By Jung Min-ho
The nation’s three major broadcasting companies ― KBS, MBC and SBS ― have filed a damages suit against cable TV operator C&M, alleging the firm did not pay the full amount of subscriber fees last year.
According to the Seoul Southern District Court Tuesday, the broadcasting companies have accused C&M of breaking a contract that requires C&M to pay each of the companies 280 won (26 cents) in fees for each subscriber for high-definition services.
C&M is the nation’s third-largest cable TV operator with about 2.37 million users. Many live in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
Each plaintiff demands 200 million won in compensation.
Citing data released by Rep. Chyung Ho-joon from the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, the broadcasting companies claim C&M paid only about 80 percent of fees for 1,135,000 subscribers to high-definition services last year.
C&M reportedly denied the accusations, saying it paid the full amount.
Before 2012 contract, cable TV operators were able to retransmit the broadcast channels free ― which they believed was within their rights ― but the three networks demanded the cable operators pay fees for relaying their content.