The Korean Broadcasting Commission has decided to allow terrestrial broadcasting companies to do television programming during the daytime. Groups with an interest in what happens like the Korean Cable TV Association are expressing opposition to the plan, because they have not been presented with measures that would promote balanced development among different media.
The commission's decision itself is not hard to understand. These are times in which cable and satellite companies broadcast all day, so continuing to keep terrestrial broadcasters from broadcasting all day in order to save energy would be unrealistic. The additional electricity consumption will not have the economic influence it would have back when total electricity consumption was low. The cable association's opposition is natural. The difference in advertising income and the ratings ratio between terrestrial and cable broadcasting is about 8 to 2. There's just no comparison if you look at the figures for individual companies. In addition, terrestrial broadcasting companies are also involved in cable and satellite broadcasting as well, with their own considerably influential drama and sport channels.
All considered, allowing terrestrial broadcasting companies to broadcast during the daytime without taking measures to achieve a definite balance between media is problematic. Having diversity in media and programming would be consistent with the goal of elevating the broadcasting industry to a higher level and with the interests of viewers. In addition, the regulations about daytime broadcasting content are inadequate. It will not do to limit entertaining programming to within 30 percent a year. Terrestrial broadcasters should be required to work to fulfill the aims of daytime broadcasting, by among other things developing their own children's programming.
Terrestrial broadcasting uses limited airwaves that are public property, and therefore has far more social responsibility than other media. The broadcasting commission needs to come up with the measures needed to increase the public contributions of terrestrial broadcasting and to give broadcasting media balanced development. Otherwise it will be criticized for giving terrestrial broadcasting special protection.
The Hankyoreh, 10 November 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] The Problems With Allowing Daytime Television |
