Ratings fell to 0%... 'Comedy Big League' on the brink of extinction after 12 years

≪Tae Yuna's Misfortune≫
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Even tvN's 'Comedy Big League', the only open comedy program left, was in danger of being discontinued. After moving the organization, it has recorded a humiliating figure with 0% viewer ratings for two consecutive weeks. This is the reason why there is a crisis theory in 'Kobic', which has been pushed to weekdays from the weekend time zone that has been kept for 11 years.

After the abolition of SBS' 'Looking for a Smile' and KBS2's 'Gag Concert', the pride of 'Kobik', the only open comedy left, is shaking. 'Kobic', which was first broadcast in 2011 as a season, has been in charge of weekend nights since regular programming in 2012, and was kicked out on weekdays after 11 years.

Last April, 'Kobic' moved to Saturday, out of the Sunday time zone, where it stayed for 10 years. The vacant seat of 'Kobik' was taken by 'Business Genius Baeksajang'. At the time, tvN said it was planning to expand the range and diversity of comedy by moving time zones and expanding the target audience of young people, but the results were even worse.

'Kobic', which had an average viewership rating of 2%, dropped to 1.4% as soon as the program moved. After that, it failed to recover to the 2% level again and stayed at the 1% level, and recorded the lowest viewership rating of 0.9%.

In the end, the composition of 'Kobic' was changed once again. This time it was a weekday, not a weekend. tvN explains that it reflects the lifestyle that prefers entertainment programs on Wednesday evenings. Competing entertainment shows at the same time are ENA/SBS Plus 'I'm Solo' and MBC 'Radio Star'.

However, tvN's strategy failed again this time. On the 12th, when the program was moved to Wednesday, it fell further to 0.9%. The problem is that these figures were repeated for two weeks in a row until the 19th. Although it recorded 0.9% in April, this is the first time that the viewership rating has been in the 0% range for two consecutive weeks.

Frequent change of schedule brought about the crisis of the program. The previously abolished 'Look for a Smile' also repeated the organization change and ended with 192 episodes. Frequent transfers prove the program's shaky position. This is why the crisis of existence of 'Kobik' is not an over-interpretation.

The will to discover new talent is great, but there is only supply without demand. There are fewer and fewer seniors to support the program, and the fun of the corner is disappearing as the limitations of the open comedy format are revealed. For the younger generation who are accustomed to YouTube entertainment, the appeal of public comedy is inevitably reduced. It is common for clips recently released on YouTube to fail to exceed 10,000 views.

Although KBS is preparing a new comedy program for the end of the year, the crisis of 'Kobik' is a problem that cannot be taken lightly. 'Kobic' also needs a new challenge in order not to follow the path of 'Looking for Laughter' and 'Gag Concert'. Gone are the days when people simply laughed with makeup. If the 0% viewer ratings continue, abolition is unavoidable.

Reporter Tae Yuna, Ten Asia youyou@tenasia.co.kr