POLICY ISSUES FOR CABLE STARTUP IN SMALLER COUNTRIES - THE CASE IN SOUTH-KOREA

The Korean cable industry is separated into the three subindustries: n etwork operators, program providers, and system operators, Vertical in tegration and horizontal concentration, conglomerates' entry into loca l cable markets, and other media's cross-ownership of cable systems ar e prohibited by the law; a theoretically attractive policy innovation. However, the performance of the early stages of the industry shows so me negative effects of the totally disintegrated subindustries being r egulated by different government units, Thus, the future of the new in dustry depends on how to cope adequately with the several challenges: programming acquisition and the introduction of vertical and horizonta l integration. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.