Calls to Revisit UHD and DMB Policy Surface in Broadcast Re-licensing Review

During the broadcast re-licensing review by the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission, opinions were raised that UHD and terrestrial DMB policies should be reexamined. It was noted that the review criteria need to reflect the changing media consumption environment.

As the contraction in the broadcast advertising market and the decline in users continued, discussions also took place over whether applying the existing re-licensing standards unchanged was appropriate. The need for institutional reform was also raised.

On the 21st, the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission held its 29th plenary meeting and placed on the agenda for approval the re-licensing of 13 broadcast stations operated by 11 terrestrial and community radio providers, including KBS, regional MBC affiliates, TJB, and OBS. The re-licensing targets included KBS Jeonju and Cheongju’s first UHDTV stations, as well as KBS regional terrestrial DMB stations and terrestrial DMB stations operated by Busan, Jeju, Chuncheon, Daejeon, Gwangju MBC, and TJB.

As a result of the review, 8 broadcast stations operated by 6 providers that scored 700 points or higher received a 5-year license validity period, while 5 broadcast stations operated by 5 providers that scored at least 650 points but less than 700 points received a 4-year license validity period.

In this review, separate from the re-licensing decision itself, opinions were raised that the policy direction for existing terrestrial broadcasting services such as UHD and DMB should be reassessed. In the review process, the need to reconsider not only whether to renew licenses but also the policy itself for existing terrestrial services was raised.

The re-licensing review committee determined that the long-term goals and plans for UHD broadcasting need to be reviewed in light of changing media use patterns and declining UHD demand. It also said that once the government's new UHD policy direction is finalized, broadcasters will need to adjust their business plans.

Regarding DMB, there were calls to revisit the policy direction in consideration of declining users, maintenance costs, and alternative media. In addition, given the service's characteristics, opinions were raised that measures are needed to address reception blind spots and improve broadcast quality, and that ways to use it as a public service medium such as for disaster broadcasting should also be devised.

Behind these discussions is the recognition that there is a gap between the media environment at the time UHD and DMB were introduced and expanded and the present one. Amid the shift toward OTT- and mobile-centric content consumption, questions have emerged over the need to reflect such environmental changes in broadcasting policy and the re-licensing system, alongside calls to reconsider the direction of existing investments in broadcast networks and services.

The review committee assessed that broadcasters' business conditions have worsened due to declining viewership and shrinking advertising revenue. It also said this situation is leading to reduced investment in production and facilities, as well as a more conservative approach to business operations.

The review committee said that technology adoption suited to the changing media environment is necessary. It also said that a business structure to secure financial soundness is needed. Choi Soo-young, a standing commissioner at the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission, also pointed to changes in the broadcast market environment, including falling advertising revenue and rising production costs.

Amid this recognition of the issues, calls were made to review the entire re-licensing evaluation framework. The review committee said it was necessary to examine whether it is appropriate to apply standards stricter than those used for the initial license in re-licensing reviews. It also proposed reviewing whether it is appropriate to apply the same standards to public and private broadcasters in evaluating management, financial, and technical capabilities, given their different funding sources and business structures. Choi Soo-young, a standing commissioner at the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission, also raised concerns about the appropriateness of the existing re-licensing review standards.

Commissioner Choi said that, as the broadcasting ecosystem and environment have changed, it is necessary to review whether the past review standards remain appropriate when applied as they are today. He argued that the system and standards need to be redesigned to match changes in the ecosystem and environment.

Commissioner Choi in particular pointed to the different founding purposes of public and private broadcasters. He also highlighted differences in funding structures and market roles between public and private broadcasters.

On that basis, Commissioner Choi raised the question of whether it is appropriate to evaluate public and private broadcasters using the same standards. He then said that, in the medium to long term, it is necessary to consider a differentiated review approach.

Koh Min-soo, vice chair of the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission, said on the premise that the current Broadcasting Act contains basic requirements for re-licensing review standards, there are limits to making major changes to those standards. Still, he agreed on the need for institutional reform and said that, when drawing up detailed review plans under the current law, it is necessary to reexamine the overall existing review items and factors. He also stressed the need to reflect the changed environment.

In this re-licensing round, the commission streamlined items that had lost timeliness, items already reflected in statutes, and items that had not posed problems in implementation so far. At the same time, it reduced the conditions imposed on operators, while retaining necessary conditions related to broadcasters' public responsibilities and the stable operation of broadcast networks.

For the re-licensing of DMB operators, the commission imposed conditions requiring all DMB operators to comply with the broadcast facility investment and maintenance plans submitted at the time of re-licensing and to implement the measures for resolving reception blind spots that were also submitted then. It also required annual submission of implementation results to the commission.

Separately, the commission imposed a special condition on KBS DMB requiring it to maintain, for a sufficient period, the simultaneous transmission of the low-resolution (SD-grade) channel that is being broadcast alongside the high-definition channel for the purpose of protecting viewers' access, and to consult with the commission in advance when discontinuing SD-grade transmissions. Kim Jong-cheol, chair of the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission, said that conditions with low effectiveness or those that had become merely formal recommendations had in some respects functioned as an excessive burden on operators in practice. He added that, along with legal revisions, the commission will continue to review realistic improvement measures suited to changes in the re-licensing system environment.

Source: IT DAILY · Kim Byung-joo
Original: https://www.itdaily.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=241127

References

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