JTBC

JTBC (an acronym from Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company; ; 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 Ilbos Channel A, The Chosun Ilbos TV Chosun, and Maeil Business Newspapers 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.

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. June 2021: JTBC buys a majority stake in production company Wiip from Creative Artists Agency (CAA). June 2026: JTBC defaulted on ₩20.6 billion of securitized loans after failing to repay principal and interest by the due date. NICE Investors Service downgraded the broadcaster's long-term credit rating from BBB to CCC, and later to D. JTBC subsequently filed for court-supervised corporate rehabilitation with the Seoul Rehabilitation Court, while stating that its broadcasting operations would continue normally.

August 2026: JTBC decided not to seek a further extension of its Autonomous Restructuring Support (ARS) program, which was set to expire on August 30, after negotiations with creditors over a voluntary restructuring and funding plan failed to reach an agreement. The decision made it likely that the Seoul Rehabilitation Court would formally commence rehabilitation proceedings, under which the court directly oversees the company's debt adjustment and restructuring, comparing its going-concern value against its liquidation value; if the going-concern value is higher, a rehabilitation plan is pursued, while a higher liquidation value can lead to the proceedings being discontinued. JTBC had applied for the ARS program — a mechanism that allows the court to defer its decision on commencing proceedings while the debtor and its creditors negotiate a voluntary restructuring — after its June 12 default on ₩20.6 billion in securitized borrowings. The court accepted the application on June 30 and extended the deferral once, on July 29, to August 30. Meanwhile, the four other JoongAng Group affiliates that had filed for rehabilitation, including JoongAng Holdings, had already entered court-supervised proceedings, while the JoongAng Ilbo began a creditor-approved debt workout on July 10. On August 28, 2026, the Seoul Bankruptcy Court approved the commencement of rehabilitation proceedings for JTBC. Following the court's decision, JTBC began the sale process as part of its efforts to normalize its management.

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.

Drama Currently airing TV series Airtime Program Original title Start date22:40 on Saturdays and 22:30 on Sundays (KST)The Apartment Job아파트 July 11, 2026

Variety Currently airing variety shows Airtime Program Original title Start date Monday at 20:50 (KST) Talk Correspondent 25 O'Clock 톡파원 25시 Tuesday at 20:50 (KST) Love War 연애전쟁 Thursday at 22:30 (KST) Divorce Camp 이혼숙려캠프 Saturday at 21:00 (KST) Knowing Bros 아는 형님 Sunday at 21:00 (KST) Please Take Care of My Refrigerator 냉장고를 부탁해

Viewership ratings The table below lists the top 10 cable dramas ranked by average national audience share ratings. + Ranking Drama Episodes Highest Nielsen KoreaNationwide Rating Date Airing Period 1 The World of the Married 16 28.371% May 16, 2020 Fridays and Saturdays 2 Reborn Rich 16 26.948% December 25, 2022 Fridays to Sundays 3 Sky Castle 20 23.779% February 1, 2019 Fridays and Saturdays 4 Doctor Cha 16 18.546% June 4, 2023 Saturdays and Sundays 5 Itaewon Class 16 16.548% March 21, 2020 Fridays and Saturdays 6 Agency 16 16.044% February 26, 2023 Saturdays and Sundays 7 King the Land 16 13.789% August 6, 2023 Saturdays and Sundays 8 The Tale of Lady Ok 16 13.575% January 26, 2025 Saturdays and Sundays 9 Reborn Rookie 12 13.568% July 5, 2026 Saturdays and Sundays 10 Welcome to Samdal-ri 16 12.399% January 21, 2024 Saturdays and Sundays 「Ratings」data sourced from Nielsen Korea nationwide rating of cable channel, with the inclusion of occasional advertisement

Subsidiaries Name Description JTBC Plus Operates the JTBC's specialty cable channels, JTBC2, JTBC Sports, JTBC4 and JTBC Golf Publishes Ilgan Sports since 2015 JTBC Mediatech SLL(formerly JTBC Content Hub and JTBC Studios) Provides in-house drama and film productionSubsidiaries include , Zium Content, BA Entertainment, Film Monster Co. and Perfect Storm Film JTBC Mediacomm Conducts broadcast advertising sales on behalf of JTBC, JTBC Plus and Baduk TV

Awards Year Award Category Recipient Result 2019 23rd Asian Television Awards Cable & Satellite Network of the Year award JTBC

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