The Korean Cable TV Association has raised alarms about the financial distress faced by the country's cable TV providers, stating that they are on the brink of structural collapse due to insufficient government policy support. At a meeting held in Seoul, the association highlighted that current operating conditions of Service Operators (SOs) are not merely individual company issues but are the result of structural problems brought on by government policy gaps. They are calling for the establishment of a joint policy-making group that includes government officials and industry representatives to devise a concrete policy direction within three months.

In light of changing media landscapes, the revenue from cable TV broadcasting has seen a significant decline, dropping from 2.3 trillion KRW in 2014 to an expected 1.5 trillion KRW in 2024, a reduction of 32.5%. Operating profits have plummeted by 97%, from 450 billion KRW to just 14.8 billion KRW in the same period. Despite fulfilling legal obligations by producing local news and disaster broadcasts, the industry's financial situation is critical, compelling them to request a comprehensive overhaul of key regulations, including a reassessment of the broadcast development fund and regional channel mandates.

The association warns that if these demands are not met, they might have to suspend mandatory payments to the broadcast development fund or operate regional channels. They argue that failure to act quickly may lead to the industry's collapse, emphasizing the urgent need for a strategic response from the government to ensure the sustainability of the cable television sector. The overall message is clear: without immediate action, the future of cable operators in Korea is at significant risk, which could impact local content delivery and media diversity.