What Kitanippon Broadcasting Co. does

Kitanippon Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (KNB) is a regional Japanese broadcast network headquartered in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, operating continuously since 1952. The company delivers over-the-air television on Channel 1 and radio on AM 738 kHz and FM 90.2 MHz, serving the Toyama Prefecture market as an affiliate of the NTV (日本テレビ) network. Its content portfolio spans local news, weather, community events, entertainment programming, and nationally syndicated NTV content, complemented by branded programs such as いっちゃん☆KNB, KNB news every., ワンエフ, and radio shows でるラジ and とれたてワイド朝生！.

KNB has expanded beyond traditional broadcasting into digital and community services. Its product surface includes the KNB WEB portal with on-demand video and live streaming, a browser-based push notification service for breaking news, the Yui-net (結ネット) regional ICT platform covering 13 municipalities with digital bulletin boards, emergency notifications, and disaster response coordination, and accessibility services such as a bi-annual Braille radio program guide and a printed KNBブックレポート booklet. The company operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, KNBE (ケイエヌビィ・イー), providing video production services, and maintains a Tokyo branch office alongside its Toyama headquarters. Marketing reaches audiences through an official website, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, LINE, and Instagram channels.

The business model is advertising-supported. KNB generates revenue primarily through television and radio advertising sold by time slot and program, with rates available through official rate tables though not publicly disclosed. Audience reach is concentrated in the Toyama region, with additional revenue supplemented by content production services through KNBE, event-marketing collaborations such as the Life Plaza Partners financial literacy seminar, and digital platform initiatives. The company is privately held with no public listing, no disclosed external funding, and no parent company; ownership and capital structure details are not publicly available.

Name

Kitanippon Broadcasting Co.

Legal name

北日本放送株式会社

Website

https://knb.ne.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kitanippon Broadcasting Co. (KNB) is a privately held Japanese regional broadcaster founded in 1952, serving Toyama Prefecture via over-the-air television (Channel 1), AM/FM radio, and NTV network-affiliated programming. It generates advertising revenue and operates digital extensions including the Yui-net community ICT platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Broadcast Transmission & Operations Services (Transmitters, Towers, Playout, Engineering) (MPAIAEAJ)

Keywords

• Regional television broadcasting
• Radio broadcasting services
• Local news programming
• Community communication platform
• Broadcast media services

Headquarters

HQ city

Toyama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Television and radio advertising revenue from local and national advertisers broadcasting through KNB's network affiliated with NTV (日本テレビ)

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kitanippon Broadcasting Co. (KNB) is a regional broadcaster delivering television programming on Channel 1 and radio programming on AM 738kHz / FM 90.2MHz to audiences in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It supplements its broadcast services with the KNB WEB digital portal and the 結ネット (Yuinet) community ICT platform supporting neighborhood associations with digital bulletin boards, emergency alerts, and disaster response coordination across 13 municipalities.

Product overview

Kitanippon Broadcasting Co. (KNB) operates as a regional broadcaster providing traditional television (Channel 1) and radio (AM/FM) broadcasting services across Toyama Prefecture. The company has expanded into digital platforms through KNB WEB, offering online news delivery, program streaming, and a browser-based push notification service for breaking news. Its primary digital innovation is 結ネット (Yuinet), a community ICT platform supporting neighborhood associations with digital bulletin boards, emergency communications, and disaster response coordination. The broadcasting portfolio includes popular programs such as いっちゃん☆KNB, KNB news every., ワンエフ, and radio programs でるラジ and とれたてワイド朝生！, complemented by accessibility services like braille program guides and station tour experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 結ネット (Yui-Net): A regional ICT platform app for neighborhood associations and community communication, including disaster emergency notification features, operated by KNB in Toyama Prefecture.

Products and services

• KNB Television Broadcasting (KNBテレビ放送) Television broadcasting service on Channel 1 (1ch) delivering local Toyama news, nationally syndicated programs from the NTV network, entertainment shows, and regional content to viewers in Toyama Prefecture.
• KNB Radio Broadcasting (KNBラジオ放送) Radio broadcasting service on AM 738kHz and FM 90.2MHz featuring local news, talk shows, music programs, and community-focused content for the Toyama region.
• KNB WEB Official website portal providing news, program schedules, weather information, event listings, and on-demand video content for both television and radio programming from KNB.
• 結ネット (Yuinet) Community ICT Platform Regional ICT platform application supporting neighborhood association operations through digital bulletin boards, emergency notifications, event attendance tracking, and disaster response coordination for communities across 13 municipalities in Toyama Prefecture.
• KNB Browser Push Notification Service (KNBブラウザプッシュ通知サービス) Browser-based push notification service enabling users to receive breaking news and local information directly through supported web browsers on iOS, Android, and PC devices.
• KNB Radio Braille Program Guide (KNBラジオ点字番組表) Braille-format radio program guide published twice yearly for visually impaired users, featuring detailed program information, news times, and weather forecasts.
• KNB Book Report (KNBブックレポート) Printed booklet summarizing television program contents, published by KNB for viewer reference.
• KNB Station Tour (KNB体感ランド) Station tour experience featuring chroma-key studio demonstrations, TV studio simulations, and behind-the-scenes production education for school groups and visitors.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• 株式会社シーピーユー (CPU-Net Co., Ltd.)coreTechnology or IntegrationCPU-Net developed the Yui-net (結ネット) community ICT platform. KNB serves as the Toyama prefecture business partner for this regional community communication platform that supports neighborhood associations with digital bulletin boards, emergency alerts, and disaster response tools.
• 日本ソフテック株式会社 (Nihon Softtec Co., Ltd.)supportingTechnology or IntegrationNihon Softtec provides technical assistance for the Yui-net (結ネット) platform, supporting the community ICT service operated by KNB in Toyama Prefecture.
• 株式会社ライフプラザパートナーズ (Life Plaza Partners Co., Ltd.)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLife Plaza Partners organized a financial literacy seminar, with KNB providing marketing cooperation (告知協力) to promote the event to its audience.
• 日本テレビ放送網株式会社 (NTV Network - 日本テレビ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTV network affiliation providing national news content, programming, and broadcast standards. KNB operates as a regional affiliate of the NTV network in Toyama Prefecture.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc. Major Tokyo-based AM radio network affiliate of the FNN/FNS system. Comparable to KNB's radio operations as a Japanese commercial radio broadcaster with national content distribution.
• Tokai Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (THK): Regional FNN affiliate serving the Tokai region with TV broadcasting. Comparable as a regional TV broadcaster with a different network affiliation, providing a benchmark for non-NTV regional economics.
• TV Asahi Corporation: Tokyo-based national commercial broadcaster and parent of one of Japan's major broadcast networks. Relevant as the wider industry benchmark for network-affiliated broadcasting economics and competitive dynamics that affect KNB.

Direct peers

• Hiroshima Home Television Co., Ltd. (HOME): Regional TV broadcaster affiliated with TV Asahi network serving Hiroshima and surrounding prefectures. Comparable regional single-prefecture broadcaster profile to KNB.
• Chukyo Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (CTV): NTV network affiliate serving the Nagoya/Chubu region with TV and radio operations. Closest comparable in business model to KNB as a regional NTV affiliate with local news and community programming.
• Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (ytv): Osaka-based NTV network affiliate operating TV and radio for the Kansai region. Comparable as a regional NTV affiliate with multi-platform content and digital expansion.
• Shizuoka Broadcasting System Co., Ltd. (SBS): NTV affiliate broadcasting TV and radio across Shizuoka Prefecture. Similar regional broadcaster profile with a comparable mix of NTV network content and local programming.
• Nagano Broadcasting Systems Inc. (NBS): NTV affiliate serving Nagano Prefecture with TV and radio. Closely comparable to KNB in scope and structure as a single-prefecture regional network affiliate.
• Hokuriku Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (HBC): Direct competitor broadcasting from Toyama Prefecture (AM radio) and a JNN-affiliated regional broadcaster. Overlaps with KNB in local news, regional advertising, and Hokuriku area coverage, making it the most direct comparable for market dynamics.
• Toyama Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (TTB): Another regional broadcaster operating in Toyama Prefecture affiliated with the FNN/FNS network. Competes with KNB for Toyama viewership and local/regional advertising, sharing the same single-prefecture market dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/knb_tv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX5d3AvqSXbnvvf12BTlgIA
• Facebookfacebook.com/knbtvradio
• Instagraminstagram.com/knb_tv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kitanippon Broadcasting Co.