SBS International
SBS International is the US subsidiary of South Korean broadcaster SBS Media Group, distributing Korean-language news, drama, entertainment, and sports content to Korean-American viewers through pay-TV (DIRECTV, Verizon FiOS, Spectrum, Optimum), digital TV, streaming, and social channels since 1992.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SBS International does
SBS International, Inc. is a privately-held US broadcasting company incorporated in New York in March 1992 as the North American subsidiary and exclusive US distributor of SBS Media Group (Seoul Broadcasting System), one of South Korea's major terrestrial broadcasters. The company serves Korean-American viewers in the United States (and Canada) by distributing Korean-language news, drama, entertainment, and sports content through a portfolio of channels — SBS HD, SBS PLUS, SBS STAR, SBS LIFE S, and Lara Sports — alongside original US-targeted productions branded under LALASBS (라라스브스).
The technical platform is a multi-channel video distribution and new media broadcasting operation rather than a proprietary software product. Content reaches viewers through carriage agreements with major US pay-TV providers (DIRECTV on Channel 2080, Verizon FiOS, Spectrum on Channel 1483, Optimum, and Digital TV Channel 18.2), and through owned digital surfaces including the lalasbs.com website, YouTube channels (@LALASBS1 and @SBS미국뉴스8), Instagram, Facebook, and a Kakao Channel. Core flagship programming includes SBS Evening News, a daily Korean-language news program from a Korean-American perspective, plus original content such as golf championship broadcasts (2025 Bodyfriend Family Championship, 2025 Cellion Ladies Championship, 2026 UMEKEN/MAJESTY Ladies Championship), interview program THE Interview with Jae-rin Lee, and lifestyle/cultural content (K-Town Success Notes, LAFC Onboarding Guide featuring Son Heung-min, Where Shall We Go?). The company is also piloting Spanish-subtitled Korean drama content (Mujer Magnifica), indicating initial exploration of adjacent audiences.
Revenue is generated through two streams: recurring carriage and subscription fees from pay-TV distributors for channel placement (typically bundled into their international programming packages and not separately priced to consumers), and advertising sold against broadcast and online inventory including SBS Evening News and digital properties. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company operates with a 1-10 employee headcount from offices in Los Angeles (current main US operations for the LALASBS brand) and New York (original US headquarters), with strategic and operational dependence on parent SBS Media Group for content supply, brand licensing, and corporate backing.
SBS International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SBS International
- Legal name
- SBS International, Inc.
- Website
- https://sbs-int.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SBS International is the US subsidiary of South Korean broadcaster SBS Media Group, distributing Korean-language news, drama, entertainment, and sports content to Korean-American viewers through pay-TV (DIRECTV, Verizon FiOS, Spectrum, Optimum), digital TV, streaming, and social channels since 1992.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SBS International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Television Broadcasting Services
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International TV Broadcasters (Free-to-Air/Satellite/Cable) (MPABAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Multilingual/Diaspora Broadcasters (MPABAEAG), International TV Program Distribution (Sales/Output Deals) (MPABAMAD), International News & Current Affairs Broadcasters (MPABAEAD)
Keywords
Where SBS International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
SBS International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Broadcasting and Content Distribution: Distributes SBS TV content (drama, entertainment, news, sports) to Korean-American viewers through multiple platforms including cable TV, digital TV, and streaming services
- Advertising: Generates revenue through advertising spots on broadcast channels and online content
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
SBS International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SBS International is the US distribution subsidiary of Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS Media Group), operating since March 1992. It distributes Korean-language television content — including news, dramas, entertainment, variety shows, and sports — to Korean-American viewers through cable, satellite, digital TV, and online streaming platforms. The company operates a portfolio of channel brands (SBS HD, SBS PLUS, SBS STAR, SBS LIFE S, and Lara Sports) and produces original Korean-American programming such as SBS Evening News.
Product overview
SBS International is a North American broadcasting company and the US subsidiary of Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), distributing Korean television content to global audiences since 1992. The company operates as a multi-channel broadcasting platform offering video, streaming, and new media content through its portfolio of channel brands (SBS HD, SBS PLUS, SBS STAR, SBS LIFE S, Lara Sports). The product portfolio includes the core Evening News program providing Korean-American perspectives on local and international news, original content branded under 라라스브스오리지ñal (SBS Originals) encompassing golf championships (Bodyfriend Family Championship, Cellion Ladies Championship), interview programs (THE Interview with Jae-rin Lee), sports coverage (LAFC Son Heung-min content), and cultural programming (K-Town Success Note). Content distribution is available through major US providers including DirecTV, FiOS, Spectrum, and Optimum.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 라라스포츠 (Lara Sports): Sports programming channel featuring golf championships and other sporting events.
- 라라스브스 Evening News
Products and services
- SBS Evening News (SBS 미국뉴스 8) Daily Korean-American evening news program broadcasting on Spectrum CH 1483 (Mon-Fri, 8:00-9:00 PM PT), Digital TV CH 18.2 (Mon-Fri, 9:00-10:00 PM PT), and DirecTV CH 2080 (Mon-Fri, 8:00-9:00 PM PT). Aimed at Korean-American viewers seeking news coverage from a Korean perspective.
- SBS HD Channel Main SBS high-definition channel broadcasting Korean dramas, variety shows, and entertainment content to North American audiences.
- SBS PLUS Channel SBS channel featuring additional programming including variety shows and supplementary entertainment content.
- SBS STAR Channel SBS channel broadcasting sports content including golf championships and other athletic events for Korean-American viewers.
- SBS LIFE S Channel SBS lifestyle channel broadcasting entertainment and variety programming for Korean-American audiences.
- Lara Sports (라라스포츠) Sports broadcasting sub-brand featuring Korean golf tournaments and other athletic content for the Korean-American community.
- SBS Originals (라라스브스 오리지널) Original content brand encompassing original programs produced by SBS International for the Korean-American market, including interview shows, sports coverage, and lifestyle content.
- LALASBS Online Streaming Platform Official SBS International website (lalasbs.com) providing Korean-language news, program schedules, channel information, advertising details, and online streaming access for Korean-American viewers.
Companies that use SBS International
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SBS International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
SBS International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- SBS Media Group (Seoul Broadcasting System)coreSBS International is the US subsidiary and exclusive distributor of all SBS Media Group content. SBS Media Group is the parent company that produces Korean news, dramas, entertainment shows, and sports programming. SBS International has operated since March 1992 to distribute this content to global audiences.
- DIRECTVmajorDIRECTV distributes SBS content to its subscribers through Channel 2080 and DirecTV Stream platform, making SBS evening news available to DIRECTV customers in the US.
- Verizon FiOSmajorVerizon FiOS distributes SBS content through its international programming package, providing access to Korean-American viewers who use Verizon services.
- SpectrummajorSpectrum distributes SBS evening news on Channel 1483 (Mon-Fri, 8:00-9:00 PM PT) to its cable subscribers, reaching Korean-American viewers in the Spectrum service areas.
- OptimummajorOptimum cable service distributes SBS content to subscribers as part of its international channel lineup.
- Kakao (Kakao Channel)minorSBS International maintains a Kakao Channel presence for direct communication with Korean-American viewers who use the KakaoTalk messaging platform, providing news updates and content information.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SBS International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kocowa: Joint streaming venture of the three major Korean broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS) offering Korean drama, K-pop, and variety content on-demand to North American audiences. Direct digital competitor to SBS International's streaming offering and includes SBS content.
- KBS America: US distribution arm of Korea's national public broadcaster KBS (Korean Broadcasting System). Directly competes with SBS International in distributing Korean-language news, dramas, and entertainment to Korean-American audiences via cable and streaming.
- Arirang TV: Korea's international English-language broadcaster, distributed in the US via cable/satellite. Comparable model of distributing Korean-produced content to US audiences through similar distribution channels.
- MBC America: US subsidiary of Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), one of Korea's three major terrestrial broadcasters. Competes head-to-head with SBS International for Korean-American viewers through cable distribution of Korean content.
- YTN USA: US-distributed Korean 24-hour news channel from YTN (Yonhap Television News). Overlaps with SBS International's SBS Evening News offering in serving Korean-American audiences seeking Korean news perspectives.
Regional players
- TV Japan: NHK's US-distributed Japanese-language channel serving the Japanese-American diaspora via cable/satellite. Operates an analogous diaspora broadcaster model in the US market for a different Asian community.
Emerging players
- Viki (Rakuten Viki): Global streaming platform specializing in Asian (including Korean) dramas and entertainment with subtitling in 200+ languages. Competes for the same Korean-content-loving audience but with an on-demand model vs. SBS International's scheduled linear channels.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SBS International social profiles
Digital presenceSBS International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SBS International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SBS International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SBS International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SBS International
What does SBS International do?
SBS International is the US distribution subsidiary of Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS Media Group), operating since March 1992. It distributes Korean-language television content — including news, dramas, entertainment, variety shows, and sports — to Korean-American viewers through cable, satellite, digital TV, and online streaming platforms. The company operates a portfolio of channel brands (SBS HD, SBS PLUS, SBS STAR, SBS LIFE S, and Lara Sports) and produces original Korean-American programming such as SBS Evening News.
Is SBS International a public or private company?
SBS International is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SBS International founded?
SBS International was founded in 1992. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SBS International based?
SBS International is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does SBS International make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Broadcasting and Content Distribution is the primary driver. The others are advertising.
Who are SBS International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kocowa, KBS America, Arirang TV, MBC America and YTN USA. TV Japan is listed as a regional player. Viki (Rakuten Viki) is listed as an emerging player.
Does SBS International have an API?
No public API is recorded for SBS International.
What industry is SBS International in?
SBS International's product category is Television Broadcasting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAEAJ, International TV Broadcasters (Free-to-Air/Satellite/Cable), with a secondary code of MPABAEAG, International Multilingual/Diaspora Broadcasters. Its NAICS code is 51612 and its SIC code is 4833.