K-ent Discussing KBS’s Prolonged Ratings Woes for the Past Two Years

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• well, there was Producer, but it wasn't in a traditional drama time slot so it doesn't count. Same with What's With This Family, it hit 40 percent in ratings but weekend dramas need to score that much to even be acknowledged as hits. KBS' subsequent weekend dramas haven't done that well, even if they're not bombing like SBS' weekend slot. And KBS's other experiment with the Friday time slot for Spy and Orange Marmalade, bombed.

  I think KBS is really shooting itself in the foot by rushing so many productions. They cast both School 2015 and Sassy Go Go less than a month before their premiere dates, and in the case of SGG this meant the production was so squeezed for time that the cast couldn't make it onto so much as a single variety show or do the usual slew of interviews to promote the drama. Youth dramas don't do well on conventional ratings anyway, but the lack of promo hurt even more.

  • i guess you're right about the exposure. If the shows are not properly promoted, people who basically rely on tv news and buzzfeeds may not get informed about what's showing.

    large fan base surely helps in creating noise but audience nowadays are either choosy viewers or easily bored. The taste in the drama genre eventually change. Powerhouse casting make up the initial BANG but if the story or pacing eventually change, people tend to get lukewarm about it.

    so far i am have enjoyed and still enjoying a number of the shows: from the healer, blood, school, i remember you, and sassy.

• No idea, to be honest, most of my favourite shows this year came from KBS. There have been some really excellent productions, from discovery of love to healer to I remember you. Perhaps they just don't speak to the korean audiences...

  That said, with the K-drama audience base growing outside of Korea, I don't think bad ratings at home is everything anymore. Networks also get alot of $$$ selling these drama rights abroad, so that's a source of income that's not contingent on high TV ratings.

  • I think KBS has bombed big-time when it came to promoting shows and picking up dramas. For instance, trailers promoting Sassy Go Go as any old fluffy drama when it has enough issues to rival any School series drama. And not doing any publicity for it at all.

    It's a real shame because some excellent dramas get overlooked and discounted that way.

    • Yes, they're definitely not good at building up hype. They have lots of gems this year that they perhaps should have promoted more. I feel really bad about the low ratings of some excellent KBS dramas, the cast, crew and network deserved better.

      I find that SBS is on the other end of the spectrum. They really manage to build up buzz, and the drama gets so much coverage (I'm thinking Heirs and The Time We Were not in love). By the time it comes to air, it almost always feels like a disappointment, because we were all anticipating it so much, for so long! But I guess too much publicity is better than too little when it comes down to TV ratings.

  • It was the production company that was earning $$ when selling the drama overseas, not the networks. The tv network buy the rights from the prod company to air the drama in Korea.

    Besides, Asia's demand of Kdrama in TV stations has been decreasing every year and piracy has been the biggest problem too. Yeah, kdrama audience is increasing but the revenues don't. Also, dramas that does well in Korea (in terms of ratings) and have a strong hallyu following (like lee min ho and Kim Soo Hyun) will be sold better overseas

• Healer was just unlucky to come up against Punch on SBS. What is that about DotS being pushed back again??? I will have to imagine it in my head at this rate. :/

  • Healer is extremely unlucky to come against Punch (SBS) and Kill Me Heal Me (MBC). The three dramas are really good in its own anyway.
    But I'm happy that at least Healer got the recognition overseas. It was by far the most popular (internationally) Ji Chang Wook's drama to date.

    • Healer was up against pride and prejudice, not kill me heal me. Kmhm was broadcast on Wednesday Thursday.

• Word from the production of DotS is that the drama will likely be pushed back yet again

  What word from the DotS production? The only source that has floated this idea was a PPL page selling placements for Arbitrarily and those are notoriously unreliable sources.

• well kbs can go back on their feet...the ygreat drama in mon_tus and wed ،-thur.....

• well kbs can go back on their feet...they have great up coming drama such oh my venus and others.....and for mbc they dont have great drama they just lucky in ranting....and so sbs

• I think KBS had solid dramas which had untapped potentials. Most of the dramas are really popular online. The problem is that (almost) everyone's doing (almost)everything online and they're not taking advantage of it.

  Anyways, DoTS oh DoTS, I'm getting tired of waiting. This drama better be good.

• Producer was probably their best primetime hit in a long time. Which is why it'll probably sweep the awards this year.

  • It's most likely gonna sweep a lot more than KBS drama awards because of star power. But maybe some of the fall-winter dramas will bring KBS more fortune?

• Would it be the case that they are trying to excel in other segment? perhaps variety? Gag Concert? Vitamin? Beauty bible ... LOL

• KBS drama have potential but they should cast leads with Star Power in Korea.. ratings magnet leads that can pull the audience in even though the plot is mediocre. Just look at 'Producer'. Or just stick to Makjang drama because the ratings depends on ahjumma.

  I blame Blood's directing and acting for it's failure. Healer is like City Hunter 2.0 and PMY is not well liked by Koreans. Cantabile's writing and directing is the problem. Unkind Woman is makjang like so it will have good ratings. I remember you, the leads are not ratings magnet so I kinda expect it not to do well. School 2015 is a teen drama so they'll watch it online.

  As long as they don't mess up the writing of Oh My Venus and Descendants of Sun, they'll get the ratings.

  How about they step up and get a timeslot for Goodbye Mr Black? Because Moon Chae Won picks good drama that do well with ratings.

  • Disagree with healer being city hunter 2.0.

    • Its almost so similar in premise except the execution. Hero in mask/hiding/ whatsnot etc.