The Broadcasting Media Communications Committee held its 24th plenary meeting on July 22 and approved the 2024 broadcast assessment results for 371 stations operated by 153 broadcasters. The results will be reflected in broadcaster re-licensing and re-approval reviews.

The assessment covered broadcasters' performance from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024. The subjects included terrestrial TV, radio and digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), comprehensive cable television system operators (SOs), satellite broadcasters, and programme providers (PPs) for comprehensive programming, news and home shopping channels.

The committee conducted an overall assessment of programme content and scheduling, and operations, reflecting the characteristics of each platform. National terrestrial TV was graded out of 700 points, regional terrestrial TV and comprehensive programming PPs out of 600, SOs and news and home shopping PPs out of 500, and terrestrial radio and DMB out of 300.

Among national terrestrial TV channels, KBS1 received the highest score with 643.65 points. It was followed by MBC with 612.14, EBS with 606.08, SBS with 589.45 and KBS2 with 574.53.

Scores for KBS1, MBC, SBS and KBS2 generally rose from the previous year. There were score changes in areas including programme awards performance and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Among regional commercial terrestrial TV channels, KNN ranked highest with 509.61 points. It was followed by TJB with 499.72, TBC with 475.72, CJB with 471.78, KBC with 467.28, JTV with 464.11, G1 with 453.43, UBC with 440.45, OBS Gyeongin with 422.16 and JIBS with 390.89. Regional commercial channels generally saw scores fall from the previous year.

Among comprehensive programming PPs, MBN recorded the highest score with 526.66 points. TV Chosun scored 525.48, Channel A 519.67 and JTBC 517.30. Comprehensive programming PP scores generally rose from the previous year, influenced by factors including scheduling of programmes related to inter-Korean issues and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Among news PPs, YTN scored 439.91 points and Yonhap News TV scored 431.30.

Average scores by multiple system operator were tallied at 387 points for SK Broadband, 372 for HCN, 365 for LG HelloVision, 360 for CMB and 346 for D'Live.

KT Skylife, a satellite broadcaster, scored 273.83 points out of 400.

Among home shopping PPs, Hyundai Home Shopping+Shop, a data home shopping channel of Hyundai Home Shopping, ranked highest with 443.05 points. Looking only at TV home shopping channels, Public Home Shopping posted the highest score at 442.01 points, followed by Hyundai Home Shopping with 441.45, Lotte Home Shopping with 440.95, NS Home Shopping with 432.31, GS SHOP with 428.20, Home & Shopping with 410.26 and CJ OnStyle with 389.51.

The committee will reflect the latest assessment results in broadcaster re-licensing and re-approval reviews under the Broadcasting Act. It will disclose detailed assessment results on its website.

The committee on the same day also approved the 2025 broadcast assessment basic plan. The assessment schedule was delayed due to factors including the committee not being formed, but it plans to hold an online briefing for broadcasters by the end of this month and to receive broadcast performance data submissions by the end of September.

Broadcasting Media Communications Committee Chairman Jong-cheol Kim (김종철) said, "If broadcasting assessments are to be carried out from next year in line with the changed environment, we must sufficiently deliberate the rules first." He added, "We will review by linking the broadcasting assessment rules and detailed standards with the 2027 broadcast assessment basic plan."