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Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
How Korean shows like 'Tastefully Yours' reflect shifting content landscape
Traditional formula for measuring a content's success has long changed, says content creators Today, a show's failure to achieve high ratings on TV does not mean failure. Increasingly, content is experiencing a divide between streaming success and traditional broadcast viewership. As of Wednesday, "Tastefully Yours," a romantic comedy headlined by Korean stars Go Min-si and Kang Ha-neul, has soared to No. 2 on Netflix's global Top 10 non-English TV series. The series also clinched the fourth spot on the streamer's Korea rankings for the top 10 most-watched series. Despite its streaming momentum, the series is struggling to gain traction on linear television. "Tastefully Yours" posted a 3.4 percent viewership rating on TV, trailing behind dramas such as "Heavenly Ever After" and "The Haunted Palace," which pull in a solid 8 to 10 percent in ratings on average. "Tastefully Yours" is one of many Korean shows to post significantly different viewership numbers on television and streaming platforms. A notable example is KBS' variety show "Beat Coin," which initially saw viewership ratings hover around the 1 percent mark during conventional airing. But when a retooled version was released on streaming platform Wavve, the show exploded in popularity, dominating KBS' non-drama category for 28 consecutive weeks between May 8 and Nov. 13, 2023. The rebooted show also ranked No. 1 on Netflix Korea's Top 10 series chart two days after its release. The disconnect between success on linear TV and streaming platforms is largely attributed to demographic distribution among the two media. Viewers of traditional broadcasts are older, while those middle-aged and younger are rapidly shifting to digital platforms. The gap between success in TV and streaming platforms becomes even more pronounced when the content resonates with global youth audiences, as is often the case with Netflix. "Success on Netflix is now generally seen as being more important than high TV ratings," said an industry official from a local drama production studio, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'With success in the streaming space becoming more and more important, from the development stage, we are focusing on creating globally accessible storytelling by incorporating elements such as easily translatable dialogue and editing styles optimized for binge-watching.' With content enjoying longer lifespans thanks to streaming and viral short-form clips, he said producers are now prioritizing long-term potential rather than overnight success, shifting away from focusing solely on a show's performance during its initial television run. 'Even if a series underperforms on broadcast, it can find new life elsewhere. The traditional formula for measuring a content's success has long changed,' he said. Yet, concerns are mounting that the dominance of major streaming platforms, particularly Netflix, could skew creative direction and lead to monopolistic practices in the content industry. The streamer recently raised its subscription fees in Korea, with the ad-supported tier jumping from 5,500 won ($4) to 7,000 won and the basic plan increasing from 9,500 won to 12,000 won.
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Spotlight wanes: Viewership for presidential debates drops sharply
After debate viewership half that of 2022, candidates clash in final round Tuesday over politics, foreign affairs The early presidential election is now less than a week away, with the promise of reshaping the course of domestic politics in the aftermath of the martial law crisis that erupted in December. But the televised debates between the candidates have seen sluggish viewership, as policy proposals and fiery exchanges of words apparently fail to capture the kind of public attention they used to. Recent data suggests fewer South Koreans sitting through the televised four-way debates of presidential candidates that aired live for two hours. None of the two previous live debates' aggregated viewership shares of all TV networks exceeded 20 percent, according to estimates from Nielsen Korea, an outlier across the decades of South Korea's democratic history. In the first debate for the June presidential election held on May 18 -- simulcast by six South Korean TV networks, including three major terrestrial broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS -- the viewership rating came to a combined 19.6 percent. That figure was roughly half, according to Nielsen Korea, of the first televised debate in 2022's 39 percent, which was only aired by KBS, MBC and SBS. Viewership ratings for the second debate on Friday slipped further from May 18. The aggregated viewership ratings for Friday's debate -- broadcast via seven networks including the three terrestrials -- reached 18.4 percent. That was slightly lower than the second 2022 presidential debate's total of 21.37 percent on Feb. 11, 2022, when KBS, MBC and SBS chose to broadcast a short-track speedskating competition for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing instead of the presidential debate. Both live debates this month involved candidates meeting a certain set of criteria suggested by the election authorities -- namely, Rep. Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Rep. Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party and Kwon Young-gook of the Democratic Labor Party. Before this year, presidential debates over the past decade has mostly surpassed 30 percent in viewership. Of all five televised debates in 2022 between four candidates -- including then-conservative candidate Yoon Suk Yeol, who won the election but was ousted in April, as well as Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party -- four had combined viewership shares of over 33 percent, with the exception due to the Winter Games. The same was true for the 2017 election, which followed former President Park Geun-hye's removal due to a broad corruption scandal. Among all four live televised debates of five eligible candidates, three showed viewership ratings of 30 percent or higher. For this year's presidential election, only three televised debates -- mandatory ones hosted by the election authorities -- were scheduled. Back in 1997, a whopping 55.7 percent viewership rating was recorded before Kim Dae-jung was elected president. Now, voters' interest in televised debates appear to be waning, one expert noted. For this year's debate specifically, this phenomenon is attributable to a political crisis due to former President Yoon's self-coup attempt in December, which only deepened the already stark ideological polarization. "If there are people who already support a specific candidate, they would find it unnecessary to watch the debate," Eom Ki-hong, professor of political science at Kyungpook National University, told The Korea Herald, adding that supporters "would have already made up their minds" before watching a debate. Eom also pointed out the martial law crisis having taken a toll on the country. "Other than the martial law-related topics, there are not many issues that can be raised at debates," he said. Some other observers point to fundamental changes in the way people consume media. Rhee June-woong, a professor of media and communication at Seoul National University, said the way viewership ratings are estimated in South Korea does not reflect the shifting media consumption patterns with the advent of the digital era. "The long-term trend is that fewer people are watching TV debates live. Even so, (some of them) would still consume it through short-form video clips or viral internet memes," Rhee said. "Anyway, the standard viewership ratings for TV are clearly declining. Why? Because fewer people are watching TV in real time." Hwang Yong-suk, a professor of media and communication at Konkuk University, echoed Rhee, saying, "Looking at the way content in TV debates spreads to people, I can assume that a growing number of eligible voters would have received it via online channels like YouTube."
The Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Hannah urges corporate sector to step up support for motorsports
KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has called on the corporate sector to play a greater role in supporting motorsports in Malaysia, stressing that government allocations alone are insufficient to meet the sport's development needs. Speaking at a partnership ceremony between CIMB and rising motorsports talent Amer Harris Jefry, Hannah acknowledged the RM5.6 million allocation by the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) this year but underlined the importance of external support. She said that of the total, RM1.9 million was channelled to the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), RM450,000 to the state youth and sports departments and RM3.2 million to clubs and associations at the state level. Despite this, Hannah emphasised that motorsports still lacks funding and urged more corporate players to chip in. 'We have a lot more work to do and like I said, RM5.6 million is hardly enough. This is why we encourage the corporate sectors to come in,' she said. Hannah also hopes that future tax incentives can further fuel corporate investments in the sport's development. 'I hope we can roll out more tax initiatives and incentives for corporate sectors to want to invest in sports,' she said.
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Comedian Kim Byung Man ready to tie knot for second time with non-celebrity fiancée this September
Kim Byung Man, the beloved South Korean comedian known for his quick wit and adventurous spirit, is set to get married this September. His agency, Sky Turtle, announced on May 26 that the wedding will take place on Jeju Island as a private ceremony attended only by close family and friends. According to SPOTV News, Sky Turtle confirmed, 'Kim Byung Man will get married on Jeju Island this September.' Reports reveal that Kim Byung Man will be marrying a non-celebrity, whose identity has not been disclosed. This will be his second marriage. The comedian has already moved to Jeju Island for the wedding celebration, where he and his fiancée will begin their married life. Alongside his plans, Kim Byung Man is also preparing to open a café and a hands-on activity school for children this June, showing his dedication to both his community and creative pursuits. With a successful career and new beginnings on the horizon, Kim Byung Man's upcoming wedding marks an important milestone in his life. Fans and friends are ready to celebrate this joyful occasion and wish him all the best as he embarks on this next adventure. Who is Kim Byung Man? The comedian's career in comedy started in 2002 when he joined KBS. He first gained fame with his Master segment on the popular comedy show Gag Concert, where his unique physical humor and expressive performances stood out. Kim Byung Man's 2nd Marriage? Kim Byung Man married a woman seven years his senior in 2011, but they divorced in 2023. Now, as he prepares for his second marriage, fans eagerly await this new chapter in his life, wishing him happiness and success in his future. They filed for divorce in 2019, officially ending their relationship in 2020. However, four years after the split, Kim Byung Man's ex-wife, identified as A, accused him of assault in November last year. Fortunately, he was recently cleared of all charges. During an appearance on Channel A's Four-Person Table last year, Kim Byung Man opened up about their separation, saying, 'We've been apart since 2012. I didn't announce it earlier because I was afraid—afraid that everything I had worked hard to build quietly would suddenly fall apart.'
Barnama
6 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
PMR 2025 Johor Concludes, Draws Over 130,000 Visitors
JOHOR BAHRU, May 25 (Bernama) – The MADANI Rakyat Programme (PMR) 2025 Johor held at Toppen Shopping Centre here concluded today, recording over 130,000 visitors throughout its three-day run. Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) Deputy Secretary-General (Management), Abdullah Hasan said the figure exceeded the earlier target of 25,000, with an overwhelming turnout especially on Saturday and today (Sunday). He explained that the moderately scaled PMR Johor also achieved its objectives by serving as a two-way communication platform that not only informed the public about government achievements and services, but also provided space for citizens to share their views and feedback directly with government agencies. 'With the organisation of PMR, the people are able to witness first-hand the improvements that have been made and understand how they can benefit from the various initiatives offered,' he said when met by reporters on the final day of the programme. Earlier, the PMR Johor Secretariat reported that the total number of visitors over the three-day period was 136,395. This edition of PMR 2025 Johor was led by KBS as the organising ministry, in collaboration with the Johor State Secretary's Office as host, and was part of the efforts of the Performance Acceleration Coordination Unit (PACU) under the Prime Minister's Department to bring the government to the people. With the theme 'Belia MADANI: Yakin Boleh!' , the event aligned with the aspirations of the MADANI Government and fulfilled the goals of youth development policy. 'This time, we tailored the programme to the aspirations of young people, offering a variety of content that is not only informative but also provides opportunities for youth to actively participate in various self-development initiatives and programmes,' Abdullah said. Among the offerings were exhibitions and service counters by government agencies, career opportunities, educational and training information, and various entrepreneurship initiatives targeted at the youth.
