Seiji Miyane to end Miyaneya in September, triggering Nippon TV–Yomiuri TV rivalry

Announced the end live on air

On February 12, freelance announcer Seiji Miyane (62) announced live on air that Jōhō Live Miyaneya (Nippon TV network, produced by Yomiuri TV), which he hosts, will end its broadcast at the end of September.

“On the show, Miyane joked, ‘I might stop quitting,’ but his decision is very firm. He had already informed Yomiuri TV of his intention to step down two or three years ago. The entertainment media’s interest has already shifted to who will succeed him. Names being discussed include Mayuko Wakuda (37), who will become independent from NHK, and Erina Iwata (30), who is leaving Nippon TV this spring and will join the same agency as Miyane. Since this is a weekday afternoon program, the salary is enormous, and production companies are already maneuvering behind the scenes,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

When announcing the show’s end, Miyane expressed appreciation to the staff:

“With this staff, I’m sure they will create even more amazing programs in the future.”

However, simply appointing a new host and producing a successor program may not be so easy. A Yomiuri TV insider commented:

“Yomiuri TV was desperately trying to persuade Miyane not to quit the show. So when we heard directly from him that the program would end, it really felt like the time has finally come. From here on, things could get very difficult for us.”

The Appeal of Live News

For nearly 20 years, Miyaneya has dominated afternoon wide-show ratings. Although it is broadcast nationwide, the program is produced not by the key station Nippon TV, but by Yomiuri TV in Osaka. This “twist” is creating tense dynamics as the show ends.

“With the program ending, it’s inevitable that Nippon TV will demand the ‘time slot’ back. After all, it’s been 20 years. But for Yomiuri, this is the most profitable slot in the station, so even if it’s a request from the key station, they can’t just hand it over. A nationwide weekday afternoon slot is a cash cow in terms of sales,” said the same Yomiuri TV insider.

Miyane’s departure triggers a battle for the coveted time slot within the Nippon TV group. Considering that the 2–4 p.m. slot has consistently led ratings, it’s easy to imagine how highly Nippon TV values it.

“The 2–4 p.m. slot is when politics, crimes, and entertainment news unfold—the world is moving. That’s why Fuji TV’s nationwide broadcast of Shunkan LIVE Toretette! (produced by Kansai TV) from February 25 to revive afternoon information programming is so appealing—it covers live news. For this reason, Nippon TV’s news department has long had its eyes on the Miyaneya slot,” said a Nippon TV source.

Nippon TV’s news every., airing at 3:50 p.m., currently leads private network ratings. Because of this, the network seems eager to air news programs produced by its news department from 2 p.m. through the 6 p.m. evening slot.

The battle for the slot within the Nippon TV group, sparked by Miyane’s resignation, has quietly begun behind the scenes.

[YouTube] On FRIDAY Digital’s “Entertainment Reporter Channel,” active entertainment journalists analyze the circumstances behind Miyane’s departure in Miyaneya Ending Report. Seiji Miyane’s Reason for Leaving and the Nippon TV vs. Yomiuri TV Battle for the Slot Explored [Entertainment Reporters Thoroughly Explain #9], providing detailed coverage based on interviews and insights into the internal struggles within the Nippon TV group.