Photo : KBS
KBS President and CEO Park Jang-beom has spoken out on the role public broadcasters play in protecting the people’s right to access sports programming.
Speaking at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Sports Media Conference in Chengdu, China, on Friday, Park warned that platform monopolies backed by massive capital are erecting barriers to sports broadcasting.
The KBS chief expressed concern about soaring fees for broadcasting rights to events such as the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, driven by fierce competition among global streaming services and commercial broadcasters.
Park said sports are not merely entertainment but a cultural experience that unites humanity, warning that the public nature of sports could be undermined if commercial interests dominate the sector.
He also emphasized that public broadcasters should ensure access to sporting events for economically vulnerable groups and rural residents, and called for wider access to sports in poorer countries.