NHK WORLD PREMIUM Launches on Sling

Japan’s public broadcaster brings live news, drama, Grand Sumo and children’s programming to U.S. viewers — in Japanese, for $10 a month.

Starting September 30, NHK WORLD PREMIUM is available on Sling. For $10 a month you can watch the same programming airing in Japan right now — live, in Japanese, with no base package required.

NHK is Japan’s public broadcaster, and NHK WORLD PREMIUM is its international channel for Japanese speakers living abroad. It’s the television people grew up with: the evening news, the morning serial drama, sumo tournaments and children’s programming, carried the way it airs at home.

The news, as it airs in Japan

NEWS 7, NHK’s flagship evening bulletin, streams live along with news updates throughout the day. For families with relatives in Japan, it is the same broadcast they are watching, at the same time — national reporting, regional coverage and weather, straight from the source.

The dramas people at home are talking about

NHK WORLD PREMIUM carries Japan’s morning serial drama and its year-long historical series — two of the most-watched programs in the country — along with the shows currently driving conversation in Japan.

Grand Sumo, live through every tournament

Every tournament is carried live and in Japanese, with the commentary and ceremony intact. And because Sling records it, a bout that starts before breakfast in the U.S. is waiting for you when you wake up.

Programming for the youngest viewers

Japanese-language children’s shows are part of the channel — the songs, characters and stories kids in Japan are watching. For families raising children abroad, it is an easy way to keep a second language part of everyday life.

Japan’s schedule, on your clock

Japan is a day ahead and a world away. NEWS 7 airs while much of the U.S. is asleep, and sumo starts before most people have had coffee. Sling’s DVR records the whole schedule so you can watch when your day actually allows — 50 hours of storage is included, and unlimited DVR is available for $5 a month. NHK WORLD PREMIUM is a live channel rather than an on-demand library, so recording is how you move Japan’s schedule onto yours.

Watch on the devices you already have

NHK WORLD PREMIUM streams on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs from LG, Samsung and Vizio, plus phones, tablets and computers. Up to three people can watch at the same time, so the news in one room and a drama in another is not a problem. See the full list of supported devices.

Free news from Japan with Sling Freestream

NHK WORLD-JAPAN, NHK’s English-language international channel, streams free on Sling Freestream — no subscription and no account required — alongside more than 600 other free channels.

Getting started

All you need is an internet connection and a compatible device — no cables and no installation visit. Sign up online, download the Sling app, and start watching. Sling accepts debit and credit cards, and you can also pay with PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Amazon Pay at checkout. There is no contract, so you can cancel any time.

The Sling app and Sling’s Help Center are in English, and customer support is provided in English. NHK WORLD PREMIUM’s programming is in Japanese. Questions about NHK programming can be submitted in Japanese at nhkworldpremium.com/ja.

NHK WORLD PREMIUM is available September 30 for $10 a month — no contract, no base package required — in the United States and Puerto Rico. Subscribe here.