JTBC, Embracing World Cup Performance Amid Crisis.. Smiles on 2049 and Chzzk

*This content was translated by AI.

With all 24 Group Stage matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America concluding on the 18th, JTBC succeeded in targeting its core viewership across TV, mobile, and PC platforms.

According to JTBC on the 18th, among the 20th Group Stage matches for which ratings have been compiled so far, JTBC led in 14 matches in terms of 2049 target viewership, surpassing KBS, which led in only six matches.

The first match between South Korea and Czech Republic held on the 12th also recorded an average 2049 viewership rating of 3.0%, peaking at 3.9%, ahead of KBS. (Nielsen Korea nationwide paid households, based on the match itself) However, in overall average viewership excluding the 2049 target, KBS showed a better performance.

On Chzzk, JTBC's dominance was particularly evident. The total number of simultaneous viewers who watched all 24 Group Stage matches via JTBC broadcast reached 4.96309 million, 4.8 times higher than the 1.027306 million recorded by KBS. Including the first match between South Korea and Czech Republic, which recorded 3.864785 million simultaneous viewers, the cumulative simultaneous viewership for non-Korea matches also surpassed KBS (925,680) at 1.098305 million.

JTBC will broadcast the Group Stage second match between South Korea and Mexico live on the 19th at 10 a.m. (broadcast started at 8:50 a.m.). Having gained momentum with a victory over the Czech Republic, South Korea will compete for the top spot in the group under the fervent home support of host nation Mexico. Interest from soccer fans is focused on this match, considered the decisive battle that will determine whether South Korea advances from the group stage.

Meanwhile, JTBC declared a default (non-payment of debt) on the 12th after failing to repay a total of 20.6 billion won in liquidity loans upon maturity. Some pointed out that JTBC incurred excessive costs in securing broadcasting rights for major sports events such as the North American World Cup.

Following its acquisition of the 2026–2032 Olympic broadcasting rights in 2019, JTBC also secured the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights in 2024. Although it entered negotiations with the three terrestrial broadcasters, it failed to resell the broadcasting rights starting from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, and for the North American World Cup, it managed to resell only to KBS among the three terrestrial broadcasters for 1.4 billion won.

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*This content was translated by AI.