10, 31. 2006
The heads of television stations operating with the government license are required to give a press conference at least once a month. The top people of TV companies usually have a rich personality unlike those of other business firms, and particularly popular of them among reporters is Sadahiko Sugaya, 67-year-old President and CEO of TV Tokyo Corp. At a recent press conference, Sugaya said pro boxer Koki Kameda was “disgraceful to Japan.” Making such a daring statement that apparently reflected the sentiment of the general public seems to be the reason behind his popularity.
The statement to the effect that “Kameda is disgraceful” was made at the press conference held at the end of September. Commenting on Kameda’s championship match with Venezuelan Juan Hose Landaeta held in August, Sugaya said, “Sports are healthy entertainment. Except for strange boxers’ match.” He added, “It was perfectly clear he (Kameda) lost. Winning the championship like that is disgraceful to Japan. The attitude must be changed…”
He Discloses Fees for Broadcasting Right for Giants Matches against Trend
President Sugaya of TV Tokyo enjoys strong popularity among reporters.
Sugaya’s critical comments were then also pointed to Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), which televised the match. He said, “TBS is responsible, too. It was not an attitude of a television station which must offer healthy programs.” Continuing his lip service to the press, he further touched on the amount of the fees for the broadcasting right for Giants baseball matches and said, “We are proposing to introduce a slide system in determining the amount of the fees in accordance with the position where the Giants stands in the tournament at the time of televising.”
It is generally understood to be an unspoken rule among television stations that the president of one of them would not criticize against what others might do. But Sugaya obviously doesn’t care. The public relations staff at TV Tokyo are always nervous when the president’s press conference is held. But he never gives his attention to them. It was not the first time for him to dread the PR staff. When NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.) selected popular TV personality Monta Mino as the master of ceremonies for its annual year-end singing competition (kohaku), Sugaya said, “With Monta Mino as the compere (of Kohaku), they must be showing revival songs. They are getting closer to what we are doing.” The statement sounded satirical as TV Tokyo broadcast its program, Songs of Japan for the Old Year, in the same time as Kohaku.
In May 2006, he commented on the dwindling viewing rate for the televising of Giants games and said, “I don’t like (the Giants’) hiring of only fourth batters by taking advantage of their abundant funds. This is the sort of feeling spreading (among the fans).” He also disclosed the broadcasting fee (100 million yen) for the Giants games, which is considered to be a taboo. Touching also on the buyout attempt by Rakuten Co. of TBS stock, Sugaya said, “It is important for the news media to maintain their independence. It’s tantamount to committing suicide for one particular stockholder to come out to the front. Mr. Mikitani (Rakuten president) should withdraw.”
He Attracts More Reporters than Anybody Else
Apparently because of his making of the daring statements, Sugaya’s press conferences attract more reporters than any other broadcasting company president. He seems to be popular because he sometimes goes off the beam by saying such things as “I am a fan of mo-musume (popular show girls),” and also because he attacks the Giants and NHK, which hold the power of authority. A reporter for a broadcasting company says, however, “President Sugaya so often whitewashes. What he says often runs counter to what he actually does, such as having adult actresses appear in the late night shows of his station and programming of many teleshopping shows.”
Sugaya joined Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc. (Nikkei) after graduating from the Waseda University in 1961. He was a member of the tennis club of the university while he was a student. He was recognized as a successful reporter when he was assigned to the economic section at Nikkei. He served as director and then executive director with the newspaper company before becoming vice-president of TV Tokyo in 1999. He became president of the television company in 2001.
Besides Sugaya himself, many of executives of TV Tokyo come from Nikkei and thus the company is often said to be under the control of Nikkei. Its news programming consists chiefly of economic affairs, such as those titled as the “Stock News” and the “World Business Satellite.” The company spends less money for the production of programs than others, but it tries to offset this handicap by producing its own characteristic programs, such as “Nandemo Kanteidan (Appraising of Whatever Curios),” “Adomachikku Tengoku (Visiting Towns)” and a program to introduce local gourmet food.
Critical voices are constantly expressed by general employees of the company about the control by Nikkei of their company. Sugaya says, “Someone who comes originally from the television industry will become the president of the company in one or two generations’ time.” This indicates he has already decided his successor will also be picked from Nikkei. If someone who has originally employed by TV Tokyo is selected at Sugaya’s successor as the president of TV Tokyo, his popularity may still grow.
