The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea

  • 3

    Methods to avoid YouTube, Netflix restrictions go viral

  • 5

    S. Korea, US, Japan vow to strengthen cooperation against NK threat

  • 7

    Court win for 'comfort women' upheld after Japan decides not to appeal ruling in damages suit

  • 9

    Cadero Grip introduces hybrid golf grip product

  • 11

    N. Korea's fear of external info grows after Seoul allows sending propaganda leaflets

  • 13

    Europe reaches deal on the world's first comprehensive AI rules

  • 15

    Speed skater Kim Min-sun nabs 2nd straight World Cup title

  • 17

    German scholar lectures on 'Saving Confucius from Confucianism'

  • 19

    Ex-DPK leader Song questioned over cash-for-votes scandal

  • 2

    Love and hope in Korea

  • 4

    Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president

  • 6

    Kim Bu-gwi, the tallest monk at Hwaeom Temple

  • 8

    INTERVIEWHow AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert

  • 10

    Anti-dog meat legislation looks doomed as Assembly session ends in vain

  • 12

    China deflation accelerated in Nov.: official data

  • 14

    S. Korea, US agree to enhance cooperation in semiconductors, next-gen tech

  • 16

    Israeli images showing Palestinian detainees in underwear spark outrage

  • 18

    Nat'l security advisers of S. Korea, Japan discuss NK threat

  • 20

    Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, December 11, 2023 | 06:19
Business
Mobile TV Audience Reaches 22 Million
Posted : 2009-06-26 20:32
Updated : 2009-06-26 20:32
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
The number of mobile television viewers in South Korea has now reached 22 million, according to the latest figures by wireless carriers Friday, as digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) functions have become conventional in mobile handsets.

More Koreans are getting TV-enabled handsets, but mobile TV operators are struggling from the lack of business models.
/ Korea Times
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

The number of mobile television viewers in South Korea has now reached 22 million, according to the latest figures by wireless carriers Friday, as digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) functions have become conventional in mobile handsets.

Despite the growing audience, however, a sustainable business model remains elusive for television operators who are reeling from declining average revenue per user (APRU) and weak advertisement sales.

According to TU Media, a unit of SK Telecom and the country's sole provider of satellite-based mobile pay-TV services, the number of the company's DMB customers reached 2 million as of Friday, a significant jump from the 1.3 million around the same time last year.

The jump in the number of subscribers is attributable to the company introducing ``Slim Package'' rates, which allow SK Telecom customers to view some of its DMB channels for free.

TU Media has been saying it needs about 2.5 million subscribers to be profitable and believes 2.3 million by the end of the year is an achievable goal.

The country's three mobile carriers ― SK Telecom, KT and LG Telecom ― also sell handsets enabled with terrestrial DMB, which is a free service. The companies have combined to sell about 20 million phones with terrestrial DMB functions.

The combined 22 million mobile television customers for both free and paid+ services account for about 45 percent of the country's population.

TU Media sent its first broadcasting signal in 2005 and is the quickest among the country's pay-TV platform to reach the 2 million customer mark. Cable television, first introduced in Korea in 1995, and the Sky Life digital satellite broadcasting service, which was launched in 2002, both took five years to reach the 2 million customers.

Although mobile television has clearly become conventional among tech savvy Koreans, it remains a money losing business for operators.

TU Media's cumulative deficit reached over 310 billion won (about $240 million) at the end of the first quarter of this year, and the increasing proportion of Slim Package rates means that ARPU levels are continuing to dip.

Things aren't much better for terrestrial DMB operators, who rely on an advertisement-supported model. The country's six terrestrial DMB broadcasters, including the country's three major television networks KBS, MBC and SBS and DMB-specific operators such as U1 Media, Korea DMB and YTN DMB, combined for only 8.9 billion won in advertisement revenue last year.

Sustaining the ad-supported business model has been difficult when advertisers struggle to get a clear idea of how effective their commercials on DMB can be.

A 15-second commercial on DMB costs about 500,000 to 600,000 won in the ``prime time" hours during the morning and evening commuting hours and lunch. In comparison, a 15-second commercial on national television during prime time, which is around 10 p.m., costs at least 10 million won.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1Methods to avoid YouTube, Netflix restrictions go viral Methods to avoid YouTube, Netflix restrictions go viral
2Anti-dog meat legislation looks doomed as Assembly session ends in vainAnti-dog meat legislation looks doomed as Assembly session ends in vain
3N. Korea's fear of external info grows after Seoul allows sending propaganda leafletsN. Korea's fear of external info grows after Seoul allows sending propaganda leaflets
4Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s
5Leaders of Samsung, SK to visit Netherlands for chip allianceLeaders of Samsung, SK to visit Netherlands for chip alliance
6Calls grow for shift from two-party political systemCalls grow for shift from two-party political system
7Skepticism mounts over shareholder activism at Samsung C&TSkepticism mounts over shareholder activism at Samsung C&T
8'New initiative on NK' lacks balanced strategy: experts 'New initiative on NK' lacks balanced strategy: experts
9Eximbank teams up with US counterpart on decarbonization Eximbank teams up with US counterpart on decarbonization
10Gov't boosts reserves to appease public jitters over urea shortage Gov't boosts reserves to appease public jitters over urea shortage
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve 'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve
2Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world
3[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert INTERVIEWHow AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert
4'12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation
5K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group