, also known as MRO, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with the Japan News Network (JNN) for television, and the Japan Radio Network (JRN) for radio. Their headquarters is located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
The "MRO" abbreviation is taken from the last letters of the call signs "JOMR" and "JOMO" of the Kanazawa and Nanao broadcasting stations, respectively. JOMO is no longer operational.
Since Fukui Prefecture doesn't have a JNN of its own, Hokuriku Broadcasting is the network's default affiliate in the said prefecture. In terms of news gathering, both MRO and JNN key station CBC Television, in some cases, handles the prefecture's Reihoku region and Tsuruga City in the Reinan region, while the rest of the Reinan region is handled by JNN key station Mainichi Broadcasting through its Kyoto Branch.
Hokuriku Broadcasting has branch offices in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, as well as a branch office in Toyama, despite the presence of fellow JNN station Tulip Television already existed.
History
Early history
On December 24, 1948, the Ishikawa Prefectural government applied for a license to operate a commercial broadcaster under the name Hokuriku Cultural Broadcasting, and was the fourth Japanese company to apply to operate a commercial broadcaster. This application was later rejected due to Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers' media censorship.
After the establishment of the "Three Radio Laws" (Radio Law, Broadcasting Law, and Radio Supervisory Committee Establishment Law) in 1950, multiple license to operate a commercial broadcasting applications appear in various parts of Japan. The local newspaper Hokkoku Shimbun in Ishikawa Prefecture revived its plans to operate a new broadcaster. MRO is one of 44 stations who have begun suspending AM operations on some of its relays since 2024, with the Nanao, Wajima, and Yamanaka relays already suspended for further experimentation with Wide FM broadcasting. Currently, MRO Radio can be heard in Nanao and Wajima on standard FM at 88.6MHz, and 77.1MHz respectively, while Yamanaka is served by the Main Kanazawa Wide FM frequency at 94.0MHz. The main Kanazawa AM station (JOMR, 1107 kHz) remains on the air, with plans for the station to become a full-fledged. Wide FM station by 2028.
In the case of the Wajima AM relay, because of a power outage due to torrential rainfall within the Noto Peninsula, and also in order to provide disaster information, the said relay was reinstated for a brief period between the 21st of September to the 10th of November 2024.
Hokuriku Broadcasting is on the verge of splitting its television and radio properties by April 2027. The new spin-off preparatory company under the "MRO Radio Co. Ltd." name, which is established last April 1, 2026, will be taking over the radio license by the following year. In turn, the radio division will be converted into a subsidiary of the company. Also, Hokuriku Broadcasting are planning to move to a more modern facility for its radio and television operations by 2030, as the old building in Hondamachi, which was built in 1968, has showed signs of aging.