# JTBC

JTBC (shortened from Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company; Korean: 제이티비씨; stylized in all lowercase) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on December 1, 2011. JTBC is a generalist channel, with programming consisting of television series, variety shows, and news broadcasting; its news division is held in similar regard to the three main terrestrial networks in South Korea.
In 2011, JTBC was one of four new South Korean nationwide generalist cable TV networks alongside The Dong-a Ilbo's Channel A, The Chosun Ilbo's TV Chosun and Maeil Business Newspaper's MBN. They serve as supplementary networks to the existing conventional free-to-air TV networks like KBS, MBC, SBS and other smaller channels launched following deregulation in 1990.

## History

JoongAng Ilbo, which used to be a part of Samsung, had previously owned a TV station. In 1964, it founded the Tongyang Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) and ran the network for 16 years. However, TBC was forced to merge with the state-run KBS by the military regime of Chun Doo-hwan in 1980. At its founding in 2011, some media analysts considered the return of JoongAng Ilbo to television in JTBC as the reincarnation of TBC. JoongAng Ilbo wanted to reuse the name Tongyang Broadcasting Corporation, but failed because of Taegu Broadcasting Corporation, which has the rights to TBC in South Korea since 1994.

### Timeline

* June 26, 1964: Tongyang Broadcasting Corporation was launched.
* December 7, 1964: TBC-TV started broadcasting on channel 7.
* November 30, 1980: TBC-TV merged with KBS Television by the special law of Chun Doo-hwan, president of military authorities, resulting in the launching of KBS 2TV.
* July 22, 2009: Amendment of the media law passed the national assembly to deregulate the media market of South Korea. It was a response of the South Korean government to the Chojoongdong (The Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and The Dong-A Ilbo), who were the major media conglomerates, aiming to launch the cable market.
* December 31, 2010: JTBC, TV Chosun, MBN, and Channel A were selected as "general cable television channel broadcasters".
* March 11, 2011: JoongAng Ilbo established the JTBC corporation.
* December 1, 2011: JTBC (short for Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company) started broadcasting on channel 15.
* May 2013: Former MBC news anchor Sohn Suk-hee was designated as JTBC's new president for its news division.
* January 2015: JTBC constructs a new building in Digital Media City in Sangam-dong, Seoul.
* November 2018: Sohn Suk-hee is promoted to JTBC's president and CEO.
* June 2019: JTBC acquired the Korean rights to the Olympic Games from 2026 to 2032.
* April 2020: JTBC moves their newscasts to Creation Hall, starting with JTBC Newsroom, with its other programs following suit on May 18.
* June 2021: JTBC buys a majority stake in production company Wiip from Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

## Programs

* News programs including JTBC Newsroom, After News 5 and Newsroom Now, Sangam-Dong Class
* JTBC dramas hold 9 spots of the 50, including The World of the Married being the highest-rated cable drama on the list of highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television, surpassing JTBC's previous record with SKY Castle.
* Cultural productions such as Begin Again and Ssulzun
* Variety shows including Knowing Bros, Let's Eat Dinner Together, Traveler, and more.

### Drama

Currently airing TV series :
| Airtime | Program | Original title | Start date |
| Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST) | The Tale of Lady Ok | 옥씨부인전 | November 30, 2024 |

### Variety

Currently airing variety shows :
| Airtime | Program | Original title | Start date |
| Monday at 20:50 (KST) | Talk Pa One 25 o'clock | 톡파원 25시 | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| Monday at 22:30 (KST) | A Clean Sweep | 최강야구 | June 6, 2022 (2022-06-06) |
| Tuesday at 22:40 (KST) | Knowing International High School | 아는 외고 | February 11, 2025 (2025-02-11) |
| Thursday at 24:20 (KST) | No Way Home | 노 웨이 홈 | TBA |
| Saturday at 19:10 (KST) | Actors' Association | 배우반상회 | TBA |
| Saturday at 20:50 (KST) | Knowing Bros | 아는 형님 | December 5, 2015 (2015-12-05) |
| Sunday at 19:40 (KST) | The Gentleman's League | 뭉쳐야 찬다 | June 13, 2019 (2019-06-13) |

## Viewership ratings

* The table below lists the top 10 dramas with the highest average audience share ratings (nationwide), corresponding episode with highest rating and the date.
| Ranking | Drama | Episodes | Highest Nielsen Korea Nationwide Rating | Cable Channel Ratings Ranking | Date | Airing Period |
| 1 | The World of the Married | 16 | 28.371% | 1 | May 16, 2020 | Fridays and Saturdays |
| 2 | Reborn Rich | 16 | 26.948% | 2 | December 25, 2022 | Fridays to Sundays |
| 3 | Sky Castle | 20 | 23.779% | 3 | February 1, 2019 | Fridays and Saturdays |
| 4 | Doctor Cha | 16 | 18.546% | 4 | June 4, 2023 | Saturdays and Sundays |
| 5 | Itaewon Class | 16 | 16.181% | 5 | March 21, 2020 | Fridays and Saturdays |
| 6 | Agency | 16 | 16.044% | 6 | February 26, 2023 | Saturdays and Sundays |
| 7 | King the Land | 16 | 13.789% | 7 | August 6, 2023 | Saturdays and Sundays |
| 8 | The Tale of Lady Ok | 16 | 13.575% | 8 | November 30, 2024 | Saturdays and Sundays |
| 9 | Welcome to Samdal-ri | 16 | 12.399% | 9 | January 21, 2024 | Saturdays and Sundays |
| 10 | The Lady in Dignity | 20 | 12.065% | 10 | August 19, 2017 | Fridays and Saturdays |
* 「Ratings」data sourced from Nielsen Korea nationwide rating of cable channel, with the inclusion of occasional advertisement

## Subsidiaries

| Name | Description |
| JTBC Plus | Operates the JTBC's specialty cable channels, JTBC2, JTBC3 Golf&Sports, JTBC4 and JTBC Golf Publishes Ilgan Sports since 2015 |
| JTBC Mediatech | |
| SLL (formerly JTBC Content Hub and JTBC Studios) | Provides in-house drama and film production Subsidiaries include Drama House [ko], Zium Content, BA Entertainment, Film Monster Co. and Perfect Storm Film |
| JTBC Mediacomm | Conducts broadcast advertising sales on behalf of JTBC, JTBC Plus and Baduk TV |

## Award

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
| 2019 | 23rd Asian Television Awards | Cable & Satellite Network of the Year award | JTBC | Won | |