[Korea.net News, Society, December 23 2007] Korean cable operators banned from airing USFK's TV channel

Korea's broadcasting watchdog on Sunday announced its decision to ban local cable TV operators from relaying the U.S. Forces Korea's English-language television broadcasting to Korean cable subscribers.

The planned ban, however, will be enforced after a months-long grace period, in consideration of the inconvenience it will cause Korean viewers of the AFN-K channel, the Korean Broadcasting Commission said.

The AFN-K channel has been popular, especially among local viewers who are interested in learning English through U.S. news, sports, and entertainment. According to industrial data, 62 out of 106 registered cable TV operators here provide the U.S. channel to their customers.

Under the plan, Korean TV viewers will not be able to watch AFN-K starting early next year or in the second half of next year, depending on the circumstances of cable service providers, it added.