Which Show “Paved The Way” For tvN To Become A Top K-Drama Channel?
Until the 2010s, tvN was considered a non-mainstream “cable” channel—with its K-Dramas averaging far below 1% viewer ratings.
According to Producer Na Yeong Seok (also known as Na Young Suk), or “Na PD” from Korea’s most-loved varieties, there was a time when “no one watched tvN K-Dramas.”
Producer Na Yeong Seok: To be honest, “REPLY 1997” is… and I know this is such a long time ago for In Guk, but it became a legend at Channel tvN. It aired when no one watched tvN K-Dramas.
Park So Dam: Oh, really?
Producer Na: Really. The average viewer ratings were in the below 1% range back then.
Park So Dam: So you rewrote history!
In his YouTube series, Na then shared that all changed when singer-turned-actor Seo In Guk and girl group Apink‘s Jung Eunji came through in 2012.
The mega-hit series REPLY 1997 pushed tvN to become one of the most desirable channels for K-Dramas to air. It “rewrote history” for the channel…
…with the grand finale episode hitting a record-breaking 7.5% viewer rating at the time!
tvN’s ‘REPLY 1997’ Ends With 7.55% Viewer Ratings
| The highest peak at 9.47% during the grand finale— Yonhap News
Following REPLY 1997, tvN invested in a string of hit K-Dramas. Alongside the REPLY sequels of 1994 and 1988, shows like Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Mister Sunshine, and Crash Landing On You brought in countless viewers to the channel.
While, at first, Na tried to talk the REPLY producers out of shooting the K-Drama, it became a game changer for the channel. Now, tvN continues to live its most glorious, “K-Drama Kingdom” times!
REPLY 1997 remains a memorable show for me, too, because when Producer Shin Won Ho told me that he wanted to make it, I tried talking him out of it. Multiple times. I sat him down and told him that he should stick to doing what he knows how to do. I was dead serious about changing his mind. I mean, he didn’t know a single thing about making K-Dramas. What if things went bust?
But once it aired, it became such a monumental piece of work for tvN.
— Na Yeong Seok
Watch the whole video here.
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