|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Jan |
 |
Launch of JCSAT-2. |
|
| Aug |
|
Launch of BS-3a. |
|
|
 |
| Feb |
|
Satellite Japan Inc. is certified as a Type I telecommunications carrier. |
|
| April |
|
WOWOW enters service as Japan's first pay TV channel. |
|
| Aug |
| |
Launch of BS-3b. |
|
|
 |
| May |
|
Contracted satellite broadcasting services begin. |
| <CS analog television broadcasting services> |
|
| June |
| |
Contracted satellite broadcasting services begin. |
| <CS-PCM audio broadcasting> |
|
| April |
|
CS broadcasting services begin. |
| <Japan's first CS television broadcast> |
|
| June |
| |
CS-PCM broadcasting services begin. |
| <Japan's first CS audio broadcast> |
|
|
 |
| Aug |
|
Name changed to Japan Satellite Systems Inc. (JSAT) upon the merger of Japan Communications Satellite Company, Inc. and Satellite Japan Corporation. |
|
| April |
|
NHK's BS broadcasting reaches five million subscribers. |
|
|
 |
|
| Nov |
|
DMC Planning Inc. was established. |
| Nov |
|
Broadcasting trials for BS Hi-Vision broadcasting (MOSE) begin. |
|
| June |
|
The Telecommunications Business Law amended to eliminate restrictions on foreign ownership in international satellite communications businesses. |
|
 |
| Feb: |
|
JSAT becomes the first private-sector company to obtain an international telecommunications business license.
|
| Aug |
|
Launch of JCSAT-3 and N-STARa. |
|
| July |
|
DMC Planning Inc. incorporated as DMC Inc., later
renamed PerfecTV Corporation, began a service called "PerfecTV!"
as Japan's first CS digital broadcasting company. |
|
|
|
 |
| Feb |
|
Launch of N-STARb.
|
| June |
|
JCSAT-3 begins digital broadcasting services. |
|
| Oct |
|
"PerfecTV!", Japan's first CS
digital broadcasting service, begins its services. |
|
|
|
 |
| Feb |
|
Launch of JCSAT-4 (currently JCSAT-R).
|
| Dec |
|
Launch of JCSAT-1B. |
|
| April |
|
Launch of BSAT-1a.
|
| Dec |
|
DirecTV Japan begins broadcasting services. |
|
| June |
|
Enactment of Law for Partial
Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Law and the Radio Law, which eliminated restrictions on foreign ownership in Japan's Type I telecommunications carriers. |
| Dec |
|
"Guidelines Concerning the Distinction Between Communications and Broadcasting in Converging New Services that Utilize Communications Satellites" formulated. |
|
 |
| April |
|
JCSAT-4 begins digital broadcasting services. |
|
| March |
|
CS BAAN services end. |
| April |
|
Launch of BSAT-1b. |
| May |
|
PerfecTV Corporation and Japan Sky Broadcasting
Co., Ltd., merge on equal terms, establishing SKY Perfect Communications
Inc. and renaming their service "SKY PerfecTV!." |
| Sept |
|
Skyport services end. |
|
|
 |
| Feb |
|
Launch of JCSAT-4A. |
| June |
|
JCSAT-4A begins digital broadcast services.
(JCSAT-4 ends digital broadcasting services) |
|
|
|
