The Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission (BMCC) held an emergency hearing on the 24th with JTBC, which has filed for corporate rehabilitation, urging the broadcaster to ensure there are no disruptions to the 2026 North and Central America World Cup broadcasts or the protection of viewer rights.

According to documents released by the BMCC on the 25th, JTBC, a general programming channel, filed for corporate rehabilitation on the 15th. As the regulatory and supervisory body, the commission summoned CEO Jeon Jin-bae and other officials to assess the current state of broadcasting operations and review measures to protect viewer rights.

The BMCC focused its inspection on whether universal access to events of national interest is being guaranteed and whether there will be any setbacks in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup broadcasts.

During the hearing, JTBC reported to the BMCC that it had received confirmation from FIFA that all World Cup matches could be broadcast normally. In response, the commission requested that the broadcaster ensure no infringement on the public's right to view occurs through thorough match coverage.

It was previously reported that FIFA had sent a warning message to Phoenix Sports International (PSI), a JoongAng Group subsidiary that holds the broadcasting rights in South Korea, stating that it would suspend the broadcast signal if the outstanding broadcasting fees were not paid.

Following overnight efforts on the 23rd by the BMCC, the Korea Football Association, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the JoongAng Group to persuade FIFA, the immediate crisis was averted. However, the situation had nearly led to an unprecedented blackout of World Cup broadcasts for JTBC, KBS, and Naver.

Once the issue was resolved, JTBC issued a statement on the morning of the 24th, saying, "We will broadcast through the final without any setbacks," and added, "We hope there is no confusion due to incorrect information."

As the issue has not been completely extinguished, the BMCC requested a detailed report on future problem-solving measures during the hearing, but it is understood that JTBC responded by maintaining that there would be "no setbacks."

The BMCC also stated that it would closely examine the re-approval process for JTBC.

The commission stated, "It has been confirmed that due to the rehabilitation filing, a revision of the overall business plan submitted by JTBC at the time of its re-approval application is inevitable," adding, "We plan to carefully review the timing, procedures, and factors to be considered in the re-approval process."

The BMCC also emphasized that the protection of personnel who are relatively vulnerable to legal protection, such as outsourced production workers, dispatched staff, and freelancers, must be prioritized.

The commission demanded that JTBC take responsible measures to ensure that the employment stability of these individuals is practically considered during the rehabilitation process and future workforce management.

(Photo: Yonhap News)