NHK is set to launch a mandatory online streaming service for terrestrial broadcast programs following the enactment of the revised Broadcasting Act. This move aims to counter declining license fee revenue by introducing an internet receiving fee, raising concerns about the impact on its traditional public service mandate.

An expert panel draft recommending the reclassification of NHK's online streaming as a required operation, potentially leading to mandatory streaming fees, has sparked an editorial debate. Critics argue that NHK's rapid move to collect fees—amid waning traditional revenue and concerns over its close ties to government—could compromise its role as a public broadcaster.

NHK misdirected funds intended for terrestrial broadcasting to fund online streaming of BS satellite broadcasts in violation of the Broadcast Act. The broadcaster has announced measures such as enhanced legal compliance checks and internal education, but critics argue that these perfunctory responses and minimal punitive actions (e.g., a 10% reduction in a former chairman's severance pay) reflect a problematic internal culture with inadequate accountability.