Since its founding in 1996, Arirang Television has established itself as Korea’s premier international broadcasting service, providing news, entertainment, educational and documentary programmes to 188 countries in seven languages, including English, Chinese, Spanish and Arabic. However, Arirang is now finding it difficult to keep up with an oversized competitor in KBS, the country’s biggest national network that is pushing its own aspirations for an international presence through KBS World.
on May 21st, 2009 at 15:12
The overall styles of the two channels seem quite different. Arirang appears faster paced and aimed at a younger audience. Got to say that I find it relentlessly cheerful and can only take small doses. Still, it’s always good to see how other cultures function. Their Let’s Speak Korean lessons are a good supplement to a language course.
In the UK it’s possible — or was last time I checked — to watch KBS World free-to-air from Badr at 26 east, circumventing the subscription version from Hotbird.
A Korean friend laughed when I opined that newsreaders on any Korean channel appear to shout their way through the programmes. Is it just me that thinks so?