Broadcasting regulator delays license renewals of terrestrial TV channels

▲ Lee Sang-in, vice chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, holds a press briefing at the government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, on Dec. 31, 2023. (Yonhap)

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Broadcasting regulator delays license renewals of terrestrial TV channels

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) on Sunday delayed its decision to renew licenses of over 140 terrestrial TV stations, citing insufficient time for review.

The broadcasting regulator had initially planned to hold a meeting earlier in the day to renew licenses of 141 stations owned by 34 companies but abruptly canceled it.

KCC Vice Chairman Lee Sang-in said the meeting was delayed due to insufficiency of time to review permit renewals and related conditions.

He added that the commission plans to conclude the review as quickly as possible and that companies will not face penalties due to the expiration of their licenses.

Concerns have been raised within the industry over the possibility of unlicensed illegal broadcasting as the permits of stations, including major networks such as KBS 2TV and SBS, were set to expire on Sunday.

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