The government has created a legal basis to support programme production by small and mid-sized programme providers (PPs) facing difficult business conditions.

The Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission said on Monday that a promulgation bill to partially amend the Broadcasting Act, creating grounds to support programme production by small and mid-sized PPs, was approved at a cabinet meeting.

The amendment newly establishes Article 92-4 of the Broadcasting Act. It allows the government to provide support needed for producing broadcast programmes for PPs that qualify as small and medium-sized enterprises under the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises, to enhance expertise and diversity of broadcast channels.

The support will target PPs that qualify as small businesses, excluding general programming, news and home shopping PPs. Detailed eligibility and criteria, and the method of support, will be set by presidential decree.

The Broadcasting Act has stipulated programming standards to secure expertise in broadcast programmes and diversity of channels. But it has not provided a separate basis to directly support programme production by small and mid-sized PPs.

Calls have grown for government support as production conditions for small and mid-sized PPs have worsened due to global online video service (OTT) operators entering the domestic market and rising content production costs.

The amendment is based on a bill introduced by Democratic Party lawmaker In-cheol Cho (조인철) in August 2024. It passed the National Assembly plenary session on Oct. 1. It will take effect six months after promulgation, and the implementation timing is expected to be April next year.

The commission said it will pursue follow-up measures, including revising the Broadcasting Act enforcement decree, in line with the law taking effect and will draw up plans for programmes to support small and mid-sized PPs. The specific scale of support and how the programmes will be run are expected to be decided later.

The commission said it expects the amendment to help boost the competitiveness of the domestic content industry and expand diversity in broadcasting and viewers' choice.