Job Discussion Forums

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

Hello:

Are these 3 items available in Japan (I'll be living in Osaka)? If so, what are some of the prices out there for such services? How easy or difficult is it to sign-up for them and what does it involve?

In the US, we can get packages with cable TV and cable broadband - are such packages available in Japan?

Also, with satellite and/or cable TV - can you get english language programming?

Thanks in advance for and help and advice!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I believe cable TV or satellite TV runs about 3000 yen/month. I don't have it, so I really don't know. You can get a variety of English programs with it.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

I have Wowow which has three satellite channels including NHK and costs about 2,000 yen a month for a connection. You need to buy a dish as well as a digital decoder to see (the movie) channel.

Perfect TV is a little more expensive, is about 3,000 or 4,000 yen a month and you can get up to 30 channels including BBC, CNN and the NFL etc. Dish and decoder are extra.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Evil Giraffe · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Kofu, Japan

I've got SkyPerfect and it runs me about 5800 yen a month. But I am paying extra for the sports channels package. If I didn't have this it would probably run me around 2500 less.
As for English channels, I get: CNN, BBC News, FOX (although some shows aren't in English), History channel, Discovery, National Geopraphic, Animal Planet, and one movie channel whose name I can't remember.
SkyPerfect also has an English speaking personal working the phones if you press the right numbers.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

rossiter joe · Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Gunma, Japan

Mr. Homersimpson: Not so not so. Fox TV is the only channel I receive that you can not switch from Japanese to English while watching the show. The only way to watch some shows in English (ie. The Simpsons) is to preprogram that show with the timer option. And while watching the show, if you change channels and come back to the show it will be in Japanese.
Most Annoying. Why only Fox? I don`t know.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Not so. Yes if you change the channel it reverts back to Japanese, but you can quite easily put it back into English. No preprogramming involved.

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

Thanks for the input. How does one go about getting the dish and equipment to hook up something like Skyperfect? What are the costs of the dish and box?

In the US, it's easy - someone comes on site, hooks up the satellite equipment and gets your service subscription started. Is this different then from in Japan?

What about "land line" cable TV - does it exist?

Thanks!

rossiter joe · Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Gunma, Japan

Skyperfect dish and box sets vary in price. I think mine was 15,000 yen on sale (a few years ago). I bought mine at the local electronic chain store. From what I remember the staff register you with Skyperfect and you have 10 days to a month free to preview channels you would like. You then choose what package you want and mail them your choices. As for some one setting it up, I had an electrician friend do it for free. However, when I moved apartments I had one of the service guys from the electronic shop come and fix me up again (5000yen).

Guest of Japan: it must be something with the converters or area because no one I know around here can program shows in English on Fox without preprogramming them. It`s the only channel I have that is like this. Lucky you!!

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

Rossiter Joe, I have an Aiwa model SkyPerfectv dish and converter and have never experienced the problem you are describing. When you are watching a program on Fox (not preprogrammed) and pull up the program description box, you should be able to select one or two boxes at the bottom of the window, which, when selected, are highlighted in yellow. When you select the button for language it should pull up the next window with the English and Japanese options.

rossiter joe · Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Gunma, Japan

Thanks for the tip. I`ll check this out and let you know. Thank you

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

Here ya go mate
http://www.skyperfectv.co.jp/en/guide/index.html

rapps · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 11

Anyone know if you can get the all the NFL games...like on Directv or all the NBA games..leauge pass on satellite in Japan? I looked on Perfect TV website and noticed something was mentioned about games..but its wasn't detailed.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

There has been a decline in coverage (in my opinion) of the NFL the past season or so. Skyperfectv used to broadcast 1 or 2 live games per week plus several delayed or repeated. But now the coverage is only on one channel (Gaora) and the number of games, live or otherwise has declined; but at \900 per month I suppose you can't expect much. I have not subscribed to the NBA package, but I believe one live game is televised daily throughout the season. However, you will not have the kind of coverage you would with NFL Sunday Ticket or NBA League Pass on DirecTV. Although you didn't ask, the MLB coverage is substantial. There were 5 games this morning alone ... good for baseball junkies like me!