South Korea’s cable TV system operators will guarantee 80 percent of the previous year’s channel fees each year to improve programme providers’ production and scheduling stability. Under revised guidelines unveiled on Aug. 13, operators will first allocate 80 percent of prior-year fees to each channel after setting the year’s total content payments, and apply audience share and evaluations only to remaining funds. Additional payments of 3 to 15 percent will reward higher TV content investment, while holdback-related bonuses and penalties will also apply.

South Korea will loosen advertising rules for broadcasters, raising the daily ad cap per channel and easing limits on mid-roll, virtual and indirect advertising. The Broadcasting Media Communication Commission approved a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Broadcasting Act that will take effect in October after remaining procedures. The agency estimates easing mid-roll ad rules could lift broadcast ad revenue by about 50 billion won. Prime-time limits will remain to curb ad concentration.