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KBS World advances into US market

KBS World, the international broadcasting division of KBS, has advanced into the U.S. market. KBS announced that the network on September 1 signed a transmission agreement with Echostar, the second-biggest American satellite communication service provider behind Direc TV.

KBS World has been included as one of the basic channels provided by Echostar to its subscribers without an additional fee. The new service will benefit ethnic Koreans living in the U.S. who previously had to pay for premium channels to watch some Korean TV programming. Up to now, KBS has aired in some regions including Los Angeles, otherwise operated a premium channel charging a large additional fee.

In the U.S., the cable TV has been traditionally dominant in the market, but the market share of satellite TV is gradually increasing. Echostar's national basic channel group package includes small numbers of major channels such as ABC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, MTV, and others, so that it is difficult to penetrate. As for Asian channels, CCTV-9 of China has been the only one Echostar provides, KBS explained.

Upon this agreement, the broadcaster's programs will reach 1.85 million U.S. households, or 5.5 million viewers, 24 hours a day from as early as September.

"The television broadcasting market in the U.S. is the most competitive one in the world. And now that the Korean broadcaster breaks into the market, we look forward to founding a foothold for expanding Hallyu - the so-called Korean Wave ? to the world as well as to Latin America", said Choi Choon-ae, director of the Global Center of KBS.

KBS World consists of popular programs from KBS 1 and KBS 2 targeting viewers around the globe.

The Source : Koreacontent News Team

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