After the terrestrial broadcaster KBS, the cable channel tvN also stopped broadcasting Wednesday-Thursday dramas
tvN is changing the drama program from Wednesday to Thursday for the first time in six years.
In response to OSEN’s question about removing Wednesday-Thursday dramas on April 25, tvN said: “We plan to reorganize the Wednesday-Thursday drama schedule to air programming regardless of genre, including drama, entertainment and culture.”
tvN’s Wednesday-Thursday dramas began in July 2017 with Criminal Minds. Earning the title of “New Drama Empire” by surpassing terrestrial broadcasters with hit dramas like “Misaeng”, “Reply” series, “Dear My Friend”, “Another Oh Hae Young”, “Signal”, “Goblin”, “Stranger etc., tvN created a new transmission time from Wednesday to Thursday in order to compete with the terrestrial broadcasters.
As expected, the dramas of this hour-long show were spectacular. Beginning with “Criminal Minds”, subsequent works such as “Avengers Social Club”, “Prison Playbook” and “Mother” starring Lee Bo Young also received great affection from viewers. In March 2018, My Mister premiered and then What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, directed by Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young, helped tvN’s Wed-Do dramas reach their pinnacle.
“Familiar Wife” by Han Ji Min and Ji Sung, “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” by Seo In Guk and Jung So Min, “Encounter” by Park Bo Gum and Song Hye Kyo, “Touch Your Heart” by Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na, as well as Lee Jae Wook & Park Min Young’s Her Private Life also garnered widespread interest, brightening tvN’s drama lineup with Wednesday-Thursday. tvN has also diversified its stories, providing dramas of different genres, from Search: WWW to When the Devil Calls Your Name, Miss Lee, Psychopath Diary, Money Game, Memorist, Oh My Baby”, “Flower of Evil”, “Tale of the Nine-Tailed”, “True Beauty”, “Mouse”, “My Roommate Is a Gumiho” and “The Road: The Tragedy of One”.
However, for some reason, tvN dramas airing on Wednesday and Thursday nights have been losing steam since the second half of 2021. Hometown Cha Cja Cha, Melancholia, The Witch’s Diner, Kill Heel, The Killer’s Shopping. List, Eve, Adamas, Love in Contract, even Yumi’s Cells 2, Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist 2, and The Heavenly Idol ended up with disappointing ratings of just 2%.
Finally, tvN decided to take a break after the end of the drama “Stealer: The Treasure Keeper”. It remains unclear whether the Wednesday-Thursday dramas will continue in the second half of this year. After Stealer wraps May 25, tvN will air variety show Dance Singer’s Wandering Troupe.
Previously, KBS also announced it would temporarily stop airing Wednesday-Thursday dramas. Why are broadcasters cutting drama slots? Most of them cited the intention to introduce different genres of shows, but other reasons such as poor ratings and lower production costs were also cited.
After the emergence of OTT platforms, terrestrial and cable broadcasters faced a crisis. In order to survive, some channels will finally have to give up several slots for airing fiction or reorganize their schedule and even enter into cooperations with OTT.
Source: Daum
