SBS News Brand 'Subusu' Expands to Netflix

EN brief: 스브스뉴스, 넷플릭스 진출 (culture) + 1 glossary term.

Summary

SBS News has officially announced a strategic expansion of its digital-native brand, Subusu News, onto the global streaming platform Netflix. This move marks a significant shift for traditional Korean broadcasters who are increasingly looking to leverage digital-first content for international audiences.

The collaboration is expected to bring high-quality investigative journalism and trendy social commentary—hallmarks of the Subusu brand—to a wider demographic. While SBS has previously licensed dramas and variety shows to Netflix, this focus on a news-derived digital brand is a relatively new frontier.

Industry experts suggest that this partnership will allow SBS to bypass traditional broadcasting limitations and reach younger viewers who primarily consume content via OTT (Over-the-Top) services. It also reflects the growing global interest in Korean non-fiction and documentary-style storytelling.

Details regarding the specific titles or the exact release schedule on Netflix were not fully disclosed in the initial report, but the move is seen as a long-term play to diversify revenue streams and brand presence in the digital era.

Full story (translated & rewritten)

According to reports from Media Today, SBS is preparing to launch content under its 'Subusu News' (스브스뉴스) banner on Netflix. Subusu News originally started as a social media-based news service, gaining massive popularity for its 'card news' format and short-form videos that explain complex social issues in a witty, accessible way.

The transition to Netflix signifies that Subusu News is no longer just a social media experiment but a legitimate content powerhouse capable of producing long-form or serialized documentaries. The article notes that this expansion is part of a broader strategy by SBS to adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape where traditional TV viewership is declining.

While the specific nature of the Netflix content—whether it will be a documentary series, a talk show, or a news magazine—remains under wraps, the brand's existing reputation for 'Munjyeong-geol' (Civilization Express) and other viral segments provides a strong foundation. The publisher, Media Today, highlights that this is a rare case of a domestic news brand's sub-brand making a direct entry into the global OTT market.

This move also highlights the competitive pressure among Korean broadcasters to secure 'IP' (Intellectual Property) that resonates globally. By partnering with Netflix, SBS aims to elevate the Subusu brand from a local digital news outlet to a global content creator.

Context

• Subusu News is a digital-first brand under SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System), one of South Korea's three major terrestrial broadcasters.
• The brand is famous for its informal, punchy style that targets Gen Z and Millennials, often using internet slang and memes in its reporting.
• Netflix has been aggressively investing in Korean unscripted content following the massive success of its K-dramas.

Source

• Link: https://www.mediatoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=331912