2024-02-29 10:40:20
▲ The 2023 KBO game at Jamsil Stadium. Photo = Reporter Geum Jun-kyung
There is a growing possibility that you will have to pay to watch professional baseball on PC or mobile this year. There was a press report that TVING, which is negotiating broadcasting rights with the KBO, plans to provide professional baseball broadcasting to subscribers who subscribe to paid plans. There is a strong backlash from users regarding this.
Sports media SPOTV said on the afternoon of the 26th that <[단독] 프로야구 중계 유료화 확정… KBO-티빙 협상 마무리 단계, 팬 반발-접근성은 숙제> The report revealed that negotiations for broadcasting rights between TVING and KBO are nearing completion. According to SPOTV, KBO marketing subsidiary KBOP and Tving have concluded overall negotiations, including a plan to make professional baseball pay-per-view. After final coordination and briefing sessions with clubs, the plan to broadcast this year’s professional baseball will be officially announced.
In relation to this, a KBO official told Media Today, “It is difficult to talk about the specific details of the negotiations,” and added, “It must be concluded before the start of the exhibition games (March 9). “An announcement is expected to be made within the next week,” he said. A TVING official also said that an official announcement will be made before March 8th.
Free professional baseball online broadcast… Netizens’ backlash is strong
Naver, which has been in charge of online broadcasting for KBO mobile and PC since 2006, has provided this service for free. However, if Tving monopolizes live broadcasting, people who do not have a TV will have to sign up as a paid member of Tving to watch professional baseball in real time. Tving’s cheapest plan is the standard advertising plan, which costs 5,500 won per month when ads are exposed, which costs about 50,000 won considering the professional baseball schedule that runs from March to November.
There is also a way for Tving to resell the broadcasting rights to Naver, Afreeca TV, etc., but the possibility of resale is reportedly low.
Netizens’ reactions were negative. Upon hearing the news that TVing may charge a fee for professional baseball broadcasts, netizens said through the community, “If you don’t want to pay 66,000 won per year (TVing advertising standard 1-year fee), the right answer is to just watch it while exercising at the gym,” and “For 1-2 years.” There were reactions such as “I don’t want to watch baseball.”
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