The Japanese digital satellite broadcasting (DSB) systems JSkyB and PerfecTV have agreed to an equal-footing merger into a new DSB service, SkyPerfect TV, that would start service on 1 May 1998. The five main shareholders with a 11.4% stake each are the US media giant News Corp. and Japan's Fuji TV Network, Itochu, Softbank and Sony.

It would rival DirecTV Japan (DTVJ), a DSB service led by America's Hughes Communications. Further competitors would include Toei Channel, a DSB service which is expected to go on air in July 1998, and a new service to be launched in the year 2000 by Japan's national broadcaster NHK. Source: ISTrend