Exclusive: Secret Salary List of MC Comedians – Arai 800K, Chidori 1M, Who’s No. 1?
While the big-name talents were losing money and "Chidori" and "Kamaitachi" were making great strides, it was that duo that dominated the top spot!
With the rise of subscription streaming services and online television, the financial situation of terrestrial TV stations has significantly changed. In the past, a one-hour variety show broadcast during the golden time slot would cost tens of millions of yen to produce, but now that amount has decreased to about one-third. Amid these struggles, TV station staff are troubled by the issue of talent fees.
“Talent fees are calculated based on potential viewership ratings and their contribution to the station. Potential viewership refers to the estimated rating a single talent could achieve. Contribution refers to how much the talent favors the station’s programs. Contribution is determined by the number of previous appearances, so naturally, it increases as the talent becomes more experienced” (a variety show director at a major network).
This time, FRIDAY obtained a latest salary list of popular MC comedians created by a major TV station as of the end of September 2024. The list includes the minimum amounts for MCs hosting one-hour programs in the golden and prime time slots (7–11 p.m.). FRIDAY also succeeded in obtaining a salary list from 10 years ago. The table below ranks the salaries of popular MC comedians in 2024 based on the list, analyzing the fluctuations over the past 10 years from 2014, and examining who the real powerhouses are.
Non-hurting duo tied for first place with the same amount.
Amidst the fierce competition among popular comedians, the top spot is shared by the duo “Uchiyan-Nanchan” (Uchimura and Nannbara).
“In contrast to the type of humor often used by ‘Downtown’ and ‘Tunnels’—which involves mocking people’s appearance, actions, or scolding fellow performers—Uchiura Mitsuyoshi (60) and Minamihara Kiyotaka (59) have gained support for their style that doesn’t hurt anyone. Their high fees can also be attributed to their agency, Masaki Geinosha, negotiating strongly, but what really matters is that they continue to pull in solid ratings,” said an executive from a key network.
Following in the footsteps of these reigning champions are the mid-career comedians.
“Comedians like ‘Banana Man’ Shitara Osamu (51) and Teruyuki Tsuchida (52) may seem relaxed, but the ‘Cree-Muchu’ duo of Ueda Shinya (54) and Arita Teppei (53), who are close in age, take the lead in energizing the studio, actively engaging in witty banter and creating a lively atmosphere. As of 2024, their potential ratings are solid, and their high fees remain intact.”
Although Hiroiki Ariyoshi (50) arguably deserves a higher fee, he is considered reasonably priced because his agency does not take a strong stance in negotiations. Some say that due to his background of struggle, Ariyoshi prefers to keep his own fees low in order to give more opportunities to younger comedians. A prime example of this is “Ariyoshi no Kabe” (Nippon TV), where this attitude is evident.
