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Japan: No TV, let's play Wii

11:05 AM on 07.11.2007   |   Dale North

Japan: No TV, let's play Wii photo

Japanese are ditching dramas and vetoing variety shows, leaving one remote on the coffee table in favor of another more entertaining one. We already knew that the Nintendo Wii prints money, but now it turns out that it has the power to steal audiences from prime time television, too.

The Times reports that media insiders believe that the game system is responsible for an unprecedented decline in ratings numbers and viewing figures for Japan's top-rated television shows. With Nintendo selling more systems than ever, they might be the perfect scapegoat. One executive from Japan's largest network, Fuji TV, says that families seem to be drifting away from their regular television habits, moving towards more quality time with their Wii. Television big dogs were shocked to find out that no single show on any station attracted more than a nine percent audience share last week.

“The quality of programming has always been a little cyclical in Japan, but there has never been a period of decline like the one we are seeing now. There are outside factors at work. One is people watching TV on their cell phones where we can’t track them, but the really big factor is the time people are spending on the Wii,” an executive of TBS, another major commercial channel, said.

The exec goes on to say that television makers may be losing as they're not used to competing with anything but other television programming. He also is quick to point out that the Wii has not won yet, and that the Olympic Games, Japanese baseball, and the World Cup haven't weighed in yet.

Our take? It's great that people are getting their asses off the couch. No one should be complaining about that. Let's hope that trend catches on in America and Europe, too.

[via The Times ]







More gaming stories around the web. Got news? Submit yours to tips@destructoid.com

Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools. Meet the rest of the team



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15 comments | showing # 1 to 15
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BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 11:02
BahamutZero
I think TV everywhere is suffering the effects of increased gaming, torrents, and downloadable on demand video services
Dale North's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 11:04
Dale North
good points, BahamutZero. Didn't think about torrents or VOD, maybe Japan's tv execs aren't either.
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 11:06
BluDesign
If this means less Naruto, Bleach, and Hard Gay in FujiTV prime time, then I'm all for it.
MATTFOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 11:11
MATTFOO
i dont watch tv much...all i ever sit down and watch is futurama, family guy, x-play, aots, and if theres a good movie on ill watch that...
but now tv has gone to shit..i dont wanna see a rich little girl bitching about her 12 million $$$$ birthday party.. just the concepts on shows have gone to shit. fuck vh1 fuck mtv..........adult swim, discovery and animal planet all day bitches!
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 11:15
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain
This can be solved easily with a Phoenix Wright anime.

DO IT, FUJI TV.
Grapefruit Juice's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 11:42
Grapefruit Juice
I knew people bought the Wii, but played it too?!?
SourGr8pes's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 11:49
SourGr8pes
People are playing the Wii for more than an hour straight?! This is newsworthy!!
Blaaguuu's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 12:01
Blaaguuu
MATTFOO has it right... I'm all about the Adult Swim and Discovery. That is pretty much all I watch these days... And its usually just background noise, if it isn't Futurama or Man Vs Wild on.
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 12:08
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain
Damnit, nobody agrees with a Phoenix Wright TV Show?


@Blaguuu
Bear Grylls drank his own pee last Friday. Best thing to happen since he peed on his shirt and wrapped it around his face.
Milofo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 12:14
Milofo
Well there are more games up for release here in Japan right now then in the states so I think its safe to assume that people would actually play their Wiis. Even though I live in Japan I don't own a TV. Japanese TV has too many cooking shows where the people ALWAYS say the food is delicious.
Blaaguuu's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 15:21
Blaaguuu
Agent Chieftain, I can't believe I missed that episode :o

Also, when are we getting Bear Grylls: The Game?
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 15:46
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain
Submit that to Linde for Fake Game Friday, or I will.

"Tough enough for the Halos? Well you ain't tough enough for the Wild™"
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2007 15:48
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain
Oops, I mean RevAnt. My bad.
Ajaw15's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/13/2007 04:27
Ajaw15
i'm starting to believe bear grylls could kick chuck norris' ass. I mean, i'm sure one of you guys saw that thing with the elephant shit and him being thirsty. don't wanna spoil too much
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