Watchdog renew licenses for 4 cable TV channels

Four of the nation's cable channels were able to renew their contract with the government, according to the Korea Communications Commission on Wednesday.

The telecommunications watchdog granted another three-year television license to TV Chosun, JTBC, Channel A and news Y, but also advised them to secure impartiality when reporting news items.

Two of the commission members objected in the voting, citing a lack of transparency in reviewing the channels' performance over the past three years.

Except for news Y, they are three of the five television channels launched in late 2011 upon the commission's decision to grant profitable license to air manifold television programs in one channel. 

The television arm of Yonhap News Agency, news Y, was given a license as a news-only cable channel. MBN, the other channel that is run by a news daily with an economy focus, is to go under a re-examination before its license expires late this year.

The commission, meanwhile, advised the channels to beef up impartiality in news reporting, amid some criticism raised over their right-wing stances.

TV Chosun, run by leading newspaper Chosun Ilbo, was advised to reduce the proportion of new programs, which reach nearly half of all the television channel's broadcasting.

Opposition bloc members of the committee, however, protested that the decision should be nullified, with Rep. You Seung-hee of the newly incorporated main opposition New Political Vision Party saying that "the decision is invalid as it only came without specific information released on how the license was approved."

By Shin Ji-hae and news reports (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)