KDB`s Retransmission to Be Allowed for Two Years Only in Metropolitan Area

The Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (KDB) cannot retransmit the programs of the MBC and the SBS outside the broadcasting range for two years after launching the satellite broadcasting. The issue of retransmission has raised the strong repulsive responses among the provincial MBC affiliates and the local private broadcasting companies.

Kim Jeong-Ki, chairman of the broadcasting committee, announced yesterday in a press conference that the committee decided to prohibit the retransmission of the programs of the MBC and the SBS outside Seoul and the metropolitan area for two years after launching the satellite broadcasting in next March.

On the one hand, the KDB has maintained that the retransmission of the programs of the MBC and the SBS is necessary for the early soft landing of the satellite broadcasting. On the other hand, the local private broadcastings and the officials of provincial MBC affiliates have opposed to the KDB`s assertion that the nationwide satellite broadcasting will threaten the existence of the local broadcasting companies, because the TV viewers will turn away from the local programs.

However, many criticize that the committee`s decision is nothing but the expedient solution in order to evade the blames from both sides, because in actuality, the committee allowed for the nationwide retransmission of the programs of the MBC and the SBS two years later.

Meanwhile, the broadcasting committee also announced the operation plans with regard to the ground retransmission by the cable TV outside the broadcasting range, and the retransmission of foreign broadcasting by satellite TV.

According to the operation plans, the programs of the Kyungin Broadcasting (iTV) will not be allowed to broadcast outside Incheon and Kyunggi area. The plan will blow a serious strike to the Kyungin Broadcasting, which has actually broadcasted nationwide through the cable TV.

And the committee decided to gradually allow the retransmission of the foreign broadcastings such as CNN and BBC on terms that some profits should be invested to the domestic broadcasting business.

Seung-Heon Lee ddr@donga.com