Nippon Television Holdings foreign ownership nears 20% regulatory limit

As of September 30, 2025, foreign entities owned 19.99% of the total outstanding shares with voting rights in Nippon Television Holdings, Inc. This was announced on October 17, 2025, with publication set for October 19, 2025, in The Yomiuri Shimbun.

This ownership ratio is notable because certified broadcasting holding companies like Nippon Television Holdings face revocation of their certification under broadcasting law if foreign entities acquire 20% or more of the company's shares with voting rights. Foreign entities are broadly defined to include individuals without Japanese citizenship, foreign governments or their representatives, foreign juridical persons or organizations, and juridical persons or organizations with significant indirect foreign control.

In anticipation of the foreign ownership ratio approaching 20%, broadcasting law articles allow companies to deny registration requests from foreign entities for shares in the shareholders' registry. Furthermore, certified broadcasting holding companies are mandated to announce every six months when foreign ownership of voting shares reaches 15% or more of total outstanding shares.