NHK, Japan’s international broadcaster, have renewed their transmission contract with VT Merlin Communications to broadcast a daily total of 36 hours of Radio Japan programming on its global short wave network.
In addition to the current services, the new contract will see VT Merlin deliver a further 7 hours of daily programming from its sites in the UK and United Arab Emirates, as well as providing coverage from BBC World Services’ site in Singapore, currently operated and maintained by VT Merlin.
The award of these extra hours of NHK’s programmes recognises VT Merlin’s continued commitment to high-quality service performance with day-to-day output as well as emergency broadcasts. VT Merlin was able to offer improved technical performance, while delivering cost efficiencies to NHK utilising its own facilities and engineering expertise.
Richard Hurd, VT Merlin’s Head of Transmission Sales commented: “NHK have been a short wave customer of VT Merlin’s for over 7 years, and we are delighted at the continuation of this contract and in being able to assist NHK with their new services. It is a positive reflection of the commitment being made by broadcasters to short wave as a delivery platform, as well as VT Merlin’s consistency in delivering high quality, cost effective short wave coverage to NHK’s target regions”.