The Broadcast Media Communications Commission held a full meeting on July 29 and approved a five-year licence renewal for SBS M&C, a terrestrial TV ad sales agency.

The commission said an external review panel of 10 experts in broadcasting, advertising, law, management, economics and accounting gave SBS M&C 82.384 points, above the 70-point threshold for renewal, and decided to renew its licence.

The commission imposed five conditions, including preparing measures to prevent violations of shareholder ownership limits, supporting ad sales for network regional terrestrial broadcasters and small and mid-sized terrestrial broadcasters, and providing support of at least 3 percent of annual gross profit to develop the broadcasting and advertising industry.

The meeting also heard views that the renewal system and its conditions need to be operated flexibly in line with changes in the broadcast advertising market.

Commissioner Soo-young Choi (최수영) said, "Considering market uncertainty, there is also a need to review in the long term a plan to extend the renewal period from the current 5 years to 7 years." She said, "Given the difficult business environment for broadcasters and ad sales agencies, there is a need to improve the system in a direction that imposes only the necessary conditions."

Commission Chairman Jong-cheol Kim (김종철) said, "As a broadcast advertising sales agency, SBS M&C should play a leading role in revitalising the broadcast advertising market and in co-prosperity with regional and small and mid-sized broadcasters, based on a fair and transparent ad sales order." He added, "The secretariat should also review measures to improve the system, including easing advertising regulations."