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Business of TV Sport
Sportel Monaco 2011

Another Korean baseball TV stand-off

The Korean baseball league began its season without television coverage, after broadcasters refused to meet the price asked by Eclat Entertainment, agent for the Korean Baseball Organisation (KBO).
Eclat is asking for Won1.4 bn (€790,000/$1m), but the broadcasters, including SBS Sports, KBSN, MBC ESPN and Xports, are only willing to pay Won1bn. They also want a discount if the KBO goes ahead with plans to also sell rights to IPTV operators.

It is the second standoff on baseball television rights in Korea in two months after a similar dispute over the rights for this year’s World Baseball Classic. Broadcasters eventually agreed a deal a day before the tournament started.