Comparing Options for Watching Japanese TV from Overseas

Last edited by cocomonk22 on Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 am; edited 80 times in total

This is a comparison of various ways to watch Japanese TV from abroad. Mainly it will look at cheaper methods with low or no initial costs. Sorted alphabetically.

This will be divided into:
1) No External Hardware Needed
2) External Hardware Required

No External Hardware Needed:
BSSubs *DOWN*

http://bssubs.net/live/
Free service, but donations are welcome
Good quality, widescreen using Silverlight
18 Channels: NHK-G, NHK-E, NTV, TV Asahi, TBS, TV Tokyo, Fuji TV, Sun TV, MBS, YTV, ABC, TV Osaka, KTV, NHK-BS1, NHK-BS2, WOWOW, TOKYO MX, Kids Station
426x240 at ~400Kbps

eMankai

http://emankai.com
$30 1 month
$150 6 months
$240 1 year ($20 per month)
640x360 at ~241kbps, 15fps
audio is 32kbps at 32kHz, stereo
total bitrate 273kbps
Stores all shows from the past 3 weeks for download, plus real-time tv
Channels are NHK-G, NHK-E, NTV, TBS, Fuji TV, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo

freshverse

http://www.freshverse.com/tv_high.php#live
Free service (May require free registration)
Flash video using h264
Many channels possible
There is only one channel available at a time, so subject to freshverse schedule
640x360 video at 672kbps

JapanTV.biz *DOWN* DO NOT SIGN UP!
Free streams don't work
Payment options still up, but the streams do NOT work!

J Network Service *GONE*
HQ picture:

Medium quality picture:

http://us.jnet.ne.jp
¥3600 for Kantou or Kansai, ¥5000 for both
¥1000 each for NHK G, NHK E, NHK BS1, NHK BS2, WOWOW, Eisei Gekijo, Animax, SUN TV, Music on TV
Simultaneous recording of multiple programs
Recordings can be scheduled up to 7 days in advance
You can record as many programs as you want, however you can only download 14 a day
¥1400 for NHK General and Educational
¥1500 for High Quality video (640x360) (Limited, only offered once or twice a year)
Regular quality is around 480x180, anamorphic

jpPlayer
HD:

Main interface:

Channel interface:

http://cocomonk22.web.fc2.com/jpPlayer.html
54 channels
Can program recordings
Windows only program with P2P-based streams
Because it is P2P, connection quality may vary by ISP
Recently connection has been pretty bad, and maintenance has become more frequent
Uses DirectDraw for video playback with hardware acceleration
Video can be resized, 1:1, 2:1, full-screen
Western movies with Japanese subtitles on demand
Japanese movies and specials on demand
3D movies on demand
$10 3 days (limit 1 per PC)
$200 for 1 year
Payment via PayPal
More pictures of interface and sample screengrabs here:http://flic.kr/s/aHsjuMc2KW
Channel list:

Hidden:

Tips for Improving Performance (courtesy FCNantes):

Hidden:

Also, Hong Kong vpns also work well. One user said that strongvpn's Hong Kong server gets a good quality stream after 15-30 seconds buffer.

JPTV24
HD:
[url=http://www.jptv24.com]

SD:

http://www.jptv24.com
Java based program using P2P for streams
You can watch NHK E for free
14 Channels: NHK G, NHK E, NTV, TBS, Fuji TV, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo, NHK BS1, NHK BS Preimum, BS NTV, BS Asahi, BS-TBS, BS Japan, BS Fuji
Prices are:
¥4980 for 30 days Tokyo channels + BS + CS
352x240 video at 393kbps, may be higher for other channels
720x480 video at 663kbps for HD channels
Order page is accessible through Remote Control app, or here

KeyHoleTV

http://www.v2p.jp/video/english/
Free service!
Officially available on Windows Mobile phones
Unofficially available on iPod/iPhone
Variety of radio and TV channels, including Fuji TV, NTV, TBS, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo, and NHK G
P2P based, so channels may be added or removed by individual servers
Quality is not very good: 320x240 video, approximately 2-10fps

NihonNamaTerebi
http://www.nihonnamaterebi.com
HBC/TBS, NHK G, TVH/TV Tokyo, STV, NTV, UHB, Fuji TV, HTB, TV Asahi, NHK, NHK E
Optional channels with additional costs: NHK BS1, NHK BS2, Wowow, Skyperfect, Anime
Can record 2 programs simultaneously
Costs may vary, on June 4 it was:
¥24,000 initial setup
¥9,500 monthly
Customer support may be lacking

NTKTV
http://www.ntktv.com
Formerly firephoenix
Java based program
Can watch NHK E programs for free
NHK G, NHK E, NTV, TV Asahi, TBS, TV Tokyo, Fuji TV
Can choose from programs aired in the past like pvr/dvr/tivo, around 1 hour after airing
No live tv
¥4,980 for 30 Days
¥9,960 for 60 Days
¥14,940 for 90 Days
¥29,880 for 180 Days + 15 Days?

TvAnts
http://www.tvants.com
Free service
P2P, so some channels may be unavailable
Some channels are labeled incorrectly (i.e. NTV instead of TBS, TBS instead of Asahi, Asahi instead of NTV)
Ads displayed for maybe 15-30 seconds or longer during buffering before each video
Quality varies, around 391kbps

TVJapan.us *GONE*
NTV, TBS, Fuji TV, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo
Windows media streams
$0 1 day
$20 1 month
$50 3 months
$90 6 months
$150 1 year ($12.50 per month)
320x240, 540kbps

WatchJapanTV *GONE*
Uses Sony LocationFree or Slingbox
Uses CoreAVC h.264
buffering cannot be changed by user
¥6000 initial costs?
¥6000 monthly

wist

http://wist.tv
Plan A: $29.99 a month PC(the 7 Tokyo area channels)
Plan B: $42.99 TV+Karaoke,VOD,IP Phone,etc (Plan B still pending)
Can watch multiple channels at once
Can record video on your computer using Mixtreamer software (only works on 32-bit OS, 64-bit not supported)
When recording with Mixtreamer, you set start and end time/date, and it records about ten seconds after the start time due to loading the stream, then ends a little after the end time set
512x288 video at around 985kbps, 30fps
audio is 31kbps at 44kHz, stereo
total bitrate 1016kbps
Very good price/quality ratio
Occasionally there are special free trial offers lasting about a week, check their main page
Sample clips:

Hidden:

W-Vision
http://www.w-vision.tv
Location Free TV, Slingbox
differing initial costs
¥4500 monthly
Service choices:
Tokyo(NTV, TBS, Fuji Tv, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo)
Kansai(MBS, ABC, KTV, ytv, TV Osaka, SUN TV)
Fukuoka(KBS, NHK G, RKB, NHK E, TNC, TVQ, FBS)

External Hardware Required:
auHikari
http://www.auhikari.jp
By KDDI
More information needed...

G-Wings
http://www.g-wings.com
Location Free TV, Slingbox
¥36,000 for 1 year I think

HCIPTV
http://www.hciptv.com/arti_show.asp?id=30
Uses a set-top box with iptv
Plugs into your TV
Resold by many others
Price varies, 2500 yuan at hciptv.com
Not sure if additional costs exist or if it is just single payment needed
Over 55 channels, including:

Hidden:

onTimeTV
http://www.1stream.jp
Note: From 2010-11-29 DaBom service suspended
Manufactured by 1stream and resold by other sites on Internet
It is a 1-seg plus net-tv tuner that plugs in via usb
Do not need to be in Japan to view, as it operates via P2P with included software
USB device must be plugged in to watch
Latest model is DMBO-1300J
Since 1300J 64-bit OS supported
Channels are Tokyo MX, Fuji TV, TBS TV, TV Tokyo, TV Asahi, Nippon TV, NHK Kyoiku, NHK Sogo
Single payment only, no monthly costs
320x240 15fps
¥36,800 from min-tele.com

ZiZi Player
http://www.ziziplayer.net
Manufactured by Transnetwork
It is a 1-seg plus net-tv tuner that plugs in via usb
Do not need to be in Japan to view, as it operates via P2P with included software
USB device must be plugged in to watch
Japanese channels are Tokyo MX, Fuji TV, TBS TV, TV Tokyo, TV Asahi, Nippon TV, NHK Kyoiku, NHK Sogo
Korean channels are KBS HEART, KBS STAR, KBS Music, My MBS, SBS u TV, mYTN, CBS, U1
Single payment only, no monthly costs
320x240@15fps 4:3 or 320x180@ 16:9 at 416Kbps
¥11,000 from oneseg-net.tv
¥17,800 from ziziplayer.net and ziziplayer-net.tv
$219.99 from k-g-s.us

Do you have any experience with similar services that you would like to share? I can add them to this list and make any corrections if prices or services change.

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:17 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

fantastic post, thanks very much.

Do you know if J Network is just live TV, or whether they have a DVR at the other end? Being in the UK, the time difference means live isn't any good to us.

Also, has anyone any experience of Rokuraku? they have a little computer you put under the TV. Don't know if its streaming, or downloading?

I might look into getting my parents-in-law to host a DVR+slingbox solution in their house. Even if we pay for their broadband it'd be way cheaper than the hosting services. Anyone done that? It'd be good to hear what are good DVRs to use that have slingbox support. Also, whether UK/US slingplayer software can show Japanese DVR remotes properly

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

J Network records every show, so if you miss one you can download it as long as it is within a certain period, not sure on the exact amount of days though.

Regarding RokuRaku, ccwf, an admin at CJKDramas.com, wrote up a review about RokuRaku II in 2004, so there may be some differences today:

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

There's also something called TVants.

Here is a post on TVants: how to download & set it up.

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:40 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I tried TVants, but I can't get any of the channels mentioned in your "download & set it up" url to work on my end.

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 6:09 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

cocomonk22, I love the commentary. Big Smile

For anyone that may have attempted to access Freshverse.com in the past 48 hours, the problem is now fixed and the servers are fully functional once again. Glad we could be back in the ring.

E-Mail me at shrgnatlas@gmail.com if you have any questions, or suggestions for the schedule linked in cocomonk22's post. cocomonk22, by the way, jump in the chat more often so I can make violent love to you.

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 11:17 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 12:32 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

You can not download any show after it airs on Jnet, you have to set it to record. After it airs and you didn't record it you can't download it.

The high quality option in the screencap that I made in this post, that option is limited and is only offered once or twice a year. So its sold out as of now.

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 9:30 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Freshverse and Jnet descriptions have been updated.

I like the new freshverse analog channels! However, wasn't the single analog channel NHK Educational? With the addition of the new analog channels, why is that one no longer available?

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 12:11 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

You can record as many programs as you want. You are only limited to 14 downloads a day.

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:08 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Made some more changes. I noticed that the analog channel labeled as NHK General is actually NHK Educational, and renamed it accordingly.

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 4:59 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 3:06 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Has anybody been able to access J network service lately? Last two days the site looks like it's completely down..... Sad

But the shows that you can download, assuming you set the right program to record, is great Smile

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 2:42 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Looking through cocomonk22's original excellent post, if analogue is all you are after, the new silverlight streams over at Freshverse are very gratifying indeed.

I did also notice though that NipponTV seems to be offering the analogue channels for a small sum per month, and they are windows media streams, which although poor quality despite the high bitrate are recordable with apps such as hidownload. useful if you are not going to be in when your favourite program is scheduled. TVAnts was also recordable also being wm, but alas most of the analogue streams have gone.

shrgnatlas - the silverlight streams look superior to any wm stream. I did get a lot of rebuffering on tv asahi just now (15:15 to 16:15 BST). Not a complaint, just feedback.

cocomonk22 - I assume TVJapan is just an alternative branding of NipponTV - the product looks just the same.

I have been a customer of WatchJapanTV and can give a review: The service is expensive for what it is, using Sony's LocationFreeTV or Slingbox. I didnt try the slingbox, but with the LocationFree the service as received in Europe was pretty bad, buffering a lot. The software did not allow the user to configure the buffer size, which was very frustrating. Moreover, the codec used was CoreAVC h.264, which just used too much bandwidth to be efficient over the public internet. I was glad to leave.

Would you mind updating the Keyhole TV entry to state that the frame rate is very low. Between 2 and 10 fps by estimate.

Thanks

rev