Fuji Television Network Inc., Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. and Livedoor Co. launched executive-level talks Tuesday to discuss details of their planned business alliance, their officials said.
The business-alliance task force held its first meeting after Fuji TV and Livedoor, an Internet portal site operator, announced a pact in mid-April to end their highly publicized battle for control of radio firm Nippon Broadcasting and consider an alliance.
Fuji TV is the core company of the Fujisankei media conglomerate to which Nippon Broadcasting also belongs.
The task force is expected to hold a meeting once a week for the next six months to detail a plan for the integration of Internet and broadcasting services,
However, due to such difficulties as the copyright issues of putting TV programs on the Internet, it is unclear whether they can hammer out an accord to benefit for both sides, the sources said.
During the takeover battle, Livedoor made alliance overtures to Fuji TV, proposing the broadcast of Fuji TV programs on the Internet and advertisements on Fuji TV for products for sale at Livedoor's Web portal.
Their mid-April deal also says Fuji TV will buy back the Nippon Broadcasting shares purchased by Livedoor during the battle and will make the radio firm its wholly owned subsidiary by Sept. 1.
Nippon Broadcasting President Akinobu Kamebuchi told a news conference Tuesday he believes the best way for his firm to survive as a radio broadcaster is to become a subsidiary of Fuji TV.
Kamebuchi said he was willing to stay in his post until NBS comes under Fuji TV in September. The terms of all current NBS board members expire at next month's general shareholders' meeting.