From special studio in the store, a community channel (J:COM Channel) broadcasts live each week, running community and local government related information.
“I toured the shop with one simple question in mind: Does it make sense for a CATV company to maintain a shop? Unlike with mobile phones, people do not frequently replace older CATV products.
“According to staff, the shop does attract new customers; there are, however, many subscribers who simply visit with questions related to new equipment and new services.
“A play area for kids in the Sumida shop, and a number of family restaurants nearby, create an inviting atmosphere for families. Large-screen TVs and laptop computers let customers see how the functions work by actually using them.
I always imagined that cable TV and Internet companies communicate with customers over the phone, but now I see the benefits for subscribers in having a store they can casually walk into and have their questions answered. Short computer-related seminars are also effective activities that let cable television companies take a part in developing a community base.
“The focus now will be on how to generate enough income to keep up with maintenance costs, but I am sure they have a number of creative ideas.”
Dates:
Date: July 13, 2009
Participants:
A total of four reporters from four media outlets.
Main Activities:
Tour of a J:COM shop, a place where consumers can consult experts and learn about Jupiter Telecommunications’ Cable TV services. Interviews with concerned parties as well as a question and answer session with President Tomoyuki Moriizumi.
Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd.
Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM), Japan’s largest cable television Multiple Systems Operator (MSO) and provider of multi channel broadcasting, was established in 1995 as a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Tele-Communications International, Inc. (presently Liberty Global, Inc.), the U.S. company. Within its Cable Television business, J:COM provides four integrated services—cable television, high-speed Internet access, fixed-line, and mobile telephony—to about 3,320,000 households across Japan (as of June 30, 2009) through a network of 23 franchises and 48 systems in Sapporo, Sendai, Kanto, Kansai and Kyushu. With Multi Channel Broadcasting, J:COM has consolidated its content delivery business focusing on distribution via cable, satellite, and IP multicasting services, and currently invests in, and operates, 17 specialized channels. The Company went public on the JASDAQ securities exchange in 2005.
HDR
The Digital Tuner with a Built-in Large-capacity HD Recorder. The “series record” function, which makes the recording of series such as serial dramas easy, is simple to operate. “W tuner” records two programs at the same time, and the “simultaneous play/record” function enables you to playback a program as it is recording, maximizing the benefits of digital broadcasting.
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