Seoul Broadcasting System
A major South Korean commercial television and radio broadcaster known for national broadcasting, news, entertainment, sports, drama and Korean Wave programming.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Seoul Broadcasting System, commonly branded as SBS, is a South Korean commercial television and radio broadcaster headquartered in Seoul. Established on 14 November 1990, it became the country’s largest private broadcaster and developed into a nationwide multimedia network serving television, radio, digital terrestrial broadcasting and cable audiences. Its flagship terrestrial service, SBS TV, is associated with channel 6 in the Seoul market and is distributed nationally through a network of regional affiliated stations. SBS was created after South Korea’s political democratization in the late 1980s, when the government reopened licensing for private broadcasters. The intention was to introduce another major commercial voice alongside the established public and public-linked broadcasting institutions. SBS began with experimental transmissions in late 1990, followed by regular radio broadcasting in March 1991 and the formal launch of SBS TV in Seoul on 1 December 1991. Its formation attracted criticism because of its relationship with Taeyoung Construction, which held a significant shareholding position during the launch period. The company initially served Seoul and adjacent areas. From the mid-1990s, it expanded through regional private broadcasters, including affiliates in Busan, Daejeon, Daegu and Gwangju. On 14 May 1995, SBS programming began to reach a national audience through this regional affiliate structure, while local stations retained the ability to produce programming for their own communities. The network later broadened its radio portfolio. SBS Power FM began in 1996 as a music-oriented FM service, while the original AM service was subsequently simulcast and rebranded as SBS Love FM. SBS operates a broad portfolio of content rather than focusing on one genre. Its television output includes scheduled news, current affairs, documentaries, scripted drama, music programming, sports, reality formats, talk shows, comedy, auditions and other entertainment. Programs such as Sandglass, Lovers in Paris, Brilliant Legacy, The Heirs, My Love from the Star, Running Man, X-Man, Family Outing and Inkigayo helped establish the network’s domestic profile and contributed to the international circulation of Korean television. SBS dramas and unscripted programs have been distributed widely across Asia and other overseas markets as part of the Korean Wave. The broadcaster has also been an early adopter of new transmission formats. It introduced digital terrestrial television using the ATSC standard in 2001 and Digital Multimedia Broadcasting service in 2005. Its television portfolio later expanded beyond the flagship terrestrial channel into cable services including SBS Plus, SBS Golf, SBS Golf 2, SBS funE, SBS Life, SBS Sports, SBS Biz and SBS F!L UHD. In 2012, SBS TV briefly adopted 24-hour broadcasting before returning to overnight sign-off practices in 2017. The SBS brand has been refreshed several times. The current logo was introduced in 2000, and the broadcaster used the slogan “Humanism thru Digital” before adopting “Together, we make delight” in 2010. Its digital identity has also included the Komi mascot and related characters. Legally, the company adopted the shorter SBS corporate name in March 2000, replacing the earlier Seoul Broadcasting System corporate name in Korean usage. SBS remains an active national broadcaster whose principal strengths are mass-market television, radio, news, drama, entertainment and sports content.
History
SBS emerged from South Korea’s post-1987 democratization and the government’s decision to reopen private broadcasting licenses after a decade-long hiatus. The policy created space for a new commercial broadcaster that could provide an alternative to the established national and public broadcasting institutions. SBS was founded in Seoul on 14 November 1990 and began with experimental demonstrations and test transmissions for television and radio in December of that year. The network’s formation was politically and commercially sensitive. Taeyoung Construction held a substantial share of the company during its establishment, leading to criticism about the relationship between private construction interests and the new broadcaster. Despite this controversy, SBS proceeded with regular radio broadcasting on 20 March 1991 and formally launched SBS TV in Seoul on 1 December 1991. Its initial terrestrial coverage was concentrated in Seoul and surrounding areas. The next stage was national expansion. Following government approval for additional regional private broadcasters, stations were created in markets including Busan, Daejeon, Daegu and Gwangju. SBS developed an affiliate model in which the regional stations carried SBS network programming while also producing material directed at local audiences. The national television network began operating through this structure on 14 May 1995. This expansion transformed SBS from a Seoul-centered broadcaster into a nationwide commercial network. SBS expanded its radio activities during the same period. An FM service was added in 1996, and SBS Power FM began broadcasting on 107.7 MHz on 14 November of that year with a music-focused format. In 1999, the original AM radio service also began FM simulcasting and was branded SBS Love FM on 103.5 MHz. Together, the radio services gave SBS a wider presence across spoken-word, news, music and general programming. Technology became another important part of the company’s development. SBS introduced digital terrestrial television using the ATSC standard in 2001 and added T-DMB digital multimedia broadcasting in 2005. These steps positioned the network within South Korea’s transition from analog broadcasting to digital distribution. The company also expanded its channel portfolio through cable services serving entertainment, sports, golf, lifestyle, business and high-definition audiences. The broadcaster’s programming strategy has centered on a mixture of news, current affairs, investigative documentaries, scripted series, music, sports, reality television, comedy and talk formats. SBS dramas such as Sandglass, Lovers in Paris, Brilliant Legacy, The Heirs and My Love from the Star became important domestic successes and were distributed internationally. Entertainment formats including Running Man, X-Man, Family Outing and Inkigayo also helped SBS participate in the Korean Wave and build recognition outside South Korea. Brand development accompanied the company’s operational expansion. SBS introduced its current logo in 2000 after its tenth-anniversary celebrations and formally adopted SBS as its corporate name in March of the same year. The company used “Humanism thru Digital” as a brand slogan until 2010, when it introduced “Together, we make delight.” It also developed the Komi mascot and supporting characters to represent its digital and audience-facing identity. In 2012, SBS TV experimented with 24-hour broadcasting, but the arrangement ended by 2017 and the channel returned to overnight sign-off routines. Today, SBS remains an active South Korean broadcaster with a terrestrial television network, three radio networks, regional affiliates, cable channels and a substantial catalog of news, drama, entertainment, sports and documentary content.
- 2017
Overnight sign-offs return
[1]SBS discontinued its 24-hour schedule and returned to daily overnight sign-off routines.
- 2012
SBS TV starts 24-hour broadcasting
[1]SBS TV temporarily became a continuous 24-hour television service.
- 2005
T-DMB service launches
[1]SBS introduced Digital Multimedia Broadcasting service.
- 2001
Digital terrestrial television begins
[1]SBS started digital terrestrial television using the ATSC format.
- 2000
Corporate name and logo are refreshed
[1]The company became legally known as SBS in March and introduced its current logo in November.
- 1999
SBS Love FM branding introduced
[1]The original AM radio service began FM simulcasting and adopted the SBS Love FM identity.
- 1996
SBS Power FM launches
[1]The music-oriented SBS Power FM service began broadcasting on 107.7 MHz on 14 November.
- 1995
National affiliate network begins
[1]SBS launched nationwide television distribution through regional private broadcasting affiliates.
- 1991
Regular radio broadcasting begins
[1]SBS began regular radio service on AM 792 kHz on 20 March.
- 1991
SBS TV launches
[1]The company officially introduced SBS TV in Seoul on 1 December.
Products and positioning
A leading private, full-service South Korean broadcaster combining a nationwide terrestrial television network, radio services, cable channels and internationally exported Korean entertainment content.
Terrestrial television network · 1991
SBS TV
SBS’s flagship terrestrial television service, launched in Seoul in 1991 and later distributed nationwide through regional affiliates. Its schedule spans national and local news, drama, entertainment, reality, music, documentaries and sports. The service is identified with channel 6 in the Seoul market and remains the central consumer-facing television brand of the SBS network.
Radio broadcasting · 1991
SBS Radio
The original SBS radio operation began regular broadcasting on AM 792 kHz in 1991. It later expanded through FM services and was associated with the SBS Love FM identity. Its programming includes news, current affairs, talk, information and general radio content.
Music radio · 1996
SBS Power FM
A music-oriented FM network launched in 1996 on 107.7 MHz. SBS Power FM complements the broadcaster’s news and talk-oriented radio operations with a format centered on popular music and entertainment programming.
Cable television
SBS cable channels
SBS’s cable portfolio includes SBS Plus, SBS Golf, SBS Golf 2, SBS funE, SBS Life, SBS Sports, SBS Biz and SBS F!L UHD. Together, these channels extend the group into entertainment, golf, lifestyle, sports, business and high-definition programming beyond the flagship terrestrial service.
News and public-affairs programming · 1992
SBS news and current affairs
SBS produces scheduled news and analysis programs, including SBS Eight O’Clock News and current-affairs formats such as Morning Wide, Nightline, SBS Current Affairs Debate, Curious Stories Y and In Depth 21. Its investigative program Unanswered Questions has been broadcast since 1992 and is known for journalistic investigations.
Controversies
2020
SBS responds to backlash over coronavirus caption
After public backlash over an “inappropriate caption” about COVID-19 in an episode of “Animal Farm,” SBS's production team acknowledged fault and said it would more thoroughly monitor production. It also said it would delete the segment from the episode for further online and IPTV distribution.
1990
Controversy over SBS’s ownership connections
The creation of SBS drew criticism because of its relationship with Taeyoung Construction, which held a substantial shareholding position during the broadcaster’s establishment. Contemporary commentary questioned the suitability of those commercial connections for a newly licensed private broadcaster.
Marketing campaigns
- 2000SBS 10th Anniversary Special: Thank You, Viewers
South Korea
The tenth-anniversary celebration accompanied the introduction of SBS’s current logo and reinforced the broadcaster’s refreshed corporate identity.
Outcome. Brand identity refresh
Brand decisions
2012
Experiment with 24-hour televisionStrategyBackground
SBS sought to expand the daily availability of its flagship television channel.
Action taken
SBS TV began broadcasting continuously for 24 hours a day.
Aftermath
The experiment was discontinued by 2017, when SBS returned to overnight sign-off routines.
2005
Launch T-DMB digital broadcastingProduct launchBackground
Digital Multimedia Broadcasting was emerging as an additional distribution format in South Korea.
Action taken
SBS introduced T-DMB service.
Aftermath
The network extended its broadcasting footprint into mobile and digital multimedia distribution.
2001
Adopt ATSC digital terrestrial televisionProduct launchBackground
South Korea was transitioning from analog television toward digital terrestrial transmission.
Action taken
SBS introduced digital terrestrial television using the ATSC format.
Aftermath
The broadcaster added digital transmission capability to its terrestrial network.
1995
Build a national regional-affiliate networkStrategyBackground
SBS initially broadcast mainly in Seoul and nearby areas, while South Korea was authorizing new regional private broadcasters.
Action taken
SBS partnered with regional stations so that network programming could be distributed nationally while affiliates produced local content.
Aftermath
The arrangement established SBS as a nationwide commercial television network.
Recent events
SBS responds to backlash over coronavirus caption[3]
Reported:
After public backlash over an “inappropriate caption” about COVID-19 in an episode of “Animal Farm,” SBS's production team acknowledged fault and said it would more thoroughly monitor production. It also said it would delete the segment from the episode for further online and IPTV distribution.
Sources3 sources
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