After dramas, is Netflix coming for TV variety shows?
A revamped version of a canceled broadcast TV show is gaining huge popularity after its adoption by Netflix.
The show's success may indicate a broader shift from television networks to streaming platforms, with entertainment programs joining dramas in migrating off traditional TV.
Netflix's "Screwballs," widely regarded as the successor to Korean Broadcasting System's variety show "Beat Coin," has joined the list as one of the most popular Korean entertainment shows on Netflix as of March.
KBS' "Beat Coin" aired from 2022 to 2023 on television before the broadcaster decided to cancel it due to consistently low viewership ratings in the 1 percent range. The show featured Korean entertainment staples Hong Jin-kyung, Kim Sook and Jo Se-ho, alongside model Joo Woo-jae and singer Wooyoung, taking on challenges dictated by coin flips.
Despite its low ratings on television, "Beat Coin" was popular on other platforms for its cast chemistry and entertaining episodes. The show performed well on the streaming platform Wavve, where it topped KBS' non-drama category for 28 weeks between May 8 and Nov. 13, 2023.
Because the show's popularity was not fully reflected in its TV ratings, its cancellation sparked a backlash, with fans even staging truck protests against KBS' decision.
Recognizing its popularity in the streaming space, Netflix revived the show in 2025 under the new title "Screwballs," retaining the original cast and producer. Since its premiere on Feb. 23, "Screwballs" has gained significant traction, ranking second among South Korea's top 10 shows in its first week.
'Screwballs' is one of Netflix's new attempts initiated this year to expand its entertainment show lineup.
In February, Netflix Korea launched a new initiative to release five original variety shows, featuring shorter episodes and star-studded casts.
Departing from its usual blockbuster-style variety shows such as "Physical: 100" and "Culinary Class Wars," Netflix Korea is now producing more compact entertainment programs with reportedly lower budgets.
The lineup includes "The Blank Menu for You," starring star chef Choi Kang-rok and YouTuber Moon Sang-hoon; "Newbie in the Club," featuring variety show veteran Defconn; "Try? Choo-ry!," starring Choo Sung-hoon; "K-foodie Meets J-foodie," a culinary show with Sung Si-kyung and Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige of "Solitary Gourmet" fame; and "Screwballs."
New episodes of these shows are released weekly, with Netflix aiming to provide fresh content every weekday. According to Netflix, the goal is to offer a diverse selection that caters to varying viewer preferences.
'We believe that satisfying diverse tastes requires an equally varied content lineup. That's why we are exploring various formats, episode lengths and structures. Through these flexible approaches, we aim to deliver light and enjoyable daily entertainment,' a Netflix official stated.
Traditional broadcasters still maintain a strong hold on the non-drama content market.
According to Fundex data from March 5, three of the top 10 most buzzworthy dramas were Netflix series, while the rest were from broadcasters. However, for non-drama content, all of the top 10 most buzzworthy shows came from traditional broadcasters.
Despite this trend, experts suggest that Netflix's expansion into variety programming could challenge Korean broadcasters.
'It's possible that more competitive variety shows will move to Netflix, or, as with dramas, that it will become harder for terrestrial broadcasters to produce large-scale variety programs. However, this remains to be seen,' said an industry insider who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to the insider, Netflix's new venture could benefit Korea's content ecosystem as a whole.
'Regardless of its impact on broadcasters, I don't think Netflix's approach is necessarily harmful to Korea's production ecosystem. With more production companies gaining access to Netflix, they can use it as a launching pad for variety shows that could later be distributed elsewhere. Rather than Netflix monopolizing the space, it could lead to greater diversity in variety programming across different platforms,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 minutes ago
- Korea Herald
K-burgers hit US: Lotteria debuts in California with major buzz
The Korean burger chain's first US location in Fullerton, California, draws long lines at its soft opening with a menu that blends Korean ingredients and local tastes The Korean burger chain Lotteria has made a sizzling debut in the United States, with its pre-opening event drawing large crowds despite the sweltering heat in the homeland of fast food. Lotteria opened its first US store on Monday in Fullerton, California, a city with a large population of Korean and other Asian residents, industry sources said Wednesday. The Fullerton branch is hosting a three-day soft opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The official opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday. Even in the scorching weather, visitors queued for up to two hours before the event, holding umbrellas for shade, as seen in videos on social media. "Staff handed out umbrellas and bottled water for free while people waited," said a TikToker who visited the store. "I arrived at opening time but still had to wait 30 minutes before getting my burger," another attendee wrote on X. Some videos showed vehicles lining up to enter the store's parking lot, with staff taking orders from drivers. The signature items at Lotteria's first US store are its Bulgogi (Korean-style marinated beef) Burger and Shrimp Burger, which are sold as combos with French fries and a soft drink for $12.77 and $13.27, respectively. Other combo options include the Bibim Rice Burger, featuring beef and a fried egg between buns made of rice, for $12.77, and the Bulgogi and Shrimp Burger, combining bulgogi and shrimp patties, for $15.77. The price of a single burger starts at $6.49. The Bulgogi Deluxe Burger, created for local tastes, stood out for its thicker patty and ample bulgogi topping, which drew interest from Korean users online. "The patty definitely got thicker in the US. If they sold burgers with patties that thick in Korea, I'd pay extra for them," a Korean user wrote on TikTok. Although priced higher than in Korea, Lotteria's US offerings are viewed as competitive when compared with American burger chains such as Five Guys and Shake Shack. At Five Guys, a single burger typically ranges from $8.09 to $13.67. The store's interior features touches of Korean culture. A sign with the word 'Lotteria' in Korean hangs above the main entrance, while a painting of the former presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, hangs on the wall inside, a YouTube video showed. Lotte Group's food franchise arm Lotte GRS — the operator of the burger chain — established its US subsidiary in California in the first half of last year and has been preparing to open the store since early this year. Lotteria's store in Fullerton -- home to one of the largest Korean communities in the state -- is in a large shopping center with outlets such as Walmart and Costco, a location that could help attract customers in the store's early stage. The burger franchise has been accelerating its overseas expansion and now operates more than 320 stores in countries including Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Mongolia. It has also confirmed plans to enter Malaysia and Singapore following its US launch, sources said.
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Samsung launches 'KPop Demon Hunters' theme on Galaxy smartphone
Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday it has launched a theme package for Galaxy smartphones, allowing users to customize their devices with characters from Netflix's global hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." Galaxy smartphone users can download the theme for free from the Galaxy Store for a limited time and customize their phone screens and icons with popular characters from the animation, including Rumi, Zoey and Jinu, according to Samsung Electronics. "The set features one special theme package spotlighting the in-universe K-pop groups Huntrix, along with ten character-based wallpapers," the company said. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, a US film studio, the Netflix original film tells the story of a girl group who protect the human world from evil spirits. Reflecting its global popularity, "Golden," a track from the film, reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart on Monday. "The company will continue to explore creative partnerships to deliver engaging and personalized user experience that resonates with global audiences," the company said. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
3 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Twice scores career-high on Billboard's Hot 100
Twice jumped to No. 69 on Billboard's Hot 100 with 'Strategy,' reaching the highest spot in its decade-long career, according to the chart published Wednesday. 'Strategy,' featuring American rapper Megan Thee Stallion, is the title track from its 14th EP that rolled out in December. A snippet of the single was played in the Netflix animation 'KPop Demon Hunters' and emerged on the main songs chart dated Aug. 2 at No. 92. It then rose to No. 74, higher than its two previous entries — 'The Feels' at No. 83 and 'Moonlight Sunrise' at No. 84 — and climbed up another five rungs. In the meantime, 'Takedown,' sung by Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung for the film's soundtrack, is enjoying its fifth week on the chart, up a rung to No. 66.
