North American viewers will have access to free round-the-clock Korean-language television starting as early as September.

Television Korea 24, based in Los Angeles, said Thursday it signed a deal with International Channel Network (ICN) to provide Korean-language broadcasting services over ICN's cable and satellite network throughout North America.

ICN said on its website that the Korean language programs will be provided by South Korean broadcaster MBC. The service will target some 2.2 million ethnic Koreans and those in the North American region using or seeking to learn the Korean language.

The broadcast will be available in California starting in September, on the U.S. east coast by the end of this year and in the rest of North America by next year.