■WOWOW's Broadcast Program Editing Standards
As a private broadcaster broadcasting throughout Japan, our company's mission is to play a role in cultural improvement, public welfare, and the success of the industry and the economy, thereby contributing to the realization of a peaceful society.
Based on this awareness, in keeping with the spirit of democracy, we value fundamental human rights and public opinion, defend freedom of speech and expression, and respond to society's confidence by respecting law and order. To ensure this, we create our broadcast programming according to the following standards.
1) The types of programming shall include educational, cultural, entertainment, and news programs, among others.
2) Educational and cultural programming shall be created for a clearly defined audience in an appropriate time slot, about which the public shall be fully informed.
3) Entertainment programming shall provide the audience with healthy amusement and enrich their daily lives.
4) News programming shall eliminate interference of any kind and maintain an impartial point of view with regard to political, economic, and social issues, providing the public with a basis for making informed decisions.
5) We shall not broadcast content that is inimical to public safety or moral decency.
6) The advertising we run shall convey the truth, comply with the relevant laws, and be socially responsible.
7) We shall aim to ensure appropriate program content through respecting the views of the Broadcast Program Ethics Council. We shall also monitor audience views and desires and reflect them in our programming.
8) When planning, producing, and broadcasting individual programs, we shall comply with the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association's Broadcasting Standards as a basic policy.
Established December 21, 1990
Revised February 25, 2016
Revised April 1, 2023
Revised April 1, 2024
■WOWOW's Basic Plan for Broadcast Program Editing
With regard to our broadcast programs, from the perspective of public welfare, we shall always make dignity a priority, value public opinion, support fairness and freedom of speech, and enhance our status while giving consideration to contributing to the development and improvement of various areas, such as the industry, economy, and culture.
When planning, producing, and creating programs, we shall use the following basic plan:
- (Broadcast times）
1.As a rule, programs shall be broadcast 24 hours a day.
- (Program types)
2.The broadcast programs we create shall include educational, cultural, entertainment, and news programming, among others.
- (Educational programs）
3.Educational programs shall generate interest in general knowledge, science, arts, crafts, etc. for the benefit of families, adult members of society, youth, and children.
- (Cultural programs)
4.Cultural programs shall cultivate the general knowledge and emotional sensibility of viewers in a well-rounded manner, thereby contributing to improving the public's general cultural awareness.
- (Entertainment programs)
5.Entertainment programs shall provide healthy amusement suited to the audience's lifestyle that will enrich the daily lives of the public.
- (News programs)
6.News programs shall convey the truth in a fair, timely, easy-to-understand manner and address matters of interest to the public.
- (Advertising)
7.Advertising broadcasts shall contribute to the economic life of the audience and the development of the industry and economy while also being suited to the content and style of our programs.
- (Other programs)
8.Other programs shall be information programming to promote viewers' understanding of pay TV and the content of our broadcast programs, etc.
Established December 21, 1990
Revised May 21, 1998
■WOWOW's Voluntary Standards for Outsourcing of Program Production
Recognizing our social responsibility and public mission as a media company, WOWOW aims to contribute to the creation of individual happiness and cultural richness through our entertainment content.
To achieve this, it's essential that we collaborate with external broadcast program production companies and creators, and in our dealings with them, we ensure integrity and transparency and proactively promote equitable relationships.
With regard to program production deals with production companies based on the Principles for Programming Production Outsourcing created by the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association, we have established the following Voluntary Standards for Broadcast Program Production Outsourcing.
- 1. Basic Policy on Program Production Outsourcing
- 1) When outsourcing program production, the production company shall be respected as an equal partner, with whom we shall maintain and develop a close collaborative relationship while enhancing our mutual understanding.
- 2) We shall execute contracts after thoroughly discussing and agreeing on the terms of the program production outsourcing agreement with the production company in advance.
- 3) Contracts shall clearly indicate the details that have been agreed, such as the specifics of the outsourced work, compensation, payment method, and scope of rights.
- 4) We shall comply with relevant laws such as the Anti-Monopoly Act and the Act against Delay in Payment of Subcontract Proceeds, Etc. to Subcontractors, and shall not abuse our dominant bargaining position with respect to production companies.
- 2. Matters Specified in Program Production Outsourcing Contracts
- 1) When outsourcing program production, we shall discuss the program project's intentions, the specifics of the outsourced work, the terms, etc. with the production company in depth and obtain their agreement before placing an order.
- 2) When outsourcing program production, we shall use our standard contract form as a general rule.
- 3) The contract shall include the following items, based on the results of discussion with the production company.
- Contract purpose
We shall specify whether work relating to production of the program is to be outsourced in whole or in part.
- Program overview
We shall specifically indicate the title, scheduled broadcast date(s), and the number of episodes to be outsourced.
- Compensation
We shall specifically indicate the payment amount, date, and method. Furthermore, we shall stipulate that payment of compensation will not violate the Act against Delay in Payment of Subcontract Proceeds, Etc. to Subcontractors.
- Secondary use
If program copyright is shared with the production company, as a general rule we shall indicate that WOWOW will be the exploiting party regarding secondary use of the program, and when exercising secondary use rights, we shall discuss it thoroughly with the production company.
- Displaying of credits
Description of the production when displaying the program's credits will be based on the reality of the production.
- Production-related compliance matters
We shall specifically indicate the matters with which the production company must comply during program production.
- Suspension of production
We shall explain the handling of the situation if production is suspended.
- Other
We shall stipulate other general conditions, such as restrictions on assignment of accounts receivable and the court of jurisdiction.
- 4) Based on close discussion with the production company, terms that cannot be accommodated within the scope of the standard contract form will be clearly expressed in writing and included in the contract as "Special Notes."
- (5) If exercising secondary use rights in cases where program copyright is shared with the production company, we will thoroughly discuss it with the production company in advance, then prepare and execute a memorandum indicating the period, the agreed allocation rate, the allocation payment method, etc.
Established March 15, 2019
