The Broadcast Media and Communications Commission will work with the industry through a private-public consultative body to draw up measures to revitalise the pay-TV sector, which is facing stalled growth and worsening profitability.

The commission said it held the first meeting of the "Private-Public Consultative Body for Pay-TV Revitalisation" in Seoul on Wednesday, attended by pay-TV operators and the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), among others.

The body includes a total of 14 companies: 8 pay-TV platform operators, including internet protocol television (IPTV), cable television operators (SO) and satellite broadcasters, and 6 programme providers (PP).

The commission assessed the pay-TV market as being in a structural crisis, with growth stalling and profitability deteriorating as the market becomes saturated and competition intensifies with alternative media such as online video services (OTT).

The first meeting discussed market revitalisation through deregulation, building a foundation for pay-TV innovation, supporting the sector's digital and AI transition (AX), and creating a fair, co-prosperity environment.

Industry participants called for improving fee and terms-and-conditions regulations that make it difficult to launch new products. They also said a standardisation and verification system is needed for set-top box viewing data so it can be used to introduce digital broadcast advertising and customised services.

Disputes over negotiations on content usage fees between operators were also presented as a key task the government and the industry should resolve together.

The commission said it plans to hold additional meetings to discuss complex issues such as content usage fees. It will also specify policy tasks by reflecting industry views and expert discussions.

Based on this, it plans to promptly prepare a "tentative" set of measures to revitalise pay TV.

Participants include the three IPTV operators KT, SK Broadband and LG Uplus, as well as LG HelloVision, CMB, KT HCN and Geumgang Broadcasting, KT Skylife, and PP companies such as Maeil Broadcasting, CJ ENM and SBS Medianet.