Hiroshi Demegawa is a character who appears exclusively in the second live-action film adaptation, Death Note: The Last Name. In this version, he is the director of Sakura TV, a private television station known for its aggressive and sensationalist news coverage. Unlike his source material counterpart, Hitoshi Demegawa, who is depicted as overweight, Hiroshi is noticeably thin and wears glasses, maintaining a similar but leaner physical presence.

Demegawa is primarily driven by a relentless pursuit of ratings, money, and personal advancement. His personality is defined by greed and a willingness to cross ethical boundaries to boost his network's viewership. He is an opportunist who sees the chaos surrounding the Kira case not as a tragedy but as a prime source of entertainment and profit. Despite this selfish nature, the live-action film adds complexity, suggesting he often justifies his actions as merely following the policies of the television station, portraying an attitude of a company man swept along by the institutional drive for success.

Throughout the film, Demegawa plays a pivotal role as a media figure who amplifies the Kira phenomenon. He is responsible for broadcasting the message from the second Kira, a decision that has significant consequences for the investigation. Later, he reluctantly cooperates with the police task force in their plan to apprehend the third Kira, who is connected to the Yotsuba Group. While he agrees to help, his primary motivation remains the exclusive access to the story and the high ratings it guarantees. In the film's narrative, he is also involved in a relationship with the ambitious Saeko Nishiyama and exhibits vulgar behavior, including sexually harassing the news anchor Kiyomi Takada, which further underscores his lack of scruples.

Key relationships in the film version highlight Demegawa's transactional and often exploitative nature. His connection with Saeko Nishiyama is one of mutual convenience, driven by career ambitions. His treatment of Kiyomi Takada is dismissive and predatory, though he does acknowledge her professional abilities as she becomes a more prominent figure. Unlike in the original manga and anime, where Demegawa becomes Kira's spokesperson and is eventually killed for his greed, Hiroshi Demegawa's development in The Last Name follows a different path. He does not become a true believer in Kira's ideology; instead, he remains a pragmatist. After the events surrounding the third Kira are resolved, he is one of the few characters to survive, as he is not eliminated by the new Kira and simply fades out of the story.

While the film does not showcase any unique physical abilities, Demegawa is a skilled television director. His notable capability lies in his savvy understanding of mass media and public opinion. He knows how to package a story for maximum impact, using sensationalism, repetition, and emotional manipulation to captivate viewers. This ability to influence the public discourse makes him a useful tool for other characters, even as his personal motives remain transparently self-serving.