NTV CSR

Contribution to Society

Barrier-free Information

NTV has, for some time now, been contributing to the Barrier-free Information campaign advocated by the government.
In August 2001, NTV became the first broadcaster in the country to broadcast a news program with full real-time closed captioning. Currently, closed captioning is provided on the midday "News Dash" and on the evening "News Plus1" broadcasts. Our system is deeply appreciated by individuals with hearing disabilities because it captures the voices not only of the presenters, reporters and announcers, but also of press conferences, interviews and other events.

NTV is actively pursuing equal opportunity in information provision, and aims to provide closed captioning on an increasing number of other programs.

Cultural Heritage

Over 24 years ago, a visitor to the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City would have seen the ceiling frescoes or The Last Judgement blackened by soot. Today the same visitor would be overwhelmed by the sight of the opulent hues and powerful lines of Michelangelo's brush. At the request of the Vatican, Nippon Television undertook restoration of these works of art, and in a long-term project stretching from 1981 to 1994, revealed the brushwork of a maestro that had gradually become obscured over 500 years.

NTV has also contributed to the preservation and protection of world cultural heritage through the refurbishment of exhibition facilities for the Mona Lisa and Milo's Venus at the Louvre in Paris. Other projects around the world include the restoration of the Japanese garden at the Rothschild Museum on the outskirts of Nice in southern France.

24-Hour Television "Love Saves the Earth"

In commemoration of NTV’s 25th anniversary, we began charity program “24-Hour Television” in 1978. Based upon the three pillars of public welfare, environment and disaster relief, we have continued our charitable activities through donations from viewers, corporate support from clients who share the program's philosophy and cooperation of NTV's network affiliates who comprise Japan's largest broadcasting network.

Nippon Television Network "Dove of Love" Public Welfare Foundation

In recent years, television broadcasting has made tremendous efforts to eliminate the information gap by aggressively catering to the needs of those who have disabilities. Description of scenery is provided via sub-audio to those who are visually impaired, and sign language interpreters or closed-captioned programming with text display are provided to those who are hearing impaired. In 1974 when these types of services were not the norm of television broadcasting, this foundation was established to help those with visual and hearing disabilities to fully enjoy television. Thirty-six years ago, NTV, along with four of its network affiliates (Yomiuri Telecasting, Sapporo Television Broadcasting, Chukyo TV Broadcasting and Fukuoka Broadcasting) contributed funds towards its establishment. Since then this foundation has helped to implement a wide range of activities as outlined below.

Offering Sign Language School
Sign language classes are offered every Saturday at Kojimachi in Chiyoda Ward to increase the pervasiveness of sign language. There are currently about 100 students learning to sign.

News Broadcast using Sign Language
Every Sunday morning, NNN delivers news on a nationwide scale using a sign language interpreter.

Distribution of Braille Calendars
Although Braille calendars with accompanying photographs are very unusual, we provide a 12-page Braille calendar full of photographs to visually-impaired people nationwide who request them.
Our 2010 calendar titled "Japanese Lighthouses" features lighthouses and ocean scenery from various locations across Japan.


With expectations that a Braille calendar with a similar concept would be created overseas, we made our first attempt in 2007 by producing an English-language Braille calendar, which we have donated as reference material to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and other relevant organizations.