There are many channels in the modern media these days. In the past, we could only see the programs of public television stations, while we can see many programs made by cable TV stations these days. Thus, the options for viewers become very wide. However, the programs broadcasted on the cable stations have gained popularity in the last year. What is the difference between public TV and cable TV?
Which part do viewers fascinate?
Have you ever heard about the drama named “Nine?” It is loved by many people due to unique material and a solid story line, and it is the first Korean drama to be remade in America. “Nine” is a fantasy drama made by the cable station named “tvN.” The cable TV is no longer second-in-command. They improve the quality of their programs with their own experimental spirit and the analysis of the viewers, and lead the trend in Korean media. Let’s find out the cause of the success of the cable TVs and the reason why they have received viewers’ love.
The Limit of Public TV
The keyword of public TV’s drama is an absurd storyline. They like unhealthy subjects for higher viewer-rating rather than the story’s strong plot. They didn’t use the annoying material at all, and they make the drama by ridiculous lines overall. For example, the drama “The Princes of Orora”, MBC’s drama, was a hot topic last year. It was criticized for unreasonable dialogues and a farfetched plot whenever each episode ends. Especially, the line “A cancer cell is a life, so I can’t receive the treatments for cancer.” became an object of ridicule, and was condemned.
Second, the limit of public TV’s drama last year is a distortion of history. In historical drama, the authors use historical fact and they recreate history with their imaginations. If they used both the historical fact and their creativity in a balanced way, it would be good. However, some dramas have caused controversy because they damaged the essence of history. Lately, the drama “Empress Ki”, MBC’s drama, made the woman who was greedy in her lifetime into a heroine who did something righteous for her country. The viewer rating was high, but the drama gained a dishonorable title for its distortion of history.
The biggest problem of public TV’s programs was plagiarism. They copy formats of other programs from both cable TVs and public TVs. However, despite the criticism of plagiarism, they have ignored this problem by emphasizing the intention of their programs repeatedly. The content of the entertaining program “Father, Where Do You Go?”, MBC’s program, is a children’s trip with their fathers only. A year later, the program “Superman Returned”, KBS2’s program, is about children who stay only with their fathers for two days. Surely, this show had the problem of plagiarism, but they cheekily said that their program was focused on the father at home.
Cable TV Struggles for Good Quality!
They also devise new attempts and innovative stories. It is formed with relatively old member and not planned travel program but formation that members personally plan travel program in comparison with other program, for example, at “Than Flowers” series such as “Grandfather than Flowers” and “Sister than Flowers”, tvN’s programs. “Rude Ms. Youngae”, tvN’s drama, is also famous for realistic actresses compared with other drama. The drama shows the reality of Korean workers, and the main character may be fresh for viewers because the main character doesn’t have an unrealistic and pretty appearance which appears at other dramas. Therefore, many people identify themselves with the realistic characters and empathize with them. In addition, “Hidden Singer”, JTBC’s program, which hundred audiences have to choose a “real singer” after a singer and five imitators sing a song behind blind receives much love because of a new idea such as mimicking a singer’s voice.
Cable TV targets specific people while public TV mostly targets at many random people. For example, “Reply 1997”,
tvN’s drama, targeted the generation that loved H.O.T. which was a famous singing group in 1990s and “Reply 1994”, tvN’s drama, targeted the fans of the Grand Basketball Festival which is the biggest basketball competition in Korea. Thus, cable TV makes sure of the viewer rating through targeting at specific generation.
They Can Express More than Public TV
Especially, “SNL Korea” which imported the copyright of American “SNL” is tvN’s program that received interest because of political satires and comments which minors shouldn’t hear or use. “Ssulzun”, JTBC’s program, is a talk show which dispassionately analyses a variety of stories such as politics, society and entertainment, and so on. This program received favorable reviews because of a topic which was difficult to be dealt with on public TV. “Witch-hunt”, JTBC’s program, deals with worries about viewer’s love lives. In this program, the MC’s comments produce a topic because the comments are often sexual and exciting.
Likewise, cable programs can talk freely and select various topics which are not able to be considered on public TV because cable program are less regulated than public TV. So, the viewer feels fresh and entertained. It is reasonable for viewer to be interested in new and exciting things and it is reasonable for fresh and sensational programs to draw attention and became famous.
Behind Cable TV
Second, the broadcasting accident is big problem. For example, a broadcasting accident happened in “Reply 1994” which drew a lot of attention. The chapter that the accident happened includes an abundant story and inspiring content,
but the stopped flow made the viewers annoyed. The trivial mistake made the completeness of drama diminished. In addition, “Superstar K” called the beginning of the cable show, was severely criticized for cheating its viewers. The program was so tense and nervous because it was an audition; so many people were interested in this show. The highest viewer rating was 17%, and it was unbelievable ratings as a cable program. However, this show was preceded by the
script and it was all fabricated. After this news was disclosed, the next season of “Superstar K” was ignored by the public.
In spite of these problems, it’s important that many cable programs do experimental trials and make an effort to try unique material. They make a bold trial like inserting the subtitles or sound effect, and it was fresh to many people. Many cable programs became hits by including trendy sensitivity, and it went beyond the limits of public TV. If they corrected some problems that happened in the past, they will keep on rolling. We may expect a Renaissance of cable programs.
By Kim Min-chae / CP Reporter / minchae@cnu.ac.kr
By Heo Moon-hee / CP Reporter / moony01@cnu.ac.kr
Kim Min-chae
minchae@cnu.ac.kr