tvN's 'A Painful Finger' and 'Resident Playbook' (hereinafter referred to as 'Resident Playbook') are receiving a hot response, effectively serving as the 'benefactor' of weekend tvN.
According to Nielsen Korea, the tvN weekend drama 'Resident Playbook' recorded an average of 6.1% and a peak of 7.2% based on metropolitan households (based on the 5th episode), setting a new personal record every week. The topic of discussion is also hot. In the 3rd and 4th weeks of April, it secured first place in the integrated topic of discussion rankings for TV-OTT for two consecutive weeks.
In particular, Go Youn-jung and Jung Joon-won's chemistry has garnered a hot response. The two actors play the roles of Oh Yi-young and Gu Do-won in the drama, and they ranked 1st and 2nd respectively in the integrated topic of discussion ranking for two consecutive weeks. Furthermore, the total views of 'Resident Playbook' videos uploaded on YouTube and social media have surpassed a whopping 350 million views, achieving first place in the video view section of the FunDex topic metric.
In fact, 'Resident Playbook' has raised much concern since last year due to multiple scheduling delays before its release. This is because sensitive issues related to medical strikes have continued to cast shadows over the drama. Originally, 'Resident Playbook' was scheduled to be aired in the first half of last year, and it was specifically mentioned in January of last year during CJ ENM's 'MEET&GROW 2024' that it was expected to be scheduled in May.
However, in February of the following year, the residents of major hospitals collectively resigned, leading to a medical vacuum, and the impact even extended to 'Resident Playbook', which features residents at the center of the strike as protagonists. As a result, the scheduling continued to be delayed, and in January of this year, tvN finally confirmed the scheduling for April, placing 'Resident Playbook' in its major lineup for 2025.
After quietly ending in February with a viewing rate of 1 to 2% for vN's 'When the Stars Gossip', the follow-up 'The Potato Lab' also started with a low rating of 1.7% in its first episode, recording a minimum of 1.1% and a maximum of 2%, ending on a bitter note. The release of 'Resident Playbook' has been both a painful finger and a 'savior' for tvN.
At the same time, tvN was also experiencing bitter flavors in its entertainment programming, particularly due to 'Culinary Class Wars', which had placed second, and 'Country Cook' featuring Edward Lee, who was a runner-up on the show, along with actors Byun Yo-han, Go Ah-sung, and Shin Si A. Both shows recorded average ratings of 1 to 2%.
However, 'Ppyong Ppyong Earth Arcade 3' (hereinafter referred to as 'Earth Arcade 3') has also gained significant popularity since its first broadcast, reclaiming the throne of weekend entertainment. According to a report by Good Data Corporation, 'Earth Arcade 3' started with the highest topic of discussion among all seasons, and the video views uploaded on YouTube and social media reached approximately 20 million. The first episode's rating averaged 3.2%, and the concurrent ratings also secured first place, once again showcasing the power of tvN's entertainment programs.
Now, tvN's weekend lineup has once again established a solid foundation. Can the 'benefactors,' who have brought about a successful turnaround amidst difficulties, maintain weekend ratings and topic of discussion until the end?
[Photo] tvN
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