The growing commercialisation of sports broadcasting risks creating a “sports divide” where only those who can afford premium services are able to access major sporting events, warned Mr. Park Jang-beom, President and CEO of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), during his keynote address at the ABU Sports Media Conference (SMC).

Addressing distinguished broadcasters, sports industry leaders and media professionals from around the world, Mr. Park stressed that sport must remain a shared public experience accessible to all, rather than becoming an exclusive commodity controlled by commercial interests.

“Will sport become a premium product enjoyed only by those who can afford it? Or will we preserve it as a shared heritage of humanity and a public good for all?” he asked.

Mr. Park highlighted the rapidly rising cost of international sports broadcasting rights, noting that global OTT platforms and major commercial broadcasters continue to invest aggressively in premium sports content, making universal access increasingly difficult.

According to Mr. Park, this trend is already impacting audiences worldwide, including in Korea, where viewers are increasingly limited to commercially attractive matches or are required to pay to watch their own national teams compete.

“This is not merely a question of market economics. It is the beginning of what we may call a ‘sports divide’,” he said.

Emphasising the broader social role of sport, Mr. Park described events such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup as powerful cultural experiences that unite societies beyond borders, generating collective moments of joy, pride and hope.

He cautioned that when sport becomes dominated solely by commercial logic, less profitable disciplines, including grassroots sports and para-sports, risk being marginalised, while the public value of media diminishes behind the pursuit of ratings and profit.

In his address, Mr. Park underscored the continuing importance of public service broadcasters in protecting universal viewing rights, ensuring diversity in sports coverage and strengthening social cohesion.

“Public broadcasters ensure that no one is excluded from sharing moments of national and global significance,” he said, adding that their responsibility extends beyond ratings to telling the human stories behind sport — stories of perseverance, sacrifice and inspiration.

Calling for stronger international cooperation, Mr. Park urged sporting bodies, governments and media organisations to work together to protect sport as a public good and preserve equitable access for audiences worldwide.

“The Olympic flame must shine not only inside the stadium, but equally brightly in the living rooms of ordinary viewers everywhere, including those at the very margins of society,” he concluded.

The message resonated strongly throughout the ABU Sports Media Conference, reinforcing the growing concern among broadcasters that access to sport should remain inclusive and universal, rather than becoming a privilege available only to those with financial means.