SBS (South Korea) - Station Ident (Christmas 2018)

Copyright (c) 2018 Seoul Broadcasting System

The Seoul Broadcasting System is one of the leading TV and radio broadcasters in South Korea, and it operates its flagship television channel which has a nationwide network of 10 regional stations, and three radio networks.

Its launch on 14 November 1990 came three years after South Korea transitioned to a democracy in 1987, and the government made its move in creating a new commercially-owned broadcasting network in the country, the second after the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. Unlike MBC, which is previously a part of public broadcaster KBS, this newborn broadcaster was to become a broad alternative channel for the public.

SBS began operations from Seoul as a private terrestrial TV broadcaster, but it was on 20 March 1991 that SBS officially initiated its regular broadcasts, launching SBS Radio's first regular broadcast on AM 792kHz. By 1995, SBS began delivering nationwide service over a national network built in partnership with local private broadcasters.

The network's drama series have been part of the Korean wave phenomenon that's exported to many countries across the world. The 1995 miniseries Sandglass, which starred Choi Min-soo, Go Hyun-jung, and Park Sang-won, has one of the highest viewership ratings in South Korea, and is considered the breakout drama for SBS. Other dramas that have enjoyed high viewership include Lovers in Paris, Trap of Youth, Brilliant Legacy, Rustic Period, Temptation of Wife, The Heirs, and My Love from the Star.

Aside its programming, SBS is very much known for the network's flagship newscast that's aired live at 8:00 pm, SBS Eight O'Clock News, a revolutionary news program that broke the traditional mold of 9:00 pm newscasts in the Korean broadcasting industry.