Chosun, JoongAng, Dong-A, Maeil granted license for cable TV channels

Four media consortiums led by leading daily newspapers -- Chosun Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Maeil Business Newspaper -- won licenses for general programming cable television channels, the nation's broadcasting regulator said Friday,.

Yonhap News Agency, the nation’s key news service, was granted a license to launch an all-news cable television channel, Choi See-joong, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, said in a news conference.

Six consortiums vied for the nation's first general programming cable television licenses.

A consortium led by Yonhap defeated three other consortiums to become the sole winner of the nation's third news-only cable television license.

Major newspaper companies in Korea have sought after the new general-interest and all-news channel licenses, as the government was determined to increase the number of broadcasters to promote diversity and stimulate the relevant industries. At present, Korea has three terrestrial broadcasters -- KBS, MBC and SBS.

With Yonhap's entry, Korea's cable television news market now controlled by YTN and MBN is expected to undergo sweeping upheavals.