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KISDI Publishes Report on “A Review of the Validity of Broadcast Program Genre Classification.”
– Up to 30% gap found between existing genre classifications and audience perception 
– Current classification under the Broadcasting Act (news, educational, and entertainment) fails to reflect hybrid content and evolving media production environments 

The Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI, President Sangkyu Rhee) has recently published its Basic Research Report (24-07) titled “A Review of the Validity of Broadcast Program Genre Classification: Focusing on Differences in Classification Standards under the Broadcasting Act, among Broadcasters, and from Audience Perception.”

This study examines the appropriateness of the genre categories defined in the Broadcasting Act and seeks to establish a new classification framework that reflects the changing broadcast and video media environment. Under the current Broadcasting Act, genres are categorized in a simplified system of news, educational, and entertainment programs; however, this system differs significantly from actual production practices and audience perceptions. In particular, despite the growing prevalence of hybrid content combining information and entertainment, the current framework fails to reflect this trend, limiting the effectiveness of programming policy goals.

The research was conducted through interviews with broadcasting practitioners and industry experts, as well as a nationwide survey of 1,500 respondents. Among 85 broadcast programs included in the survey, 29.4 percent showed discrepancies between the broadcasters’ classification and audience perception. The disparity was most pronounced in the educational genre, suggesting ambiguity in how the term “educational” is defined.

The study also found that audience perceptions of the news genre are expanding. Programs officially categorized as educational but dealing with current affairs analysis, commentary, or investigative reporting—such as JTBC’s “Scandal Supervisor,” SBS’s “Unanswered Questions,” TV Chosun’s “Case File 24,” and Channel A’s “Newspaper Story Strike Show”—were regarded by many viewers as being closer to news content. Meanwhile, broadcasting practitioners questioned the appropriateness of categorizing content that mixes informational and entertainment elements strictly as either educational or entertainment.

The report concludes that the current classification system does not adequately reflect changes in content production and distribution environments. It recommends introducing a more flexible classification framework that considers a program’s theme, format, and production method comprehensively.

Associate Research Fellow Hyunjung Hwang stated, “To achieve the policy objective of ensuring diversity in programming, it is essential to establish a systematic framework for classifying broadcast programs. We hope that a classification system will be designed to provide useful information not only for broadcasters and policymakers but also for media users and researchers.”