Unstable Policy for New Media

The Korean Broadcasting Commission announced on Oct. 6 that the retransmission of satellite DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) to ground TV was disapproved.

Satellite DMB enables people to enjoy clear video and audio entertainment while on the move via mobile phones or automotive terminals. The decision, as a result, now holds back the future of the satellite DMB business using mobile phones that was scheduled to launch in the middle of next month. Critics of the recent halt say that Korea is lagging behind Japan which already set its satellite DMB service in motion and that the decision also allows Japan more space in the newly emerging market. On the brink of an era where broadcasting and communications have merged, critics point out that the Korean government’s policy for new media is failing.

“The disapproval of the retransmission of satellite DMB to ground TV will be reexamined, when ground DMB is recommended for approval. Criteria and guidelines for selecting the business to run satellite DMB will be announced on October 8,” the Korean Broadcasting Commission said. However, no specific schedule for ground DMB is fixed; as for now, the retransmission of satellite DMB to ground TV is in effect not expected to happen soon.

Unions of ground TV such as KBS and local networks have strongly objected the retransmission, saying, “If approved, local networks will wither to death and broadcasting will be highly commercialized and privatized.” They even announced that they were ready to stage a general strike.

“Without the retransmission, it will be very difficult to attract enough members to maintain the business. That is why the disapproval leaves us few alternatives including giving up the business,” said a person concerned with TU Media, the only preparatory business. Loss of hundreds of billions of won invested on satellite launching and operation is now inevitable, and the impact on related industries including terminal production companies is expected to be huge.

Japan`s MBCo (Mobile Broadcasting Corporation), which has co-promoted satellite DMB services with Korea’s SK Telecom, announced its launching schedule of October 20, stepping ahead of Korea in the global market.

The disagreement between communication enterprises and broadcasting companies has long been forecasted from the very beginning when satellite DMB promotion was first announced in February 2003. However, the Korean Broadcasting Commission, which has continually postponed its decision, merely decided to “temporarily disapprove;” a timid action. This is regarded as another delinquency of duty, following its decision not to deliberate the impeachment broadcasting last July.

Jin-Yeong Lee ecolee@donga.com