MBC Reconsidering Decision to Air Disney+ 2022 K-drama Big Bet on its Network After Massive Protest From its Production Staff
All the talk has been current decade K-dramas being either exclusive and/or produced by a streaming platform like Netflix or Disney+ or still aired on terrestrial television such as the Big Three or cable and then the streaming rights sold to a streamer. This week K-ent reported that MBC had purchased/will purchase the rights to Disney+ produced K-drama Big Bet (Korean title Casino) which aired in 2022 already but MBC was planning to broadcast it on its network. This has reportedly led to a massive pushback and protest from its own internal drama production staff and now MBC is reconsidering this decision. That this is being reported in the news highlights what a big deal it is, probably because if MBC can buy other network’s dramas then it will only hasten the continued shrinkage of its own studio production. Dramas continue to cost more to make due to increase salaries and expenses while profits from licensing and CFs continue to shrink so if MBC blinks on airing this drama it’s probably just for the time being, this issue will remain one for the Big Three to grapple with going forward.
Hmm mbc seems to be the most problematic among the three…
I can’t say this strategy is unwise, airing drama from years ago is so much cheaper than producing new one, but of course this will damage their own long term interest. Keep this up and the position of ott and national channel will no longer be equal. Ott will take the meat and national channel can only drink the soup
This is sad , I hope Korean cable channels get their shit together , stop allowing steaming platforms to dominate Korean dramas production, there were literally new ten dramas every month at past in the past ,now it pretty dry and the few ones who are produced are all Netflix and Disney+ dramas, just make ur own platforms and promote it , so much money are being wasted.
I think they need to start investing in amazing upcoming writers and maybe buy the rights to solid works that can be adapted by screenwriters who know what they’re doing. Build up these screenwriters so they become the draw rather than whoever is cast in the lead roles. They maybe need to stop focusing on the established stars and start giving lead roles to promising lesser known actors with charisma. Maybe start pulling more actors from the film world. For romantic dramas, they seriously need to prioritize chemistry. It a waste of time to watch a drama when the chemistry between the leads is tepid.
It’s not the fault of channels or OTTs to prioritize profits or focus on personal gain however it’s the actors who actually pushed up production costs to unimaginable limits. The greed of production houses and actors to milk money out of these channels and OTTs is the problem. Everyone is overcharging and over valuation has caused this breakdown. Even a highly successful drama like QOT and Star is born didn’t allow for profits because the actors cost too much. For some unknown reasons WLGYT costs over 50 billion won to produce. There was no cgi or fantasy or extensive overseas shoots. Why was this drama so expensive? It’s easy to guess the reason. MBC should self prioritize and everyone should make fewer dramas if there is not enough capital to go around especially with a recession looming don’t overspend on projects that won’t be profitable.
QOT made a good profit, where did you even get that information? There’s even article about it written by Koala.
Can people to check information FIRST before spitting facts, please. I lost the count how many times I corrected people on this site.
Pretty sure the OP is saying the same thing. That QOT didn’t make good profits despite the high ratings. I agree that dramas are too expensive now because actors are demanding unreasonably high salaries which is hurting everyone. Someone said to get more movie stars but those are even more expensive. Even previously cheap actors like idol actors have now become very expensive like CEW earns as much as SHK per episode. Someone needs to cut actor salaries by half if things need to change.
@Glowersi I think you are missing a whole big point , the biggest reason actors salaries has gone so high is because Netflix start paying them so much money that cable channels could ever give , they are paying in $dollars after all cuz they are international platform,make sense that big actors will start to demand way more from Korean production companies,how much they make actually don’t really matter as long as the make a lot investment and sponsorship deals , but with everyone moving to steaming platforms no brands are willing to invest in Korea produce dramas with their low rating and viewership, the prb is rely on cable channels and them not keeping up fast with new consumer habit in short this outdated channels that runs by bunch old Ajashis.
@Yive
I literally wrote about QOT making good profit, and this information you can find literally ON THIS BLOG. Are y’all lost reading comprehension?
I literally wrote a comment above yours about QOT making a good profit, and information about this you can find ON THIS BLOG. Koala wrote article about that, and I mentioned this as well. Or you can use google, to check information you confidently saying isn’t hard.
Do y’all have any reading comprehension at this point
I know Netflix and Disney+ have made tons of profits (note that “profits” not “revenues”) from Kdramas. People can easily google this information.
BTW, CEW got paid the same as SHK? What a waste! His face isn’t worth that much. He’s a boring actor! Imagine a shallow visual freak like me give CEW such flak! I usually cut slack on the acting of handsome faces LOL. But CEW and Song Kang are unfortunately two exceptions that I have trouble overlooking their awkward presence on screen.