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1984 | December | First private satellite broadcasting company, Japan Satellite Broadcasting (now WOWOW), established |
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1989 | November | "WOWOW" chosen as channel nickname |
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1990 | November | Viewer service center opened in Chuo Ward, Tokyo Broadcast center completed in Koto Ward |
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November | Tokyo Service broadcasting started (12-hour free broadcast) |
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1991 | April | Station opened. Commercial broadcasting started (24-hour paid broadcast) |
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November | High-definition test broadcast started, entrusted with transmission of five stations in Tokyo |
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1992 | August | Number of net cumulative subscription contracts exceeds one million households (in world's shortest period for paid television) |
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1996 | January | Number of net cumulative subscription contracts exceeds two million households |
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1998 | February | WOWOW Communications established |
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October | Yokohama customer center opened |
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December | Number of net cumulative subscription contracts exceeds 2.5 million households |
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2000 | December | Name changed to WOWOW Inc. |
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December | BS digital broadcast started |
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2001 | April | Shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers market |
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2003 | February | "Drama W" broadcast started with first series, "Sensei no Kaban" |
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August | Okinawa customer center opened |
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2005 | June | First dividends paid out since founding |
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November | WOWOW Entertainment established |
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2006 | May | Sapporo customer center opened |
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December | Broadcast started on SKY PerfecTV! ch. 330 (124/128 service) |
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2007 | March | WOWOW Scenario Awards created |
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April | Theater movie label WOWOW Films established |
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June | Number of net cumulative subscription contracts for digital exceeds analog |
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October | First WOWOW Films production "Hannin ni Tsugu" released |
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2008 | April | Emergency earthquake broadcast started |
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April | "Drama W Series" broadcast started with first series, "Pandora" |
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2010 | June | Broadcast started on SKY PerfecTV! HD (ch. 621-623) |
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October | Broadcast started on IPTV service "Hikari TV" |
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2011 | March | Market listing switched to Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section |
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July | BS analog broadcast ended |
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October | Full high-definition broadcast started on three channels |
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2012 | July | Program distribution service "WOWOW Members On-Demand" started |
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2014 | December | Broadcast of original documentary on international joint production project started |
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2016 | October | IPC×WOWOW Paralympics documentary series "WHO I AM" broadcast started |
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2017 | March | Acquired shares of Actvila Corporation and converted to its subsidiary. |
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April | Acquired shares of IMAGICA TV Corp. and converted to its subsidiary. |
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2022 | April | Transitioned to the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. |
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2023 | June | Established WOWOW CROSS PLAY, Inc. (joint venture) |
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August | Made Frost International Corporation a sub-subsidiary |
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September | Launched WOWOW On Demand PPV |
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2024 | July | Established WOWOW BRIDGE INC. |
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October | Made CINRA, Inc. a sub-subsdiary. |