MBC America
{{Short description|American broadcaster}}
MBC America is the American subsidiary of South Korean broadcaster Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. Founded in 1991, it currently operates linear television channels, including its titular channel, as well as handling distribution of its drama catalog to the Americas.
History
The company was established in 1991.{{cite web |title=Growing Together - Korea and LA |url=https://laedc.org/reports/Growing%20Together%20Korea%20and%20LA%20County_Korean.pdf |publisher=Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation |page=88 |language=ko |format=pdf}} In 1998, it started inserting commercials locally, then in 1999, began distributing programs to The International Channel, including MBC Newsdesk. A 24-hour satellite feed started broadcasting in 2000.{{cite web |title=Brief History |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803035729/http://www.mbcamerica.tv/english/home.htm |website=MBC America |archive-url=http://www.mbcamerica.tv/english/home.htm |archive-date=August 3, 2002}}
Over-the-air digital broadcasts started in 2004. One of the first stations to pick up the network was KBCB in Seattle{{cite news |title=MBCAmerica 시애틀 방송 시작 |url=http://www.mbcamerica.tv/public/readArticle.asp?ArticleID=A3859016093913333&CurrentCatID=C53873971653425841 |publisher=MBC America |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051228172931/http://www.mbcamerica.tv/public/readArticle.asp?ArticleID=A3859016093913333&CurrentCatID=C53873971653425841 |archive-date=December 28, 2005 |language=ko}} On August 1, 2005, the company stopped distributing videos to video stores; instead, adopting a direct sales method from its Los Angeles offices.{{cite news |title=MBC , 8월1일부터 비디오 공급 직판체제로 |url=http://www.koreatimes.com/article/20050714/257014 |work=The Korea Times |language=ko}} In April 2006, the channel was added to DirecTV, with the launch of its KoreanDirect package. This enabled the channel to be broadcast nationwide.{{cite news |title=DirecTV adding trio of Korean channels |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2006/04/10/daily19.html |work=L.A. Business First |date=April 10, 2006}} On October 23, 2007, MBC America started distributing its catalog of Spanish-dubbed dramas to Spanish-language stations in the New York and Los Angeles metro areas.{{cite news |title=‘와! MBC 가 스패니시로’ |url=http://www.koreatimes.com/article/20071024/412245 |work=The Korea Times |language=ko}}
On August 1, 2008, regular over-the-air broadcasts started under the MBC-D brand. The new network carried the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Korean.{{cite news |title=올림픽 경기 한국어로 관전한다 |url=http://ny1.koreatimes.com/article/20080801/465457 |work=The Korea Times |language=ko}} Initially limited to Los Angeles and New York, its reach expanded to San Francisco on March 16, 2009, on KTSF's multiplex.{{cite news |title=MBC 아메리카 디지털방송 재개 |url=http://sf.koreatimes.com/article/20090331/514060 |work=The Korea Times |language=ko}} Broadcasts to U-verse subscribers started on March 22, 2009.{{cite news |title=MBC의 각종 프로그램 AT&T통해 시청가능 |url=http://www.koreatimes.com/article/20090326/513090 |work=The Korea Times |language=ko}}
On November 8, 2011, it signed a contract with Oyang America to bring GS Home Shopping to the United States, airing on the network from November 18.{{cite news |title=한국 ‘GS 홈쇼핑’ 미주 진출 |url=http://www.koreatimes.com/article/694769 |work=The Korea Times |language=ko}}
In 2015, MBC America had tensions with Arirang TV, whose broadcasting status in the United States lapsed the previous year. IPAA, a broadcasting organization established by Koreans in Los Angeles, denounced MBC America and Arirang for receiving all documents to take part in the broadcasting sector. Employees of both networks traded accusations.{{cite news |title=MBC 아메리카, 아리랑TV 미국방송사업자 입찰 또 잡음 내막공개 |url=https://sundayjournalusa.com/2015/09/06/mbc-%EC%95%84%EB%A9%94%EB%A6%AC%EC%B9%B4-%EC%95%84%EB%A6%AC%EB%9E%91tv-%EB%AF%B8%EA%B5%AD%EB%B0%A9%EC%86%A1%EC%82%AC%EC%97%85%EC%9E%90-%EC%9E%85%EC%B0%B0-%EB%98%90-%EC%9E%A1%EC%9D%8C-%EB%82%B4/ |work=Sunday Journal USA |language=ko}}
In 2017, MBC America was facing difficulties due to a scandal involving its previous CEO Yoon Dong-yeol, who, according to employees, caused "ridiculous drama". He accused director Hong Sang-won of sexual harrassment and sent the information to the parent facilities in Seoul.{{cite news |title=악취 진동하는 MBC(미주법인) ‘공영방송 위험수위 넘었다’ |url=https://sundayjournalusa.com/2017/04/06/%EB%AA%A8%ED%95%A8%EA%B3%BC-%EB%B6%80%EB%8B%B9-%ED%95%B4%EA%B3%A0%EB%A1%9C-%EC%96%BC%EB%A3%A9%EC%A7%84-mbc-america-%EB%A7%89%EC%9E%A5%EA%B7%B9-%EB%A7%89%ED%9B%84/ |work=Sunday Journal USA |language=ko}}
As of April 2025, terrestrial distribution of MBC DTV is limited to six stations in California.{{cite news |title=Stations for Network - MBC-D |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?request=network_search&network=MBC-D&sort=state |work=RabbitEars}}