Sign-on and operations
On May 9, 1964, Tongyang Radio was launched, and on December 7, 1964, Tongyang Television (with headquarters in Seoul on VHF channel 7, call sign HLCE-TV[3] followed by a branch in Busan on channel 9 on December 12, 1964) under the name JBS,[4][5] on January 15, 1966, it changed from JoongAng (Central) Broadcasting Co., Ltd. to Tongyang Broadcasting,[6][7] On August 15 of the following year, Tongyang Standard FM was launched. Since the establishment of TBC-TV, Tongyang Broadcasting had garnered attention with popular variety shows such as Show Show Show and various soap operas, even surpassing the ratings of KBS, which was a state-run broadcaster. Despite MBC producing several hit dramas, TBC remained dominant after TV broadcasting was introduced. Overall, Tongyang Broadcasting slightly outperformed MBC.
Fiscally, TBC achieved tremendous success due to its connections with Samsung. The channel was headed by its founder, and one of TBC's subliminal goals was to sell more television sets at a time when they were still scarce. TBC also took the upper hand in producing pre-recorded dramas, something that KBS had not yet achieved.[8] TBC also had an animation division, which provided subcontracting services for Japanese animation companies. As a result of having these contracts, the network assisted in the production of The Golden Bat and Ghost Man. From 1973, it also started accepting American orders, with Universal Arts being the first client. This would pave way to an entire subcontracting industry in Korea.[9]
In the late 1960s, foreign loans of more than US$870,000 were introduced to expand the facility.[10] In July 1969, the Apollo 11 Moon landing was broadcast live on TV and radio. In 1971, the nominal capital of Tongyang Broadcasting was valued at 400 million won.[11] In the early 1970s, a transmission tower was established in partnership with Dong-A Broadcasting and Munhwa Broadcasting.[12] Since 1978, it had grown significantly, including preparing for color television broadcasts. In the case of Tongyang TV's Busan branch, it was impossible to broadcast a direct signal from Seoul (simultaneous transmission) due to the absence of microwaves, focusing on local programs in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do. Therefore, the Seoul (key station) programs such as Show Show Show were broadcast by air or railroad (overland), and broadcasts were delayed by one week, contributing to strengthening the independence of local broadcasting.
