Panelists discuss the launch strategy for K-Channel 82 during a K-EnterTech Hub session at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS — Sinclair Broadcast Group and CAST.ERA said K-Channel 82, positioned as the first nationwide Korean content channel in U.S. broadcast television, is scheduled to launch on September 14, 2026, according to remarks delivered during the K-EnterTech Fire Chat held alongside NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas. The initiative brings together U.S. broadcast infrastructure, Korean content supply, and AI localization in a project designed to expand Korean programming beyond streaming platforms and into mainstream US TV.
The event took place on April 19, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and was hosted by K-EnterTechHub.
Jung Han CEO of K-EnterTech Hub, moderated the session. The panel featured Stanley Park (Park Kyung-mo), Vice President of CAST.ERA; Shin Hyun-jin, CEO of Hudson AI; Ko Sam-seog, Distinguished Professor at Dongguk University and former standing commissioner of the Korea Communications Commission; and Douglas Montgomery, CEO of Global Connects Media and Asia advisor to Parrot Analytics.
Han framed the project as something unprecedented in the U.S. TV industry: a national Korean content channel entering the U.S. terrestrial broadcasting environment at a moment when ATSC 3.0 is opening a new window for distribution, interactivity, and business model innovation. In that sense, K-Channel 82 was presented not just as a channel launch, but as a structural media experiment linking content, technology, and market access.
TV channel Built Around the Meaning of “82”
Stanley Park of CAST.ERA explains the positioning of K-Channel 82 as a free, nationwide Korean content channel powered by ATSC 3.0.
During the discussion, Stanley Park described K-Channel 82 as a 24/7 nationwide Korean content channel that will be delivered over ATSC 3.0 and made available free-to-air.
According to Park, viewers will not need cable service or a streaming subscription; households equipped with an antenna will be able to access the service without an additional paywall.
Park also emphasized the branding logic behind the channel number itself. “The moment a U.S. viewer reaches Channel 82, that is Korea — this is our brand promise,” he said, noting that 82 is South Korea’s international dialing code.
The channel number is therefore meant to function not only as a broadcast destination but also as a symbolic extension of Korean identity inside the U.S. television environment.
He added that the transmission platform is being developed jointly by Sinclair and CAST.ERA, while content supply discussions are underway with major Korean media companies including KBS, SBS, MBN, and YTN. At launch, the service is expected to feature dubbed programming so that viewers can engage with Korean content in English rather than relying entirely on subtitles.
Why ATSC 3.0 Is Central to the Strategy
K-Channel 82 is being framed as a strategic application of ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV, at a time when the U.S. broadcast sector is navigating a broader transition away from legacy distribution assumptions. As cord-cutting continues and more households reevaluate paid television bundles, over-the-air viewing has regained importance, creating an opening for new broadcast brands and content formats
Panelists argued that ATSC 3.0 gives K-Channel 82 advantages beyond transmission alone. The standard supports internet-connected broadcasting, interactive services, data delivery, and enhanced advertising capabilities, making it possible to imagine new revenue models that blend linear viewing with digital responsiveness. In practical terms, that means K-Channel 82 is being built not just as a content pipe, but as a long-term media infrastructure platform.
Park said the initial programming and market strategy will focus on major metropolitan areas with large Korean populations — including Greater Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Seattle
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About K-EnterTech Forum · K-엔터테크포럼
K-EnterTech Forum (K-ETF, K-엔터테크포럼)은 엔터테인먼트 테크놀로지, K-콘텐츠, 한류, 미디어 정책 분야의 전문 인사이트를 제공하는 국내 대표 플랫폼입니다. K-팝·K-드라마·K-푸드·K-컬처와 AI·스트리밍·크리에이터 이코노미·방송 기술의 공진화(Co-Evolution) 전략을 연구하고, 국내외 포럼·행사를 통해 정책 및 산업 협력 의제를 이끌고 있습니다.
K-EnterTech Forum is Korea's leading platform for insights on entertainment technology, K-Content, Hallyu, and media policy — bridging Korean cultural industries with global technology trends.
고삼석 상임의장 · Chairman Samseog Ko
고삼석(Ko Samseog)은 K-EnterTech Forum 상임의장입니다. 동국대학교 첨단융합대학 석좌교수이자 국가인공지능전략위원회 분과위원으로, 30년 이상의 방송통신 정책 및 산업 경험을 바탕으로 K-콘텐츠와 글로벌 엔터테인먼트 기술의 융합을 선도하고 있습니다. 前 방송통신위원회 상임위원을 역임했으며, ZDNet Korea에 정기 칼럼을 연재 중입니다.
Samseog Ko is the founding Chairman (상임의장) of K-EnterTech Forum. He is a Distinguished Professor at Dongguk University and a member of Korea's National AI Strategy Committee. Former Commissioner of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC).
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