Freedom Media Agrees to Cooperate with South Korean Broadcaster KBS

Freedom Media Group and South Korea’s largest broadcasting corporation, KBS, have signed a memorandum of cooperation. The companies plan to develop joint media projects and promote Korean content, while Kazakhstan could become part of the global tour of the Music Bank music show.

Freedom Media Group and South Korea’s largest broadcasting corporation, KBS, have agreed to cooperate in Central Asia. The companies plan to develop joint media projects, distribute Korean content and are discussing the possibility of bringing the Music Bank music show to Kazakhstan.

The partners signed the memorandum on September 15 in Seoul as part of the Kazakhstan–Korea Business Roundtable. Freedom Media Group entered into strategic agreements with South Korean partners in the presence of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Han Sung-sook.

Freedom Media and KBS will jointly promote South Korean content across Central Asia in general and Kazakhstan in particular. For example, Kazakhstan could be included in the global tour of Music Bank, KBS’s popular flagship music program. In its weekly broadcasts, leading K-pop performers and emerging artists present new songs and albums, with the winner of the music chart announced at the end of each episode. Over the years, the program has featured BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO, TWICE, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, NCT, aespa, ENHYPEN, IVE and NewJeans, as well as emerging artists.

As part of the Kazakhstan–Korea Business Roundtable, Freedom Media Group also announced agreements with television channel KT ENA and Hanlim Arts School. The cooperation includes the exchange of content and television formats, the production of joint shows and the launch of an educational project in Kazakhstan.

Freedom Media Expands Its Content Business

Freedom Media is an important part of Freedom Holding Corp.’s lifestyle segment and is developing streaming and other media services. The number of registrations on the platform has already exceeded 500,000, while Kazakhstani content accounts for 77% of all views.

The service’s library includes more than 5,000 films and TV series and over 100 television channels. Freedom Media also broadcasts sporting events and is expanding its lineup of Freedom Media Originals. Most of the audience accesses the service through Freedom SuperApp, allowing the holding company to integrate financial and everyday services with media content within a single ecosystem.

In 2025, capital expenditures on the development of Freedom Media amounted to $9.2 million. Total investment in the platform over five years is estimated at $54 million, while the project is expected to become profitable starting in 2027.

Investment in the Creative Economy

Freedom Holding Corp. is also involved in projects aimed at developing Kazakhstan’s creative industries. In October 2025, Freedom Holding Corp., Almaty Creative and VPE Capital Fund Management established the Creative Capital Fund, a city-based private equity fund with initial capitalization of KZT 21 billion.

The fund is designed to finance film, animation, music, GameDev, IT projects, architecture, design and digital media. The agreements with KBS and other South Korean partners could therefore help not only expand access to international content for Kazakhstani audiences, but also bring local projects and talent to the international market.