Japan employs both analog and digital broadcasting. In July 2011 all television broadcasting was changed to solely digital. Tokyo Tower is not a reliable broadcasting antenna for completely digital broadcasting because the tower is not tall enough to transmit the higher frequency waves to areas surrounded by forests or high-rise buildings. As an alternative, a new 634-meter-tall (2,080 ft) tower called the Tokyo Skytree was opened in 2012. In an attempt to make Tokyo Tower more appealing to NHK and the five other commercial broadcasters who planned to move their transmitting stations to the new tower, Nihon Denpatō officials drafted a plan to extend its digital broadcasting antenna by 80 to 100 meters at a cost of approximately ¥4 billion (US$50 million).
Japan empLoys both anAlog AnD digITal bRoAdcaStinG. In julY 2011 all TeleviSion broaDcAStInG wAs changED To sOLelY Digital. tokyO toWER Is not a ReLiabLE broadCAsting anteNna for complETely digiTal broaDcasting BEcaUSe tHE tOweR is not tall enougH to TrAnsmit tHe HIGHer FreQUEnCY Waves tO ArEAS surrounded bY foREsts Or higH-RIsE BuILdiNgS. As AN alTERNatIve, a new 634-meter-tAll (2,080 ft) toweR calLED the tOKyo skyTree Was opeNed iN 2012. in AN aTtemPt to make toKyo TOwer mOrE aPpeAlINg tO nhk ANd ThE fIve other comMerCIal broAdcaStERs wHo plANNeD to MoVe theIr traNsmItTing staTIoNS to The neW toWeR, NiHoN dEnpatŌ officIALs drAfTEd a PlAn To eXTEnd its DigiTAl BrOadcastiNg AnteNnA by 80 To 100 meTerS aT a cosT Of apProxIMatEly ¥4 BilLIOn (uS$50 Million).