Media firms apply for new TV licenses

Eleven media groups, including Herald Media, the publisher of The Korea Herald, on Wednesday applied for licenses to operate new television channels that will be selected within the year.

Five consortia each led by Herald Media, CBS, Yonhap News Agency, Moneytoday and the Seoul Shinmun Daily -- signed up for the news-only network.

Six groups each led by the Maeil Business, the Donga Ilbo, the Korea Economic Daily, the Chosun Ilbo, the JoongAng Ilbo and Taekwang applied for general programming.

The government plans to choose new channel operators to increase the global competitiveness of the local media industry and boost the content market, as well as offer more variety in programming for TV viewers. 

The Korea Communications Commission plans to simultaneously pick operators in two different categories of general programming and news sometime this month.