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| Photo: JTBC logo |
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil] JTBC, which has been negotiating World Cup broadcast rights with the three terrestrial networks, says it has offered a final proposal to split costs 50-50 and warned that resale will be impossible after March.
In a follow-up statement on the 24th, JTBC emphasized that timing is as critical as the rights fee. Considering technical requirements and logistics, negotiations need to conclude by the end of March to allow for normal coverage.
JTBC said it proposed that JTBC cover half the broadcast rights fee, excluding any digital resale revenue, and that the three terrestrial broadcasters cover the remaining half. In the additional statement, the company reiterated that talks must wrap up within March.
JTBC noted that significant technical preparations remain to stage coverage of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup. Tasks include dispatching local production teams and securing transmission lines; most crucial are securing space at the IBC (International Broadcast Center) and commentary positions inside stadiums. The application window closed in January, JTBC said, which is why it repeatedly lowered its resale request to try to reach a deal.
The broadcaster added that, although time is short, it is consulting with FIFA about allowing additional applications. It is also drawing up contingency plans — including the option of allocating some of the transmission lines JTBC has secured to send signals to the terrestrial networks — and exploring multiple ways to ensure stable, multi-channel coverage for viewers.
JTBC warned that once March ends, normal broadcasts will be practically impossible. Even if JTBC delivers match signals over lines it already holds, terrestrial channels will still need time to complete setup depending on how they receive the feed, and that process takes considerable time. To secure that lead time, resale negotiations must be finished by the end of March.
With roughly a week left until that deadline, JTBC said, missing it would make broadcasts via the terrestrial networks impossible. That outcome would restrict viewers’ choice of channels during the World Cup, a national celebration that JTBC says is more important than its shouldering exclusive coverage alone.
Finally, JTBC said it submitted the final offer — splitting the broadcast rights fee 50-50, excluding digital resale income — after weighing all factors. The company acknowledged the plan would likely produce a significant deficit but said the move was meant to secure universal access and protect the public’s right to watch. JTBC added it will continue negotiating in good faith until the end.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
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