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Draft:Buddhist Broadcasting System

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  • Comment: Too many of the cited sources comes from the organization itself. Please remove them and replace with independent coverage. Tutwakhamoe (talk) 23:23, 17 March 2024 (UTC)

Buddhist Broadcasting System
TypeRadio network (1989–present)
Television network (2002–present)
Country
South Korea
FoundedMarch 2, 1989; 36 years ago (1989-03-02)
HeadquartersMapo District
Broadcast area
South Korea
Launch date
  • Radio: May 1, 1990; 34 years ago (1990-05-01)
  • Television: December 2, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-12-02)
Official website
bbsi.co.kr

The Buddhist Broadcasting System (BBS; Korean불교방송; Hanja佛敎放送; RRBulgyo Bangsong) is a South Korean Buddhist radio and television broadcaster.

History

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On January 15, 1987, the Jogye Order promoted establishment of BBS. Fundraising for the building took place on May 22, 1989, with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications approving the station (HLSG-FM, 101.9MHz) on July 3.[1] The first test broadcast was conducted on March 2, 1990, followed by the first regular broadcast on May 1, 1990, broadcasting a 22-hour schedule from 5am to 2am.[2] Initially, the station broadcast exclusively to the Seoul area on 101.9 MHz in the FM band. On launch day the following congratulatory message from Great Monk Seongcheol was broadcast:

After the start of FM broadcasts in Seoul, broadcasts extended to other key cities. BBS solicited eleven licenses to the government in order to build its national network. Starting in Busan (89.9, February 1, 1995), Gwangju (89.7, March 1, 1995), Daegu (94.5, November 11, 1996) and Cheongju (96.7, April 25, 1997).[3]

The launch of BBS coincided with the launch of the Pyunghwa Broadcasting Company and the Traffic Broadcasting System. These new radio stations aimed at combating the long-established radio networks (KBS, CBS and MBC). However, these networks, including BBS, failed to receive good first impressions at launch, despite being the most successful of the three.[1]

BBS began broadcasting its service online on November 1, 2001 and relocated its transmitter from Namsan to Gwanaksan on December 26 the same year. A station in Chuncheon opened on 1 November 2002, subsequently the Daegu station opened relayers in 2003. Digitization of operations started at the main Seoul station in April 2004 and spread to the regional branches in September 2005. A new FM station opened in Ulsan (105.3) on June 30, 2008.

In 2006, BBS eyed the production of video content, but its implementation was slow. One of the alternatives in March 2008 was an attempt to acquire the existing Buddhist cable network BTN.[4] If approved, BBS would use 4 to 5 billion won (out of a total budget of 8 billion) to integrate its operations and, post-merger, strengthen BBS's position in the Buddhist media sector in Korea.[5] BBS registered for a television license on August 2, 2008 and started television broadcasts on subscription television operators on December 2, 2008, starting with KT's IPTV operator. The service later extended to LG's U+ on January 1, 2009 and SK's IPTV service on April 1, 2009. The broadcaster opted for IPTV rather than conventional cable and satellite at first.[5] BBS TV started broadcasting on cable networks in the 2012–2013 period, as well as the satellite television operator Skylife.

In 2017, BBS gained a license to broadcast in Jeju.

In November 2019, Lee Seon-jae, former head of KBS' news department, became its tenth president.[6]

BBS held a special ceremony on April 27, 2020, three days ahead of its third anniversary. In the remote conference, the monk of the Jogye Order and president Moon Jae-in exchanged video messages. This was to be followed by a special season of commemorative programs on May 1.[7]

Monk Deokmun, abbot of Hwaeomsa Temple in Gurye, Jeollanam-do, became the chairman of BBS on November 15, 2022.[8]

On July 30, 2023, BBS's Gwangju station appointed Kim Dae-won as its third regional president. His plans include a relocation of the local headquarters building and strengthening its news reporting content on terrestrial radio and online platforms as a "content media company".[9]

Controversies

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In 2025, the court determined that the firing of the CEO of its Gwangju branch was justified per a legal decision, as he had used abusive language and gave incorrect instructions to other staff members.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b 불교방송의 나아갈 길
  2. ^ 불교방송 5월개국 방송 프로그램 확정
  3. ^ 사옥 부도 등 어려움 딛고 ‘도약 기로’
  4. ^ BBS, BTN에 통합 제안
  5. ^ a b BBS, BTN 통합 공식제안 "40억~50억원 예상"
  6. ^ "BBS불교방송 사장에 이선재 전 KBS 보도본부장". Yonhap News Agency. 2 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  7. ^ "BBS 불교방송 30주년…"부처님 가르침 실천 공익방송 역할 최선"". Yonhap News Agency. 27 April 2020. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  8. ^ "화엄사 주지 덕문스님, BBS 불교방송 이사장 취임". Yonhap News Agency. 15 November 2022. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  9. ^ "김대원 광주BBS 사장 취임…"뉴스 보도 기능 강화"". Yonhap News Agency. 30 July 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ^ 광주불교방송 전 사장 면직 처분 정당
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