TOKYO -- Soichiro Chigusa, the prexy of Osaka-based Kansai Telecasting (KTV), has hinted he may resign over a faked infotainment show the station broadcast on Jan. 7.
Speaking to reporters Saturday at an Osaka hotel, Chigusa said he would "wait for the report of the investigation committee" before making a decision about his future. First, however, he said he wanted to "clarify the causes (of the incident) and prevent a repetition in order to regain the trust (of viewers)."
The Jan. 7 broadcast of popular show "Hakkutsu! Aru Aru Daijten II" (Encyclopedia of Living) presented info on a
natto (fermented bean curd) diet that later proved to be fabricated.
After a weekly magazine exposed the show's data as false, KTV conducted its own investigation. On Jan. 23, the station announced Chigusa and nine other execs would be punished. The prexy took a 30% salary cut for three months and three producers were axed. Also, the show was canceled, effective immediately.
A station spokesman said other punishments might be meted out, depending on further findings.
"Hakkutsu! Aru Aru Daijten II" was supplied by an outside production company, Japan Television Workshop, whose prexy resigned last week. Another company was subcontracted to do the interviews and testing for the natto diet program. The "scientific" data it provided later proved to be fake,
The scandal, which has been heavily reported in the Japanese press, has highlighted the labyrinthine nature of the TV production system, as well as the intense pressure subcontractors are under to produce ratings-grabbing shows.
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