Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) has approved an application from PPV operator Pay-Per-View Japan to launch two channels specialising in foreign movies and sports.

In its latest licensing round, the MPT greenlit 15 companies planning to launch 18 satellite channels in the Japanese market. The regulatory body started to take applications to fill the gap left by a succession of broadcasters going off the air.

Other successful applicants are Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting, which plans to launch two channels specialising in Japanese films, and information service company CSK which is teaming up with MTV to relaunch the MTV music channel in the Japanese market this July. MTV first began broadcasting in Japan in 1992, but withdrew from the market in 1998.