Imported TV Programs Rise
Domestic TV broadcasters are importing programs at an incredible rate this year.According to a report released Wednesday by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, four TV broadcasters, including the Korea Broadcasting System(KBS) and the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation(MBC), have imported 15.26 million dollars worth of TV programming as of August this year, while they imported only 15.38 million dollars worth for the entire 1998 season.
Notably, MBC's imports jumped to 6.35 million dollars this year from 3.88 million dollars recorded last year.
Sources within the broadcast companies said, 'We didn't import enough foreign programs due to the economic crisis last year. So, we had to buy more foreign programs and movies this year as our reserved programs have almost run out.'
They explained, 'We bought more movies due to the drop in the U.S.' film price, rather than documentaries and animation or cartoons.'
Last year, imports by domestic broadcasters had declined by 60.4 percent from the previous year.
Kang Joo-an : jooan@joongang.co.kr
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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