Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:54 am Post subject: Regulator to decide TV retransmission issue on broadcasting
The Korean Broadcasting Commission will make a decision Tuesday on whether to allow land-based television programs on satellite-based mobile television services, currently backed by SK Telecom Co., the broadcasting regulator said yesterday.
The decision will have a major impact on next-generation television viewing throughout the nation, possibly redefining the viewing habits of customers.
The commission had been stopping TU Media Corp., 30 percent owned by SK Telecom, from airing land-based television programs on its satellite broadcasting network, which is in trail operation.
"We will hold a general meeting over the issue on April 19. The issue will not be decided by vote and we are intending to reach an agreement between the nine members of the standing committee," Sung Yu-bo, a member among the Korean Broadcasting Commission's standing committee, said last week.
"Some had suggested making a third company as a program provider to sell land-based television programs to TU Media as an alternative solution. However, with the country's three major television stations opposing the idea, it would not be an issue of discussion in the meeting," said Sung.
Mobile television services, dubbed digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), are designed to beam digital television, audio and data to handheld devices via satellite or land-based television airwaves. Korean mobile-phone operators and television broadcasters are expecting commercial services during the second quarter.
The government allocated a license for satellite-based mobile television services to TU Media Corp. in December last year.
Last month, the government allocated six licenses for land-based mobile television services that are expected to go live in June.
The country's three major land-based television stations - KBS, MBC and SBS - secured spots for the nascent market.
For the three remaining spots saved for non-terrestrial broadcasters, were allocated to consortiums led by cable news broadcaster YTN, radio broadcaster CBS and a group led by electronics equipment makers PSK Tech Inc., Homecast Co. and digital content developer Sigong Tech Co.
TU Media's initiatives toward satellite-based mobile television suffered a setback in October last year when the Korean Broadcasting Commission decided not to allow the retransmission of land-based television broadcasts on the company's satellite network. This keeps TU Media from providing programs from the country's four major television stations - KBS, MBC, SBS and EBS - to customers.
The broadcasting regulator had been leaving open the possibilities of reversing directions, saying it will reconsider the satellite retransmission issue after the licensing competition for land-based mobile television services is completed.
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