KBS World (TV channel)
KBS World is a South Korean pay television channel operated by Korean Broadcasting System aimed at international audiences outside South Korea. It was launched on 1 July 2003 and mainly broadcast in Korean, but subtitles in English, Chinese and Malay are also provided.
| KBS World | |
|---|---|
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| Launched | 1 July 2003 |
| Network | Korean Broadcasting System |
| Owned by | Korean Broadcasting System |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) (downscaled to 16:9 480i/576i for the SDTV feed) |
| Slogan | More than you imagine |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean English (for subtitling formal English news television channel branding and the KBS World News television programme) Malay (Singapore only) Chinese (Singapore only) |
| Broadcast area | International |
| Sister channel(s) | KBS 1TV KBS 2TV |
| Website | kbsworld.co.kr |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Astro (Malaysia) | Channel 391 (SD) Channel 392 (HD) |
| Kristal-Astro (Brunei) | Channel 391 (SD) Channel 392 (HD) |
| NJOI (Malaysia) | Channel 391 (SD) Channel 392 (HD) |
| TrueVisions (Thailand) | Channel 245 (SD) Channel 232 (HD) |
| Cignal (Philippines) | Channel 170 (SD) |
| Channel 323 | |
| Sky UK (United Kingdom) | Channel 794 |
| Channel 63 | |
| Tivusat (Italy) | Channel 91 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| Sky Cable (Philippines) | Channel 75 (Digital) |
| Cablelink (Philippines) | Channel 71 (Digital) |
| Destiny Cable (Philippines) | Channel 75 (Analogue) Channel 118 (Digital) |
| Surigao Cable TV (Philippines) | Channel 67 |
| NetCologne (Germany) | Channel 551 (HD) |
| IPTV | |
| Astro B.yond (Malaysia) | Channel 392 (VOD) |
| Singtel TV (Singapore) | Channel 523 (HD/VOD, Chinese) Channel 606 (HD/VOD, Malay) |
| StarHub TV (Singapore) | Channel 815 (HD) Channels 120 and 850 (VOD) |
| now TV (Hong Kong) | Channel 156 |
| Etisalat eLife (United Arab Emirates) | Channel 1066 (HD) |
| Streaming media | |
| KBS Official | Watch Live |
Apart from the signals from Seoul, there are three separate services operated by KBS's subsidiaries for specific market: the Japanese version of KBS World, operated by KBS Japan, targets Japanese audiences, the Indonesian version of KBS World, operated by OKTN, targets Indonesian audiences, while the American version of KBS World, operated by KBS America, targets Koreans in North and South America.
Programming
Programs on KBS World are sourced from KBS's two domestic television services; KBS1 and KBS2. Just about all genres of programming can be seen in KBS World television service including news, dramas, documentaries and children's programming. Broadcasts mostly in Korean, it also shows an English language news bulletin, KBS World News Today, on weekdays, and other original productions like The Three Colors of Korea.
Sister channels
KBS World also operates two sister channels:
- KBS World 24 airs Korean news and documentaries for overseas Koreans.
- KBS World Latino, set up by KBS America, airs entertainment content subtitled or dubbed into Latin Spanish.
Internet
KBS World TV also provides live streaming services on its official YouTube channel. Alongside streaming its main feed, it also streams World 24, and maintains a library of past programmes to watch on demand with most available via closed captioning in English and other languages. Opened in 2015, the World TV feed became available online in North America and other countries, particularly those without strict copyright regulations.
On March 12, 2018, KBS World TV's YouTube channel temporarily stopped the World TV online stream to these areas, citing the channel's internal problems. However, the World 24 feed remained available for streaming, as well as select World TV programs.