The Disappearing 'Pilot Experiment' of Korean Holidays: Broadcasters Turn Conservative
Holiday seasons, particularly Chuseok, were once a fertile ground for South Korean broadcasters to experiment with new entertainment formats.
Gathering families in front of the television offered a prime opportunity to test novel concepts through 'pilot' programs. The successful ones would then transition to regular broadcasting, becoming long-running hits. A prime example is KBS2's 'The Return of Superman,' which premiered as a Chuseok pilot in 2013 and has been beloved for over a decade.
However, this tradition of 'Chuseok pilots' has largely vanished. This year, aside from MBC's 'Jeonguk 1-deung' (National Number 1), new pilot programs for holiday specials are rare.
The shift is largely attributed to the rapid growth of the OTT market and evolving viewer habits. Platforms like Netflix and Disney+ offer on-demand content anytime, diminishing the unique appeal of holiday-specific broadcasts.
Furthermore, the financial struggles within broadcasting companies are a critical factor. Holiday pilots demand significant production costs and carry high risks of failure, making them difficult investments for broadcasters in the current climate.
Culture critic Ha Jae-geun notes that broadcasters are becoming more conservative and hesitant to try new things, a trend likely to intensify amidst financial difficulties. Pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun points to the declining influence of terrestrial TV and reduced investment, leading to fewer opportunities for experimental content, including the disappearance of music variety pilots.
In essence, the space once occupied by 'pilot experiments' during holidays is now filled with specials based on proven formats. The anticipation for fresh content during long breaks is fading, as terrestrial broadcasters increasingly opt for safer choices, overshadowed by the diversity offered by OTT services.
In the past, holiday seasons provided broadcasters with golden opportunities to test out new program concepts. They leveraged the prime viewing time during family gatherings to introduce pilot programs, gauge audience reactions, and successfully transition them into regular broadcasts. This experimental spirit even led to the creation of enduring variety shows like 'The Return of Superman.' However, it is regrettable that this spirit of experimentation is now diminishing due to the changed media landscape and financial challenges faced by broadcasters.