Nippon Television Network Corp. –

said Friday that it is considering establishing a planning company to enter the digital broadcasting business using an advanced communications satellite.

The company, however, denied media reports that the new business will be centered on an alliance with Japan Satellite Broadcasting Inc. (Wowow).

"It's true that we're interested in a business chance in communications satellites. But we're not interested in (an alliance with) Wowow," said NTV President Seiichiro Ujiie during a hastily convened press conference in Tokyo.

"If Wowow wants to join our (planned) consortium, that would be a different story. But it's totally impossible that we and Wowow alone will (launch the satellite business)," Ujiie said.

The communications satellite (CS), to be launched by two Japanese firms in August, will be placed in the same orbit -- 110 degrees east longitude -- as that followed by an existing broadcast satellite (BS), which will begin transmitting digital broadcasting services to Japan in December.

The satellites having the same orbit means users will be able to receive signals from both satellites with a single antenna and tuner. This is expected to increase subscribers and expand business opportunities.

So far, BS and CS separately offer programs and users have to buy different tuners and antennas.

Ujiie said he has already approached some companies to see if they are interested in jointly launching a consortium for the new satellite broadcasting business.

But he said Wowow is merely "one of them," and no agreement has been reached between NTV and Wowow, as was reported in the Friday morning editions of some Japanese newspapers. Currently Digital Broadcasting Services Inc. (SkyPerfecTV) is the sole player in the CS broadcasting market as its rival DirecTV has already decided to liquidate after terminating services by the end of the year.

Wowow, with some 2.5 million subscribers, has suffered a slowdown in subscription growth due to competition with SkyPerfecTV. This has apparently prompted the company to seek a partner for the CS market.