The baseball program "Stocking" on the MBC Sports Plus YouTube channel will expand production to four episodes per month starting in August. Since March, when Kim Gu-ra and commentator Kim Sun-woo joined as MCs, viewer responses have exploded, leading to requests for an increase in the number of broadcast episodes. In response, the production team decided to transition from biweekly broadcasts to a weekly broadcasting system.
Kim Gu-ra's unusual proposal played a crucial role in the expansion of production. At the end of May, on the broadcast, Kim Gu-ra said, "If there's no production fee, I'll defer it like Shohei Ohtani. When I get the money later, just give it to me!" He was the first to propose the deferral of the grants, and this scene spread through community reactions post-broadcast, termed "Gootani defer speculation" and "the crazy program where the MC proposed a defer." Two months later, this proposal was actually implemented, leading to the full-scale weekly program revamp of "Stocking" starting in August.
"Stocking" continues to receive positive reviews for its honest stories from legendary baseball players, Kim Gu-ra's direct and humorous hosting, and Kim Sun-woo's expertise and balanced commentary. Following the revamp, the content views increased by over 30 times, entering a second golden age through word of mouth among various communities and baseball fans.
Kim Gu-ra's proposal is noteworthy not just as a mere deferral of grants, but it resembles the "Ohtani-style defer" method similar to that of Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kim Gu-ra noted, "To meet with baseball fans more often, this is a team play at this level," expressing his sense of responsibility and affection for the program.
Kim Min-hwan, the PD of "Stocking," commented, "Kim Gu-ra's defer proposal is a symbolic decision imbued with a long-term vision," adding, "His sincerity and love for baseball have blended well into the program, helping to establish the direction of 'Stocking.'"
Previously, the main show "Stocking" hosted by Kim Gu-ra and Kim Sun-woo aired two episodes each, while "Stocking No Gu-ra" hosted by Kwak Soo-san also had two episodes. However, starting in August, the main show will expand to four episodes every Tuesday, while "No Gu-ra" will air two episodes on Fridays.
The expanded version of "Stocking" will premiere on Tuesday, August 5, at 6 p.m. on the YouTube channel "Stocking."
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