Fuji Television Network has regained about 80% of its sponsors who suspended commercials in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal involving former TV star Masahiro Nakai, which led to the resignation of its president about a year ago.
In December, the number of Fuji TV¡¯s sponsors recovered to 86% of the level a year earlier.
The scandal shed light on the company¡¯s governance system. In May, its parent, Fuji Media Holdings, adopted a reform action plan that prioritizes respecting human rights.
Following a management renewal, sponsors began to slowly resume commercials in the summer. Fuji TV aims to restore the number of sponsors to pre-scandal levels by this April.
In its report, the third-party committee that investigated the scandal criticized the Fuji TV side, saying that harassment-related damage was ¡°rampant¡± throughout the company.
¡°It¡¯s important to continue reforms,¡± Fuji Media President Kenji Shimizu has said, adding, ¡°If we continue to make tireless efforts, the entire organization will become healthy.¡±
The broadcaster plans to include compliance with human rights policies in contracts with individuals appearing on its programs.
The action plan outlines a strategy to strengthen Fuji Media¡¯s content business through growth investments of ?250 billion over five years.
Meanwhile, the group¡¯s top shareholder, Aya Nomura, the eldest daughter of activist investor Yoshiaki Murakami, and a Murakami-linked investment fund indicated in December that they plan to raise their stake to up to 33.3%. They are demanding that Fuji Media separate its real estate business.
The group¡¯s management faces the difficult task of rebuilding the group while monitoring situations both inside and outside the company.
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