The Supreme Court's 14-1 decision last week set a precedent that owners of televisions are legally bound to pay subscription fees to NHK. The top court upheld the mandatory subscription fee system as constitutional — dismissing charges that it contravenes the freedom of contract — on the grounds that it serves the purpose of fulfilling people's right to know, a key component of the healthy development of democracy. NHK should take the ruling as a reminder that it needs to make unceasing efforts to fulfill its role as a public broadcaster free from intervention by individuals and groups as well as the government.
The ruling should come as a boon to NHK, which has faced difficulty collecting subscription fees from some TV owners. As use of the internet becomes widespread, however, more and more people shun TV ownership because they feel they have access to sufficient information and entertainment online. NHK should realize that its ability to retain subscribers will depend largely on whether it can broadcast appealing, high-quality programs.
The top court ruled on a lawsuit filed by NHK against a man in Tokyo who refused to respond to the broadcaster's written request in 2011 to sign a viewing contract. NHK takes the position that any household or business owning a TV must subscribe and pay viewing fees regardless of whether or not the owners watch NHK programs. Although the man has owned a TV set since 2006, he did not pay the fees — roughly ¥14,000 annually — claiming that NHK's programs are biased.