Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (문화방송, 文化放送) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks, particularly famous for its dramas and comedies. Its flagship terrestrial station is Channel 11 in Seoul.
Once government-owned, the network is today 70% owned by the Foundation for Broadcast Culture. It receives no government subsidies and derives its income almost entirely from regular commercial advertising. Seven of its 19 local stations are independent affiliates.
[edit] History
MBC was founded in 1961 as a small AM radio broadcaster in Seoul. It began television broadcasting on August 8, 1969 and FM radio broadcasts in 1971.
A mob outraged by the official media's coverage of the progressing Gwangju massacre stormed MBC's building in Gwangju on the night of May 20, 1980. Unable to operate the broadcasting equipment, they set it afire. Partly to address such concerns in light of the country's 1987 democratic reforms, the National Assembly established the Foundation for Broadcast Culture on December 26, 1988, to insulate MBC from political influence.
Since then, the network has promoted its independence and declared its mission to be one of public service and the promotion of Korean culture. Since 1997 it has refused to broadcast music with all-English lyrics. In 2001 it proclaimed its support for President Kim Dae-jung's New Year's Day call for reform of the media, which was chiefly aimed at the national daily newspapers.
Also in 2001, MBC launched satellite television and cable television broadcasting. As part of this expansion it created MBC America, a subsidiary based in Los Angeles to distribute its programming throughout the Americas.
[edit] Programs
[edit] News Programs
- MBC Newsdesk
- News 24
- MBC News
- MBC Morning News
[edit] MBC Dramas
[edit] Current Affairs
- 100 Minute Debate
- Current Events magazine 2580
- PD Sucheop
- Issue & Issue
iMBC is MBC's official website, prividing users with various information on current and past programs and allowing users to download or stream programs to watch.
The site offers both free and paid Video on Demand services for users to view various programs online. While the "Public service programs", news, radio, and programs currently on air are free, dramas, entertainment, and current affairs programs are not. For viewers in South Korea, an episode typically costs around 500 won, and there is a fixed fee that allows users to watch as many videos as they want for 4,000 a day or 15,000 a month. For users that are abroad, episodes cost 1,000 won each.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
