NEWS
Positive formats sentiment in Korea on the rise
04 May 2020
The Voice, A World of Married Couple drive optimism
If business is slower at the moment than most would like it to be, pockets of content activity in Korea and the need for speed in getting shows on air are fuelling optimism about a resurgence for formats sooner rather than post Covid-19.
The two titles leading content conversations are A World of Married Couple on JTBC and The Voice Korea, which returns at the end of the month after a seven-year absence in a deal between ITV Studios and CJ ENM.
ITV Studios’ SVP licensing Asia, Ayesha Surty, says slower than normal business as a result of Covid-19 has not meant no business at all.
“We are happy to note that the slowdown hasn’t ceased operations entirely,” she says, adding: “We consider Korea to be a strategically important country and expect to achieve further growth of our formats business in the coming years”.
“Everyone is doing their best to recover... same as everywhere on the planet,” says Something Special’s Seoul-based president/executive producer, Jin Woo Hwang, who notes robust development activity across Korea’s formats industry. He’s also optimistic that the success of A World of Married Couple will drive further scripted adaptations.
“The industry is ripening,” he says, predicting a fresh slate of Korean formats ready for sale in the second half of this year.
Demand for entertainment during movement control initiatives is underpinning some of the optimism.
“2020 remains a challenging year as people work to adapt to new ways of living and working as we each continue to explore how we remain connected to each other in times of uncertainty. For this, television will still provide two valuable offerings to viewers: information and escape,” says André Renaud, BBC Studios’ SVP of global format sales.
He highlights partnerships with broadcasters, production houses and talent, and says “these will become even more vital as we look to find new ways of being flexible, not only in how ideas can be adapted into the market, but in ways of making programmes safely that stil...
The Voice, A World of Married Couple drive optimism
If business is slower at the moment than most would like it to be, pockets of content activity in Korea and the need for speed in getting shows on air are fuelling optimism about a resurgence for formats sooner rather than post Covid-19.
The two titles leading content conversations are A World of Married Couple on JTBC and The Voice Korea, which returns at the end of the month after a seven-year absence in a deal between ITV Studios and CJ ENM.
ITV Studios’ SVP licensing Asia, Ayesha Surty, says slower than normal business as a result of Covid-19 has not meant no business at all.
“We are happy to note that the slowdown hasn’t ceased operations entirely,” she says, adding: “We consider Korea to be a strategically important country and expect to achieve further growth of our formats business in the coming years”.
“Everyone is doing their best to recover... same as everywhere on the planet,” says Something Special’s Seoul-based president/executive producer, Jin Woo Hwang, who notes robust development activity across Korea’s formats industry. He’s also optimistic that the success of A World of Married Couple will drive further scripted adaptations.
“The industry is ripening,” he says, predicting a fresh slate of Korean formats ready for sale in the second half of this year.
Demand for entertainment during movement control initiatives is underpinning some of the optimism.
“2020 remains a challenging year as people work to adapt to new ways of living and working as we each continue to explore how we remain connected to each other in times of uncertainty. For this, television will still provide two valuable offerings to viewers: information and escape,” says André Renaud, BBC Studios’ SVP of global format sales.
He highlights partnerships with broadcasters, production houses and talent, and says “these will become even more vital as we look to find new ways of being flexible, not only in how ideas can be adapted into the market, but in ways of making programmes safely that still entertain audiences at home”.
Renaud also says the need to fill a content gap created by Covid-19 production pauses could boost the formats business.
“Now, more than ever, the ability to quickly develop a programme from idea to transmission will be important as broadcasters work to close the gap on screen from shows already filmed and airing to those where filming has not yet begun,” he says.
The most recent two BBC shows to be adapted in Korea were Luther and Life On Mars. Neither did anywhere near as well as A World of Married Couple. Renaud also notes potential for comedy adaptations “as viewers look to find humour in complicated times”.
Previous
Next
