[DigitalToday reporter Seulgi Son] "To secure the sustainability of cable TV, media policy should be reorganised around sustainability and regionality."

Lee Jong-kwan (이종관), a senior expert member at law firm Shin & Kim, made the remarks at a seminar titled "Directions for a policy paradigm shift to overcome the crisis in cable TV and secure sustainability" hosted by the Korea Communication and Media Society at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju on Wednesday. "The media function of cable TV and the public responsibilities assigned to it are essential elements for realising a basic media society," he said.

According to Lee, the market for cable TV system operators has seen declines in total revenue, broadcasting business revenue and operating profit since 2013, while the burden of content fees has grown.

He said the existing regulatory system, including reauthorisation, fees and terms, channel lineups and obligations for local channels, was established during the industry’s growth period and needs to be shifted to fit current market conditions.

He said cable TV provides live broadcasting services at the lowest prices among pay-TV services on a regional basis and is responsible for broadcast access for one-third of South Koreans. He added it has a strong universal service character, with accessibility, minimal economic burden and content availability.

He particularly assessed that 8VSB, a low-cost cable TV service that allows viewers to watch digital broadcasts without a separate set-top box, helps support broadcast access for older people and economically vulnerable groups who are not accustomed to using interactive media.

Based on subscriber revenue in 2024, average revenue per 8VSB user was 2,471 won, up to 81.4 percent lower than other pay-TV services, it showed.

It is also an analysis that the share of live broadcasting use remains high. According to a 2025 Statistics Korea survey, weekday live TV viewing time was 1 hour and 30 minutes, exceeding 36 minutes spent using video media.

Lee said cable TV also serves as infrastructure distributing live channels from terrestrial broadcasters and programme providers. He proposed restructuring related policy around "guaranteeing sustainability" and "enhancing regionality."

As measures to secure sustainability, he presented rationalising standards for calculating content fees, supporting universal broadcasting welfare for 8VSB, reducing retransmission fees and shifting to a system of voluntary reporting of terms and conditions.

To strengthen regionality, he proposed policy tasks including reducing the broadcasting and communications development fund, supporting investment in local channel production and giving priority allocation of advertising by local governments and public institutions.