KBS Reportedly Embroiled In Feud With Actors Over Payment

KBS is reportedly in a conflict with actors over rebroadcasting fees. The conflict is over rebroadcast fees stemming from dramas KBS purchased from third party production companies.

According to Chosun IlboKBS has not paid rebroadcasting fees for dramas, If You Wish Upon Me, Curtain Call, Crazy Loveand Jinxed At First. The dramas feature big-name actors such as Sooyoung, And In Woo, Krystal Jung, It’s Ha Neul, Ha Ji Wonand Ji Chang Wook.

The report states that all of these dramas were produced by third-party production companies who then sold the broadcasting rights to KBS. Although broadcasting networks usually produce their own dramas, buying broadcasting rights from third-party production companies is becoming more commonplace.

The basis for KBS’s refusal to pay rebroadcasting fees lies in article 100 of  Korea’s Copyright Act. The article states that all required broadcasting fees are presumed to have been transferred by the production company. In other words, KBS is stating that rebroadcasting fees should be paid out by the production companies themselves.

The article states that there are some who are alleging KBS is abusing the law for its own benefit. The article notes that the law was made when broadcasting companies made their own drama and that the production company cited in the law is actually referring to broadcasters. The Korea Broadcasting Performer Rights Association claimed that the law was made to protect the production companies from the tyranny of broadcasters but that KBS was abusing the law.

KBS’s biggest competitors, fellow broadcasting companies SBS and MBCreportedly have paid out rebroadcasting fees regardless of who produced the drama.

Stay tuned for updates.