JTBC (an acronym from Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company; Korean: 제이티비씨; stylized in all lowercase) is a South Korean nationwide cable network whose primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings with a 25% stake. Launched on December 1, 2011, JTBC is a generalist channel, with programming consisting of television series, variety shows, and news broadcasting. Its news division is held in similar regard to the three main terrestrial networks in South Korea.
When launched in 2011, JTBC was one of four new South Korean nationwide generalist cable TV networks, the other three being The Dong-A Ilbo's Channel A, The Chosun Ilbo's TV Chosun, and Maeil Business Newspaper's MBN. These networks serve as supplementary networks to the existing conventional free-to-air TV networks like KBS, MBC, SBS and the other smaller channels launched following deregulation in 1990.
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History
The origins of the network can be traced back to 1964, when the newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, then a part of Samsung, founded the Tongyang Broadcasting Corporation (TBC). JoongAng Ilbo ran the network for 16 years until it was forced by the military regime of Chun Doo-hwan to merge with the state-run KBS in 1980.
At its founding in 2011, some media analysts considered the return of JoongAng Ilbo to television via JTBC as the reincarnation of TBC. Indeed, JoongAng Ilbo had wanted to reuse the name Tongyang Broadcasting Corporation but was unable to because Taegu Broadcasting Corporation has held the rights to the acronym "TBC" in South Korea since 1994.
Timeline
June 26, 1964: Tongyang Broadcasting Corporation launches.
December 7, 1964: TBC-TV starts broadcasting on channel 7.
November 30, 1980: TBC-TV merges with KBS Television under a special law of Chun Doo-hwan, president of the military authorities, resulting in the launch of KBS 2TV.
July 22, 2009: Amendment of the media law passed by the national assembly in order to deregulate the media market in South Korea. A response from the South Korean government to the Chojoongdong (the major media conglomerates of The Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and The Dong-A Ilbo), which were aiming to launch the cable market.
December 31, 2010: JTBC, TV Chosun, MBN, and Channel A selected as "general cable television channel broadcasters".
March 11, 2011: JoongAng Ilbo establishes the JTBC corporation.
December 1, 2011: JTBC starts broadcasting on channel 15.
May 2013: Former MBC news anchor Sohn Suk-hee designated as JTBC's new president of its news division.
January 2015: JTBC constructs a new building in Digital Media City in Sangam-dong, Seoul.
November 2018: Sohn Suk-hee promoted to JTBC's president and CEO.
June 2019: JTBC acquired the South Korean media rights to the Olympic Games from 2026 to 2032. The company also later secured exclusive South Korean rights to FIFA tournaments from 2025 to 2030, including the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups and the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
April 2020: JTBC moves its newscasts to Creation Hall, starting with JTBC Newsroom, with its other programs following suit on May 18.
Programs
News programs include JTBC Newsroom, After News 5, Newsroom Now, and Sangam-Dong Class.
JTBC dramas hold 9 spots in the top 50, including The World of the Married. This is the highest-rated drama in cable television, surpassing JTBC's previous record with SKY Castle.
Cultural productions include Begin Again and Ssulzun
Variety shows include Knowing Bros, Let's Eat Dinner Together, Traveler, and more.
Viewership ratings
The table below lists the top 10 cable dramas ranked by average national audience share ratings.
「Ratings」data sourced from Nielsen Korea nationwide rating of cable channel, with the inclusion of occasional advertisement