Nippon Television Network Corp. will launch pay-per-view services on the Internet by October, network officials said Tuesday.
Nippon TV will have a Web site where registered users will be able to download programs already shown on TV for 100 yen, the officials said.
There will be no membership fees, they said.
The downloadable programs, which will be ones with no copyright restrictions, might be divided into several three- to 15-minute segments, the officials said.
Nippon TV also plans to create programs specifically for Internet-based distribution but will broadcast them first on television.
Later in the day, rival Fuji Television Network Inc. also announced plans to make some of its TV programs available on the Internet.
Under the new service, dubbed Fuji TV on Demand, the broadcaster will start distributing women's volleyball games Friday, company officials said. Viewers on the Internet will be able to watch 15 games for 525 yen.
Fuji TV sees the new service as a trial and plans to expand the scope of programs available on the Internet.
Fuji TV, NBS ink deal
Fuji Television Network Inc. and Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. signed an agreement Tuesday that will make the radio company a wholly owned Fuji TV subsidiary through an equity swap Sept. 1, the two companies said.
The agreement will enable Nippon Broadcasting shareholders of record on Aug. 31 to receive 6,300 yen per share, they said in a joint statement.