Arirang TV to Launch English Radio News
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Arirang TV will launch a seven-language subtitle service and English radio news service in Korea.
Chang Myung-ho, the President and CEO of Arirang TV, announced the new services at a press conference, Friday.
The station delivers news, cultural programs, educational shows and documentaries worldwide via satellite 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Starting April 1, Arirang will air English radio news 50 minutes a day, 10 five-minute news bulletins, through YTN FM.
``We will provide Korean news in English to foreigners living in Korea and for tourists,'' said Chang.
Currently, Arirang Radio serves only Jeju Island, and through terrestrial and satellite DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) platforms.
Arirang TV invested in the YTN Radio service for a 4.5 percent share and signed a contract with them to provide English news programs. By this, they can secure about 10 million more listeners around Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.
They ultimately plan is to air Arirang FM nationwide. ``English radio service is a basic infrastructure for most semi or more developed countries, providing information to foreign residents and tourists and improving the image of Korea. This corresponds with the new government's policy to expand English public education,'' Chang said.
In addition, Arirang will add three more languages ― Russian, Vietnamese and Indonesian ― to their multi-language subtitle service, March.
``We are aiming to be a global television channel. However, this is an English specialized channel and the accessibility to our programs is low in non English-speaking countries. This new service will strengthen our competitiveness,'' Chang said.
They currently produce programs in English and provide content in Chinese, Spanish and Arabic. Arirang expects to gain 2 million new viewers in the areas they serve with subtitles and will gradually increase their international subtitle service to 10 languages by 2012.
The broadcaster also regrouped its their programs in February ― ``Coree Arirang'' (Wednesday and Thursday), ``Talk Around'' (Friday) and ``Face to Face'' (Saturday), are in the``Hand in Hand'' group, which aims to foster awareness of multiculturalism in Korea.
The ``Travelscope'' group promotes tourism and includes ``Festive Journey'' (Wednesday), ``On the Road'' (Friday) and `Cuisine Tour'' (Saturday).
``Inside Biz'' includes ``Power Product'' (Monday), ``Korean Freakonomists'' (Tuesday), ``Star Biz'' (Thursday), ``Invest Korea'' (Friday) and ``Buzz in Business'' (Saturday), which are designed to foster overseas investment.
``Arirang Special'' is an investigative reporting documentary, which airs on Sunday at 8 p.m.
Chang also brought up the issue of merging with other stations such as KTV or KBS World to more efficiently promote Korea abroad through broadcasting.