Yomiuri TV Trends: My Hero Academia Excitement Clashes with Baseball Broadcast Backlash
On April 25, 2026, Yomiuri TV (ytv) became a major focal point on social media, experiencing a day of starkly contrasting reactions. While anime fans were electrified by new information regarding the hit series My Hero Academia, baseball fans were left fuming over the abrupt termination of a Hanshin Tigers game broadcast.
The source of excitement for anime enthusiasts was the release of a promotional video (PV) for the special episode "No.170+1 'More'", which depicts events following the series finale. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the broadcast, the episode is set to air nationwide on Saturday, May 2, at 5:30 PM. Social media was flooded with enthusiastic posts such as, "I can't wait to see what happens after the finale," and "I'm looking forward to seeing the characters as adults." Additionally, the launch of the Final Season marathon on the streaming service TVer further fueled the hype.
However, the mood was far from celebratory among sports fans. During the broadcast of the Hanshin Tigers vs. Chunichi Dragons game, viewers were outraged when the coverage—including sub-channels—ended prematurely. The backlash was particularly severe because the broadcast cut off immediately after a long commercial break during a critical moment in the bottom of the 9th inning. Angry fans took to social media, with some stating, "They should never be allowed to have broadcasting rights again," and "They need to take responsibility and broadcast until the end." Many compared the station's handling unfavorably to Sun TV, a local channel famous for broadcasting games until the final pitch.
In other news, the station also covered socially significant topics, including the memorial service marking 21 years since the JR Fukuchiyama Line derailment and a verdict in a sexual assault case at the Osaka District Court. It was a day where ytv's output in both entertainment and journalism dominated social media trends.
The context
Yomiuri TV (ytv) is an Osaka-based broadcaster affiliated with the Nippon TV network. My Hero Academia is one of its flagship anime properties, having aired on the network for a decade. The Hanshin Tigers are a professional baseball team with a legendary and intensely loyal following in the Kansai (Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto) region. In this region, Sun TV (an independent station) is highly respected for its "complete broadcast" policy, making any premature cut-off by major networks like ytv a sensitive issue for local fans.
Comments
Post a Comment