SBS and Netflix announces strategic partnership deal to expand K-content competitiveness : All you need to know

Netflix and South Korea’s SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System) have officially entered into a contract, as reported by Star News on December 20, 2024. This partnership marks a significant collaboration between one of Korea’s largest broadcasting networks and the global streaming giant.

The agreement will enable SBS programs, including both new and existing content, to become available on the streaming platform, increasing their accessibility to a worldwide audience.

One of the first shows to benefit from this partnership is the widely popular variety program Running Man, which will now be available for global streaming in real time. This move is expected to expand the show’s already massive fanbase.

Fans have expressed their excitement over this collaboration, anticipating that it will bring more of SBS’s acclaimed dramas and shows to Netflix, making Korean content even more accessible to international viewers. This decision is being celebrated as a strategic step towards enhancing the global reach of K-content.

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SBS's past and present dramas will be made available on Netflix soon

South Korea's broadcasting network SBS and global entertainment platform Netflix have announced a strategic partnership. The collaboration was formalized on December 20, 2024, at the SBS Broadcasting Center in Mok-dong, Seoul. Attendees included Bang Moon-shin, President of SBS, and Kang Dong-han, Vice President of Korean Content.

This partnership aims to create a win-win synergy, allowing SBS to expand its content globally while enhancing the streaming giant's subscription value by offering diverse experiences to its members.

Under the agreement, SBS's new and existing dramas, variety shows, and cultural programs will be available to Netflix users in South Korea. Additionally, select SBS dramas will be simultaneously released worldwide starting next year. The global video streaming platform would provide subtitles and dubbing in multiple languages and promote these works internationally to strengthen the global appeal of K-content.

Popular SBS programs like Running Man, Unanswered Questions, The Story of That Day, and Kick a Goal will be available on the streaming giant, alongside classic hits like Sandglass, Hot Stove League, and The Penthouse. This collaboration will also include the global release of new SBS dramas in the second half of 2025.

SBS President Bang Moon-shin emphasized the importance of this collaboration in extending K-content to global audiences, aligning with SBS's vision of moving beyond terrestrial television. Netflix VP Kang Dong-han called the partnership a milestone in showcasing Korean storytelling to the world, expressing hope that it will mark a new golden era for K-content over the next century.

This partnership mirrors the success of similar collaborations, such as that between the BBC and the streaming platform, and underscores SBS's commitment to producing high-quality, globally relevant content.