Civic group blast new broadcasters

Cable channels fail to disclose programming guidelines even after opening


A group of activists has filed a lawsuit with the prosecution against three new cable broadcasters for keeping the audience in the dark about their programming schedules even after they began broadcasting on Dec. 1.

The three broadcasters are Channel A, TV Chosun and jTBC. They are run by the Dong-A Ilbo, the Chosun Ilbo and the JoongAng Ilbo, respectively, the nation’s three biggest conservative newspapers.

MBN, run by Maeil Business Newspaper, was exempted from their suit, as it issued prior notice on its news-only cable network that had operated for 14 years before its relaunch this month as a general programming channel.

The association of 50 civic groups said Tuesday it filed the suit with the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office last Friday for not disclosing their programming schedules.

Under related laws, broadcasting stations should make public guidelines on programming direction and scheduling. Violators face up to 30 million won in fines or one year’s imprisonment.

“When we called the three companies and requested the guidelines, they were not even aware of the rules,” said Park Young-sun, spokeswoman for People’s Coalition for Media Reform, which led the legal action.

“It seems that the three companies do not care about the rules as if they exist as extralegal business entities,” she said.

Park and other complainants also denounced the Korea Communications Commission for favoring the three broadcasters above others, calling them “arrogant.”

The four channels including MBN were embroiled in controversy since first airing on Dec. 1 for technical flaws, frequent program reruns and allegedly biased news programs.

On the first day, President Lee Myung-bak’s congratulatory message was aired with buzzing sound and broken images. TV Chosun aired halved frames for 10 minutes just two minutes after first broadcast. Channel A was criticized for digging up decades-old celebrity gossip while Chosun became the subject of mockery for praising Park Geun-hye, the strongest potential presidential candidate of the ruling Grand National Party. Despite their reputation in print media, some programs marked zero ratings.

Civic groups blamed the KCC for choosing unqualified broadcasters. KCC Chairman Choi Si-joong is one of the closest confidants of the president, and critics called the selection of the new cable networks “political favoritism.”

“If terrestrial broadcasters such as MBC, KBS or SBS had made the same mistake, they would be heavily disciplined. But the KCC has made no regulative action yet,” Park said, vowing to fight against favoritism and cronyism

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)