D'Live said it will stop carrying four CJ ENM affiliate channels, citing difficulties in negotiations over content usage fees, following LG HelloVision.

Industry sources said on Monday that D'Live recently sent CJ ENM an official notice stating its plan to end supply contracts for four channels: Mnet, Tooniverse, tvN Drama and Zhonghua TV.

D'Live asked CJ ENM to provide an official response by Nov. 12. If no agreement is reached, it plans to halt broadcasts at the next channel reorganisation after completing related procedures, including prior notice to viewers.

The two sides have held lengthy negotiations over lowering content usage fees. D'Live said it held 24 rounds of talks with CJ ENM starting in February last year and presented a fee reduction proposal in December that year, but failed to reach an agreement.

D'Live was reported to have judged that the four channels do not contribute much to its service, based on ratings and its own data. It said channel adjustments are unavoidable as the fee burden has increased due to falling broadcast revenue.

LG HelloVision earlier decided to stop carrying four channels including tvN Sports, tvN Show, Zhonghua TV and Tooniverse from Nov. 26 amid a dispute with CJ ENM over content usage fees. The Korea Communications Commission last month accepted a related filing to change the terms of service.

With D'Live also seeking to halt broadcasts following LG HelloVision, the conflict between system operators and program providers over standards for calculating content usage fees is spreading.