Soichiro Matsutani said the company may be using rare film broadcasts to defend television’s weakening position.
- Users on X pushed for streaming access, with some arguing that titles like My Neighbors the Yamadas, Only Yesterday, and Grave of the Fireflies are underused.
Why It Matters
For Japanese viewers, the immediate effect is continued limited access to Studio Ghibli’s catalog: the films remain tied to TV broadcasts and DVDs while streaming availability stays absent at home. That matters because the same library is widely available on Netflix and HBO Max outside Japan, highlighting a split distribution strategy inside one market. The next signal to watch is whether Nippon TV makes any concrete change after acknowledging “various requests and opinions regarding streaming,” rather than keeping Ghibli anchored to Friday Roadshow.
Read full article at automaton-media.com
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