Production cost is only 2 million yen… The “hierarchy at the top of key stations” is collapsing as production companies and talent leave terrestrial broadcasting.

Fuji Television has finally come this far. ……

Mr. A, a producer in charge of variety programs at a TV program production company, lamented, “Fuji Television has finally come to this point. He was shocked to hear the budget for the late-night show from an old acquaintance of his at Fuji Television.

He was astonished when he heard the budget for the program. This is insane. ……

Readers may not have the slightest idea of what he was talking about, but TV people will understand that this is a level of “price destruction. The cost of the talent, makeup, stylists, and writers, the cost of sets and props, location vehicles, box lunches, camera and lighting equipment rental, studio fees, and editing costs are all kept within 2 million yen, and the profit is covered as well.

In the heyday of Fuji Television, the production cost of a one-hour program was 50 million yen in prime time (19:00-23:00) and 10 million yen even in the late-night slot. That’s what …… YouTubers spend much more money on. I know that 2 million yen is not enough to make a good show, but if I don’t submit a project, I won’t get assigned work. That’s why I dare to come up with a project that is not compliant, something that the key stations don’t like (laughs). (Laughs.) Because if the project goes through, we will definitely lose money.

Since the Showa period (1926-1989), many Japanese TV programs have been supported by production companies. Most projects originated from the production companies, with only a few staff members coming to the site, and the production companies handling the majority of the work. However, the hierarchy that has been established at the top of terrestrial TV stations is now collapsing.