The History of TBS

YearMonthTBS's Activities
1951MayEstablishment of Radio Tokyo, Inc.
-DecemberLaunch of radio broadcasting
1955AprilLaunch of television broadcasting
1959AprilLive broadcast of the imperial wedding parade
-AugustFormation of Japan News Network (JNN)
-DecemberLaunch of Japan Record Awards
-NovemberCompany name changes to Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS)
1960SeptemberLaunch of color TV broadcasting
-NovemberCompany name changes to Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS)
The History of TBS
1963NovemberBroadcast of coverage of Kennedy assassination (TBS's first live satellite broadcast)
1964OctoberLive broadcast of Tokyo Olympics
1965MayFormation of Japan Radio Network (JRN)
1969JulyBroadcast of Apollo 11 moon landing
-AugustLaunch of TV drama Mitokomon: The Shogun's Uncle
-OctoberLaunch of Come on! It's 8 PM
1981OctoberFirst broadcast of Beijing Marathon
1986MayLaunch of Takeshi's Castle
1990OctoberLaunch of Sugako Hashida's TV drama Relentlessness is Found Everywhere
-DecemberTBS journalist Toyohiro Akiyama becomes Japan�s first cosmonaut
The History of TBS
1991NovemberTV documentary The Great Wall commemorates TBS's 40th anniversary
1994AprilWork completed on TBS Broadcasting Center
1995AprilEstablishment of TBS website
1998FebruaryBroadcast of Nagano Winter Olympics
-AprilLaunch of 24-hour satellite news broadcasting (JNN News Bird)
-NovemberBroadcast of Town Hall Meeting with U.S. President Clinton on News 23
2000OctoberBroadcast of Town Hall Meeting with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji
-DecemberLaunch of digital satellite broadcasting (BS-i)
2001OctoberSubsidiary TBS Radio & Communications, Inc. begins operations
2002FebruaryBroadcast of Friends, first dramatic TV film co-produced by Japanese and Korean broadcasters
-JulyLaunch of satellite broadcasting (C-TBS)
The History of TBS
2003JuneBroadcast of Town Hall Meeting with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun
-DecemberLaunch of digital terrestrial broadcasting
2004OctoberEstablishment of Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc.
2005AugustBroadcast of the special drama production Hiroshima: August 6, 1945 on the 50th anniversary of TBS television broadcasting
2006AprilLaunch of One Segment mobile TV broadcasting
2007AprilLaunch of new digital radio station OTTAVA
-AugustHost broadcaster of the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics-Osaka
2008MarchOpening of multipurpose complex akasaka Sacas
-AprilBroadcast of Town Hall Meeting with Korean President Lee Myung-bak
2009FebruaryDepartures wins Best Foreign Language Film at 2009 Academy Awards
-AprilTBS becomes a certified broadcast holding company, changing its name to Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc.
2010JuneThe rating for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Japan vs. Paraguay match averaged 57.3%, the highest in TBS's entire history
2011MarchExtensive news coverage of the Great East Japan Earthquake and its aftermath
-JuneA School Behind Bars wins three awards at Monte-Carlo Television Festival
-JulyTransition from analog to digital terrestrial television broadcasting
2013SeptemberSeason finale of NAOKI HANZAWA marks 42.2%, Japan’s highest drama ratings this century
2015AprilTBS celebrates its 60th anniversary of television broadcasting
2016DecemberSeason finale of The Full-Time Wife Escapist reaches 33.1% in total viewership
2017JulyTBS Holdings, Inc. establishes Premium Platform Japan, Inc. with 5 of Japan's leading media groups
2018AprilTBS Television, Inc., Hakuhodo Inc., and Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc. jointly open Hanasacas Daycare
2018DecemberLaunch of 4K broadcasting (BS-TBS)
The History of TBS