NHK's budget and business plan for the new fiscal year was submitted to the Diet on the 9th, along with opinions from Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Matsumoto.
NHK's budget and business plan are subject to approval by the Diet every fiscal year.
According to the new fiscal year 2024 budget, business revenue is expected to be 602.1 billion yen, 41.8 billion yen less than the previous fiscal year.
Of this amount, reception fee revenue is 581 billion yen, a decrease of 42.9 billion yen due to factors such as a 10% price reduction from October last year.
Business expenditures are 659.1 billion yen, 12.8 billion yen less than the previous fiscal year, due to upfront investment with an eye toward future cost reductions and a review of overall operations.
The operating balance, which is calculated by subtracting expenses from revenue, is a shortfall of 57 billion yen, which will be compensated for by the ``Reserve Fund for Reduction Purposes,'' which will be used to systematically lower reception fees by 10%.
The business plan also calls for implementing broadcasts and services for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, as well as deepening coverage of ``protecting lives and livelihoods'' amid the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters.
Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Matsumoto's opinion regarding the budget and business plan is that while maintaining the quality of broadcast programs, we will continue to constantly review the scale of business necessary to fulfill the role of public broadcasting, and ensure that license fees are borne appropriately and fairly. We are calling on NHK to steadily move forward with efforts to ensure thorough implementation.
Furthermore, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake has reminded us of the importance of the role of broadcasting, and calls for continued preparation for future disasters.
Furthermore, in the event of a disaster, it is expected that false and misinformation will be disseminated and spread, especially through SNS, etc., and calls for alerting the public through broadcasting and other means.