NHK (Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai), or Japan Broadcasting Corporation, is the country's national public broadcasting organisation, founded in 1926 as the three original stations merged together.

NHK started experimental broadcasting of TV programs using BS-2a satellite in May 1984. This led to a full regular service (NTSC) and experimental HDTV broadcasting from June 1989, with channels BS1 and BS2. However, in April 2011 BS1 was rebranded and BS2 discontinued, being replaced by BS Premium.