The Japan Broadcasting Corporation, or NHK (Nihon Hoso Kyokai) was founded as a specially designated public corporation in 1950 under Japan’s Broadcast Law through the merger of the former Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka Broadcasting Corporations that had been broadcasting over radio airwaves since 1925. It currently operates two terrestrial television services - NHK General TV and NHK Educational TV - and three radio networks - NHK Radio 1, NHK Radio 2 and NHK FM. In addition it offers three satellite services - NHK BS-1, NHK BS-2, and NHK Hi-Vision (High-definition TV). Internationally, NHK offers three TV and radio services under the NHK World umbrella. NHK is tax-exempt, and although it is neither government-run nor government-funded (with the exception of financial aid provided by the government for overseas broadcasting purposes) the Diet approves its budget and management appointees. As a public broadcaster, NHK is the only broadcasting corporation whose budget is obtained not from advertising but from a licence fee paid for by the public according to the terms of the Broadcasting Law. The company maintains that this system 'enables the Corporation to maintain independence from any governmental and private organisation, and ensures that the opinions of viewers and listeners are assigned top priority.' Privatisation of the broadcaster has been debated vigorously as its efficiency as a public entity has repeatedly come into question. NHK runs the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute and the NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories, which were set up to improve its service in terms of digital technology and programming. NHK also supports cultural activities through the production of TV and radio programmes on the arts.