Broadcasters Face Sanctions for Olympic Gaffes

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

Broadcasting companies face sanctions for their commentators' inappropriate or racial comments during the coverage of Olympic Games in Beijing. The Korea Communications Standards Commission Monday said it will hold a committee this week to determine the level of penalty on major national television networks ― MBC, KBS and SBS.

In an apparent bid to raise TV viewer ratings, the broadcasters hired former medallists and coaches rather than relying on professional commentators.

The regulatory body said it received many complaints that ill-prepared and unprofessional commentators often frustrated viewers with vulgar or even racial remarks. ``Broadcasters are strictly banned from using vulgar expressions, slang words and impolite language but violations of the regulations were often witnessed during the Olympic programs,'' an official from the agency said.

For instance, SBS wrestling commentator Shim Kwon-ho, a two-time Olympic champion, shouted directions on-air to Korean silver medalist Jung Ji-hyun. ``You, silly fool. I told you not to do that,'' Shim screamed.

The Commission will also review MBC's negative or disrespectful comments on some nations. The broadcaster used short captions to introduce each participating country when their national teams entered the main stadium during the opening ceremony on Aug. 8, but some of them were discriminatory, which drew severe criticism.

It described Sudan as ``unstable due to prolonged civil war;'' Cayman Islands as ``infamous for tax evasion;'' and Chad as ``the dead heart of Africa.''

In the competition of viewer ratings, KBS and MBC had a close result with SBS turned over due to its controversial commentaries. According to TNS Media Korea, KBS and MBC recorded average viewer ratings of 8.3 percent on their coverage of the Olympics, with SBS posting 6 percent.

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr

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