Unfazed by Johnny’s Matsumoto Incident Former Tv Tokyo Producer Unveils Resilient Strategy

Mr. Matsumoto has never appeared on any TV Tokyo program.

TV Tokyo is said to have suffered little damage in the wake of the Hitoshi Matsumoto sexual assault scandal, thanks to its unique lineup. Even during the Johnny’s s sexual assault scandal, there were no major changes in programming thanks to the lack of prime-time programs by former Johnny’s Office talent.

Former TV Tokyo producer and current professor in the Faculty of Arts and Culture at J. F. Oberlin University, Mr. Toshihiko Tabuchi, will explain the reason behind TV Tokyo’s unique approach, describing it as a certain type of strength.

Hitoshi Matsumoto’s first on-screen appearance in a long time

The allegations of sexual misconduct involving Matsumoto Hitoshi have been making headlines daily, but it feels like we’ve exhausted the topic. Amidst this, footage from Matsumoto’s past aired on the February 28th broadcast of “Wednesday Downtown,” airing on TBS at 10 p.m., causing a stir with comments like “Matsumoto, back in action!”.

As you know, Matsumoto is technically on “indefinite hiatus,” so it’s not exactly a “comeback,” but seeing him on screen, his signature commentary is as sharp as ever, and viewers on social media are buzzing with comments like “It’s been a while” and “It’s just not the same without Matsumoto.” According to an article on a website, this VTR appearance was orchestrated by the producers. I haven’t personally confirmed this with him, so the veracity remains uncertain, but if true, it suggests that the show or the network is in quite a predicament.

Certainly, since it’s footage from the past that hasn’t been used before, it can be aired with permission from the agency. However, given the amount of criticism surrounding the situation, it’s surprising that they acknowledged it with a statement like, “In light of ongoing investigations, we’re refraining from specific legal actions and referring to it as ‘Matsumoto’s private matter.'” Normally, the agency wouldn’t have agreed to it so easily.

But it happened nonetheless, and that’s why I mentioned, “The show or the network must be in quite a predicament.” To secure ratings and appease sponsors, footage of Matsumoto was necessary. It’s likely there was either a close relationship with Yoshimoto Kogyo or a significant negotiation battle ensued.

“Wednesday Downtown” boasts immense popularity in the variety show genre. This is evidenced by TVer’s playback ranking. According to TVer’s “October-December 2023 Overall Program Playback Ranking,” out of the top 10, nine were dramas. The only program from another genre to rank was “Wednesday Downtown,” coming in at 7th place.

The reason why the stations responded quickly to the Hitoshi Matsumoto sexual assault allegations

Unlike the Johnny’s sexual harassment issue, the television’s response to the recent sexual harassment allegations against Matsumoto Hitoshi was relatively swift. This was not because television had learned from past mistakes, but because of the prompt response from sponsors.