Japan Radio Network
Japan Radio Network is a Japanese commercial radio network run by TBS Radio in Tokyo, owned by TBS Holdings. Established on 2 May 1965, JRN is made up of 34 regional affiliates, including four full-time affiliates and 31 stations that are dual-affiliated with the rival National Radio Network as a part of "cross-network" practice in Japan. While the Japan News Network, the television arm of TBS, has an agreement that forbids its affiliates to do news sharing with other stations affiliated with other networks, JRN allows its radio stations to do cross-network programming, mainly, with NRN programs, and other production companies. Currently, JRN has 4 stations that are only affiliated with the network, which consists of key stations TBS Radio, CBC Radio, RKB Radio, and JRN-only affiliate RBC iRadio.
Out of the 34 regional affiliates, 21 JRN stations are connected with a JNN station, with some operating the affiliate as a separate radio subsidiary, 10 are connected with a Nippon TV affiliate, 1 as a radio subsidiary of Asahi Broadcasting Corporation, one connected to a dual NNN/NNS & ANN affiliate, and two that are operating as a radio-only station. RSK Sanyo Broadcasting, whose radio is JRN-only before, joined NRN in October 1997, with then NRN-only RNC joining JRN at the same time. Both stations were the last to join the said networks, making RSK Radio & RNC Radio the default JRN/NRN affiliates serving Okayama and Takamatsu respectively. 3 JRN-affiliated stations, whose television stations are tied to JNN, are NRN-core stations, with dedicated lines for NRN programs, mostly from Nippon Broadcasting/JOLF. These stations are: RCC in Hiroshima, TBC in Sendai, and SBS in Shizuoka.
Key stations CBC Radio and RKB Radio airs some programming from rival NRN that are not aired by their affiliates, including the late-night All-Night Nippon family of programs, while HBC Radio, despite being a dual JRN/NRN affiliate, carries more JRN programming than any other affiliate, only airing NRN programs that NRN core station STVradio will not air. Despite not being a member of the network, independent station and former NRN affiliate in Kobe, Radio Kansai, airs some JRN programming, including the late night JUNK comedy line up. Also, NRN-only core station OBC Radio Osaka also airs some JRN programming, including the BRAND NEW MORNING radio program.
In addition, all JRN affiliates, excluding Hokkaido and Akita, are in the process of transitioning from AM radio to Wide FM since 2024, with some stations, like KRY in Yamaguchi, are suspending almost all of their AM relays, including their main AM hub, in order to facilitate FM broadcasting during the experimental stage. The transition will last up until 2028.