Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc. (株式会社東京放送, Kabushiki Gaisha Tōkyō Hōsō, commonly referred to as TBS) is a television network in Tokyo, Japan.

TBS has a 28-affiliate news network called JNN (Japan News Network), as well as a 34-affiliate radio network called JRN (Japan Radio Network) which TBS Radio & Communications has. The TV programs of TBS are produced by "Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc." (株式会社TBSテレビ). One of the main stockholders is Mainichi Broadcasting System.

The network produces the Takeshi's Castle game show, which is dubbed and rebroadcast in Germany (DSF ), Britain (Challenge), and the United States (Spike TV, under the name MXC, formerly Most Extreme Elimination Challenge).

History of TBS

In May, 1951, Radio Tokyo (ラジオ東京, former name of TBS) was founded. On December 24, it started a radio broadcasting, and started a TV broadcasting in April, 1955. In November, 1960, the broadcasting station was renamed Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc. (株式会社東京放送). In 1975, a network TV station in Osaka changed from Asahi Broadcasting Corporation to Mainichi Broadcasting System. In 1994, the new office completed next to the old office. The new office is called "Big Hat (ビッグハット)". On March 21, 2000, TBS founded TBS Radio & Communications Inc. (株式会社TBSラジオ&コミュニケーションズ), TBS Entertainment Inc. (株式会社TBSエンタテインメント), and TBS Sports Inc. (株式会社TBSスポーツ), and founded TBS Live Inc. (株式会社TBSライブ) the next day. In 2001, TBS succeeded the radio station to TBS Radio & Communications, and changed callsigns (ex. JOKR-TV → JORX-TV). On October 1, 2004, TBS Entertainment merged TBS Sports and TBS Live, and changed the name to "Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc." (株式会社TBSテレビ).

Broadcasting

Analog

JORX-TV (former callsign: JOKR-TV) - TBS Television (TBSテレビジョン (former Japanese name: 東京放送))

• Tokyo Tower - Channel 6

Digital

JORX-DTV - TBS Digital Television (TBSデジタルテレビジョン)

• Remote Controller ID 6

Programs

• Mino Monta no Asa Zuba! (みのもんたの朝ズバッ!!) - started on March 28, 2005, from 5:30 untill 8:30 on Weekdays
• Kids are Alright Groovy After School! (学校へ行こう!, - March 15, 2005) → Kids are Alright Groovy After School! MAX (学校へ行こう!MAX, April 19, 2005 -) - from 20:00 untill 20:54 every Tuesday
• Zubari Iuwayo! (ズバリ言うわよ!) - from 21:00 untill 21:54 every Tuesday
• Utaban (うたばん) - from 20:00 untill 20:54 every Thursday
• THE BASEBALL Yakyu Retto 2006 (THE BASEBALL 野球烈闘2006) - baseball games of the Yokohama BayStars

Other TV stations in Tokyo

• Nippon TV (Nittele) (日本テレビ, 日テレ)
• Fuji TV (フジテレビ)
• TV Asahi (テレビ朝日)
• TV Tokyo (テレビ東京)

Website

• http://www.tbs.co.jp/ - TBS Television
• http://www.tbs.co.jp/radio/ - TBS Radio & Communications
• Keshi Heads (UK site with lots of info on Takeshi's Castle with pictures, sound clips and more)

See also: Television station