第６２回紅白歌合戦堤早到七時十五分開始

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
ＮＨＫは８日、大みそかに行われる第６２回紅白歌合戦の放送を、午後７時１５分から始めると発表した。同１１時４５分までの４時間半（ニュースのため５分間の中断あり）で、第６０回記念大会（０９年）と並び歴代最長となる。
　東日本大震災の被災者から、歌番組を要望する声が多く寄せられたことなどが理由。松本正之会長は「２０１２年に向け、明るい明日への希望を歌い上げる番組にしたい」と述べた。出場歌手や曲目などは未定。
　紅白の放送開始時間は、戦後６０年にあたる０５年の第５６回から、５９回（０８年）までが午後７時２０分で、６１回（１０年）でそれ以前の同７時半に戻っていた。
(試翻譯)
On the 8th the NHK announced that the broadcasting of the 62nd New Year's Eve song show to be performed on New Year's Eve would begin at 7:15 p.m. The 4 hours and a half broadcasting(with a discontinuation of 5 minutes because of the news reporting) up to 11:45 would, along with the 60th Commemoration convention (2009) became the longest broadcasting.
The reason was that many voices that demanded a pop music show etc. were sent out from the disaster victims of the East Japan great earthquake. Chairman Masayuki Matsumoto said, "Facing towards 2012, I would like to make it a program that sings about the hope for a bright tomorrow." Singer's participation and music items etc. were not yet decided.
Regarding the broadcasting starting time of this Red and White Singing Contest, it was set at 7.20 pm staring from the 56th Round in 2005, which was the 60th Anniversary of the War ending, until the 59th Round (2008); the 61st Round (2010) returned to the 7:30 as before.

It is understandable that many Japanese are wishing for a better to-morrow in 2012.