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Jun 18, 20261
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Fuji TV's Music Show 'STAR' Struggles with Declining Ratings Despite Popular Host Uegami

Fuji TV's music variety program 'STAR,' hosted by popular announcer Takataro Uegami, has experienced steep ratings declines since launching in April 2026. From an initial 2.4% individual rating, viewership dropped to 1.4% by June, the show's lowest point to date, with critics attributing the decline to production coordination issues rather than problems with the host.




Quick Facts
Who
Takataro Uegami
What
launch of music variety program 'STAR'
When
April 1, 2026 (premiere)
Where
Fuji TV
- launch of music variety program 'STAR'
- declining viewership over seven weeks
- lowest individual rating recorded
- production team coordination issues
- Takataro Uegami
Fuji TV's new music variety program 'STAR' has faced significant challenges since its launch on April 1, 2026, with viewership steadily declining over its seven-week run. The show began with a household rating of 3.7% and an individual rating of 2.4%, but by its June 4 episode, the individual rating had plummeted to 1.4%, marking a historic low. The core demographic rating (ages 13-49) fell to 1.3% for the same episode.
The program was launched with considerable fanfare, featuring Takataro Uegami, a popular announcer known for his distinctive personality, as the main host. The production involved experienced teams from Fuji TV, including the music variety team behind special programs like the 'FNS Kayou Festival' and the information programming team from the morning show 'Mezamashi TV.' However, reports suggest a lack of coordination between these teams may be contributing to the show's struggles.
While Uegami himself has received mostly positive reception from viewers, critics have pointed to broader production issues as the primary problem. Social media commentary indicates viewers are tuning in selectively to watch their preferred artists rather than watching the program in full. Online discussions have drawn comparisons to other unsuccessful music programs and suggested that while Uegami maintains popularity among older demographics, the show has failed to engage younger audiences. Industry observers note that while the show's quality may be affected by its declining traditional broadcast ratings, alternative viewing metrics such as recorded playback and streaming platform numbers on 'TVer' provide a more complete picture of actual viewership.
Why This Matters
This case illustrates the vulnerability of traditional broadcast television to production execution failures and shifting audience consumption patterns. Despite having a popular host and experienced teams, poor internal coordination undermined the show's performance. For media companies and advertisers, it underscores the importance of seamless cross-departmental collaboration and the need to track supplementary metrics (streaming, time-shifted viewing) beyond traditional ratings in evaluating program success.
Timeline & Sources
Apr 1, 2026
WireSTAR premiere with 3.7% household rating and 2.4% individual rating
Jun 4, 2026
WireSeventh episode records lowest individual rating of 1.4% and core demographic rating of 1.3%
Jun 10, 2026
WireWEB Josei Jishin reports on the show's low ratings and struggling viewership
Jun 18, 2026
Wired Menu News publishes article covering the ratings decline and production issues