JoongAng Group Files Complaint with Fair Trade Commission Against Three Terrestrial Broadcasters for "Sports Broadcasting Rights Collusion"

"An Unfair Collaborative Act and a Collective Refusal to Deal"

On June 30, JoongAng Group announced that it had filed a complaint with the Korea Fair Trade Commission against the three terrestrial broadcasters?KBS, MBC, and SBS?on charges of long-term collusion over sports broadcasting rights. JoongAng Group claimed that the three broadcasters formed the 'Sports Broadcasting Development Council' and have privately agreed on joint purchases of broadcasting rights and collaborative broadcasts through operational regulations since 2011. It was reported that the operational agreement included a clause requiring any broadcaster that secured exclusive rights to pay a penalty of 60 billion KRW in total?30 billion KRW each to the other two broadcasters.

JoongAng Group pointed out, "The three terrestrial broadcasters have created excessive mechanisms that make it virtually impossible to break away from the cartel, effectively blocking market entry." Regarding the reason for the complaint, the group explained, "This constitutes an unfair collaborative act prohibited under Article 40 of the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, and also amounts to a collective refusal to deal, which is prohibited under Article 45."

Last year, JoongAng Group secured the exclusive broadcasting rights in Korea for the Summer and Winter Olympics from 2026 to 2032, as well as for the FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2026 and 2030. The three terrestrial broadcasters protested, claiming that this undermined universal viewing rights. All three broadcasters declined to participate in the public bidding process for joint broadcasting rights selection that JoongAng Group held in April. They also filed for an injunction to halt the bidding process, alleging that JoongAng Group was conducting the bidding unfairly. This injunction was dismissed.

JoongAng Group has announced its intention to partner with Naver, rather than terrestrial broadcasters, to broadcast sports events. On June 12, Naver was selected as the preferred bidder for the new media broadcasting rights. The group is considering live real-time broadcasts of all matches, as well as coverage through the video platform 'Chzzzik.'