In South Korea, there are a number of national television networks, the three largest of which are KBS, MBC, and SBS. Most of the major television studios are located on Yeouido. HLKZ-TV is a television station the first time in Korea.[1] --an island in middle of the Han River--in Seoul. Television introduced in South Korea in 1961 with KBS-TV. Important genres of television shows include serial dramas (soap operas), historical dramas, variety shows, game shows, news programs, and documentaries. All three networks have produced increasingly lavish historical dramas in recent years. Some South Korean television programs are available on satellite and multicultural channels in North America. Korean dramas have become popular in other East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, with whole sets of videotapes or DVDs of series available, complete with Chinese subtitles.
Shopping channels have become quite popular in recent years as well, and the models sometimes put on entertaining acts during product pitches.
There are many cable operators in South Korea, such as Tbroad, C&M, and CJ. The cable TV subscriber is approximately 14 million. The cable operator provides TPS to its subscribers.
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In South Korea, there are four nationwide television networks, three general networks and one educational network as follows:
| Name | Channels (Sudogwon region) |
Channels (Busan region) |
Launch | Type & Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) 교육방송 敎育放送 |
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27 December 1990 | Public broadcasting Government of South Korea |
| Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) 한국방송 韓國放送 |
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29 October 1961 | Public broadcasting Government of South Korea |
| Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) 문화방송 文化放送 |
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8 August 1969 | Commercial network The Foundation of Broadcast Culture & The Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation |
| Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) 에스비에스 / 주식회사 에스비에스 / 서울放送 |
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20 March 1991 | Commercial network SBS Holdings (The TaeYoung E&C -led Consortium) |
All of them are free-to-air channels. Furthermore, all of them are the official digital television and DMB providers of the nation (since 2005, approved by the Korean Government).
| Name | Owner | Launch | Genre | Slogan | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KBS 1TV | KBS | October 29, 1961 | General entertainment featuring news and sport, etc. | Korean's Manifested Channel | The Channel's callsign is HLKA-TV. |
| KBS 2TV | KBS | March 1964 | General entertainment featuring variety shows and sport, etc. | Youth Channel | The Channel's callsign is HLSA-TV. |
| MBC TV | MBC | August 8, 1969 | General entertainment featuring news and variety shows, etc. | The Power of Broadcasting (2001-2011) Touch the Bright Difference (2011-present) | Its name is literally "Culture Broadcasting Corporation". |
| EBS TV | EBS | December 27, 1990 | General Infotainment featuring documentaries, 2nd language education programmes, etc. | A truly good channel | Formerly KBS 3TV, independent in 1990. |
In South Korea, lots of corporate television networks have been created after the deregulation taken in 1990.[2] Apart from OBS Kyeongin TV, all of them are affiliated with SBS.
SBS is responsible in distributing its programming content nationally, but is not responsible for producing local content aired by their affiliates.
| Name | Owner | Launch | Covers | Genre | Slogan | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBS TV | SBS Holdings (The TaeYoung E&C -led Consortium) | March 20, 1991 | Seoul and its suburbs | General entertainment featuring variety shows and drama, etc. | Humanism Through Digital (2000–2010) See you Tomorrow (2010–present) | |
| OBS | Yeong-an Hat Co. | December 28, 2007 | Seoul and its suburbs | General entertainment with local contents, independent of SBS | Your light of Hope and Share | |
| KNN | KNN Corp.(The Nexen Tire-led Consortium) | May 14, 1995 | Busan and Gyeongnam | General entertainment with some local contents | ||
| TBC | TBC Corp.(The Nano Chem.-led Consortium) | May 14, 1995 | Daegu and Gyeongbuk | General entertainment with some local contents | ||
| KBC | KBC Corp. | May 14, 1995 | Gwangju and Jeonnam | General entertainment with some local contents | ||
| TJB | TJB Corp.(The Woosung Feed Co.-led Consortium) | May 14, 1995 | Daejeon and Chungnam | General entertainment with some local contents | ||
| ubc | UBC Corp.(The KOFCO-led Consortium) | September 1, 1997 | Ulsan, eastern part of Gyeongnam | General entertainment with some local contents | ||
| JTV | JTV Corp. (The Iljin holdings. -led Consortium) | September 17, 1997 | Jeonbuk | General entertainment with some local contents | ||
| CJB | CJB Corp. (The Doujin Construction -led Consortium) | October 18, 1997 | Chungbuk | General entertainment with some local contents | ||
| GTB | GTB Corp. | December 15, 2001 | Gangwon | General entertainment with some local contents | ||
| JIBS | JIBS Corp.(The Hanju Holdings. -led Consortium) | May 31, 2002 | Jeju | General entertainment with some local contents |
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