Schemes to Ensure Media Diversity
1. Schemes to Ensure Media Diversity
▪ Limits on Audience Share
▪ Compulsory Programming of Independent Producers’ Programs
▪ Foreign Program Quota
1.The limits on audience share are to prevent a particular broadcaster from forming and dictating public opinion. The compulsory programming ensures the diversity of producers of the broadcasting programs. The foreign program quota is to accommodate diverse foreign cultures.
1.The limits on audience share restrict the share of a single broadcasting service provider (and its affiliates) to 30%. The compulsory programming requires the broadcasting service providers to air programs produced by independent producers at a certain percentage of the total programming (and 35% at a maximum). The foreign program quota prohibits broadcasting service providers from programming more than 80% of their foreign programs with any content (e.g., film, animation, pop music, etc.) produced by any single country. All these regulations are applied to the supply side (broadcasting service providers).
It is expected that no single broadcasting service provider will occupy more than 30% of the audience. The programs produced by independent producers will be aired mandatorily. No content (e.g., film, animation, pop music, etc.) from any single country is expected to exceed 80% of the total foreign programs.
▪ No financing is required for the institutional measure.
The Committee on Media Diversity of the Korea Communications Commission conducts review on the limits on audience share annually. The compulsory programming is subject to the analysis of the regulation impact, with studies being conducted on its economic impact and other factors on an irregular basis. Studies are also underway on the actual effects of the foreign program quota, which is subject to the analysis of regulation impact also.