tvN is making a change to the schedule of Wednesday-Thursday dramas for the first time in six years.
In response to OSEN’s question about removing Wednesday-Thursday dramas on April 25th, tvN said, “We are planning to reorganize the Wednesday-Thursday schedule for dramas to air programs regardless of genres, including dramas, entertainment, and culture.”
tvN’s Wed-Thu dramas began in July 2017 with “Criminal Minds”. Winning the title of ‘a new drama kingdom’ by surpassing terrestrial broadcasters with hit dramas, such as “Misaeng”, the “Reply” series, “Dear My Friend”, “Another Oh Hae Young”, “Signal”, “Goblin”, “Stranger”, etc., tvN created a new Wed-Thu broadcasting time to compete with terrestrial broadcasters.
As expected, the dramas set for this broadcasting time were spectacular. Starting with “Criminal Minds”, following works, such as “Avengers Social Club”, “Prison Playbook” and “Mother” starring Lee Bo Young, also received huge love from viewers. In March 2018, “My Mister” was introduced then “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” led by Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young helped tvN’s Wed-Thu dramas reach its heyday.
Han Ji Min & Ji Sung’s “Familiar Wife”, Seo In Guk & Jung So Min’s “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes”, Park Bo Gum & Song Hye Kyo’s “Encounter”, Lee Dong Wook & Yoo In Na’s “Touch Your Heart”, and Lee Jae Wook & Park Min Young’s “Her Private Life” also aroused keen interest and made tvN’s Wed-Thu drama lineup shine even more. tvN also diversified its stories and provided dramas of various 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’s dramas broadcasted on Wednesday & Thursday nights have started losing their power 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 with disappointing ratings of only 2%.
Eventually, tvN decided to take a break after the drama “Stealer: The Treasure Keeper” ends. It is still undecided whether Wed-Thu dramas will continue in the second half of this year. After the end of “Stealer” on May 25th, tvN will air the variety show “Dance Singer’s Wandering Troupe”.
Earlier, KBS also announced that they would temporarily halt the broadcast of Wed-Thu dramas. Then why are the broadcasters reducing time slots for dramas? Most of them cited the intention to introduce various genres of programs, however, some other reasons, such as poor ratings and reduction of production costs, were also mentioned.
After the emergence of OTT platforms, terrestrial and cable broadcasters faced a crisis. To survive, some broadcasters eventually have to give up on several drama broadcasting slots, or reorganize its schedule and even make collaboration with OTT.
Source: Daum
