The countdown has ended, K-chan NEWS has aired, and NEWS is back!!
For those who weren't able to listen to the broadcast, here's a summary of what happened (sorry I know many people are probably posting, this may overlap with other entries... also sorry for all the edits =X):
The clock hit 00:00:00 and changed to a "K-chan NEWS NOW ON AIR" image.
K-chan NEWS featured all 4 members and was LIVE! It was also a special longer episode (finished around 12:40). So they asked listeners to email questions that could finally be asked since all 4 were there.
Random questions about their first impressions of each other and going to each other's places to hang out, but let's skip to the good part:
ANNOUNCEMENT!
NEW SINGLE, BEST ALBUM, and a TOUR!!!
Details:
They did not announce the single name or release date, but they said it will probably be soon (more waiting, haha).
[EDIT: They did not mention the background music that played when the clock first hit 0/during the 2nd countdown, so that music is not necessarily a sample of the single]
The BEST ALBUM will consist of one disc of all A-side singles, and one disc of FAN FAVORITES. They are asking fans to pick their favorite 4 NEWS songs (since there are 4 members). Voting will commence on the JEHP homepage and Johnny's Web starting 4/18 at 12 noon, and last approximately 2 weeks.
[EDIT: More details on the site, but basically you can choose from B-sides and album songs, NOT A-sides (as they will already be included on the first CD), un-released songs (boo, I need me some Koyashige Iitai dake and Tamborine), or instrumentals.]
Edit: They did NOT mention re-recording the songs, and commented that "this song will be on it" when weeeek started playing, which leads me to believe they will not re-record.
The TOUR is definitely in the works and they have already started talks with venues and areas. As for when it will be held, they joked it may be in the "Summer Time" (single reference) - but nothing is set in stone yet.
That's all the big stuff!
-Massu suggested the countdown, and they all coordinated with JE to make it happen :)
-They wanted the announcements to come from themselves to the fans, which is why they did it on K-chan NEWS :)
-One listener asked all the members to say "Uwaki sunna yo" (Don't cheat on us) - which is what they all wrote in the latest NEWS RING J-web entries. Massu has not said it yet in an entry, but since the last entry was "happyou" (announcement), Koyama suggested to Massu that his entry be "Uwaki sunna yo" [Massu will be posting the next entry tomorrow]
-They all said the "uwaki~" line for the listeners, except Massu who changed it to a pun ("Uwabaki hakeyo" - put on your indoor shoes)
-Massu's underwear was grey. Hahaha.
There was more of course, but in my excitement/tiredness I have forgotten a lot of it/am too tired to post more, haha... I'm sure someone will post a better summary once the episode is up for download :) Congratulations NEWS!!! ♥