Without competition, Baker King shoots up in ratings
by javabeans
It’s no surprise that World Cup coverage is dominating Korean airwaves at the moment, and the Korea-Greece game in particular was a huge draw with viewership ratings of 50.3% (numbers from TNS Media unless otherwise indicated). As a result, its broadcaster SBS is sitting pretty in the ratings game (several other games also drew hefty numbers in the 20% range), but its dramas have been pushed to the back burner.
That meant very good news for KBS’s new drama Baker King Kim Tak-gu, which had virtually no scripted competition on Wednesday night — Bad Guy was pre-empted for soccer and MBC’s Running was never meant to be a ratings draw. Accordingly, its numbers leaped up from a 16.3% rating last week to a 28.5% this week. Running only had a 4.1% (AGB Nielsen) despite general praise for its heartwarming storytelling and SBS’s broadcast of the Switzerland-Spain game drew a 16.0%.
Sadly, this may hurt Bad Guy just when it was gaining momentum — after one pre-emption for election coverage, it had improved upon its premiere numbers of 12% and risen to 15.1% last week. Likewise, without two Monday-Tuesday dramas (Coffee House and Giant), MBC’s Dong Yi brought in its highest-ever ratings this week, at 33.3%.
Giant will return on Tuesday, June 22. Bad Guy is scheduled to resume next Wednesday, June 23. Coffee House resumes Monday, June 28. Weekend dramas will depend on the Round of 16.
(By the way: I know the World Cup is a once-in-four-years event and certainly merits the high excitement. I don’t think anyone who was sad about the pre-emptions of their favorite dramas actually wished the World Cup into nonexistence so we could have a few more episodes. They’re TV shows, we know that. But as this is a drama-centric blog, I’d like to think we have some leeway to jokingly complain about our addictions going unfulfilled for a few weeks. All in good fun, yeah?)
Via OSEN
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1 Kavitha Ravi
June 16, 2010 at 5:06 PM
lol well said! now that im fully into WC mode i dont seem to miss the serials that much! now it almost seems like a welcome break! blasphemy I know lol...but the heart wants what the heart wants and for the moment some fancy foot work will have to do in the absence of CH!
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2 Pully
June 16, 2010 at 5:12 PM
I watched first 2 episodes of Baker King, if it wasn't for WC pushing back Bad Guy and Coffee House, I would never touch that drama again, just too much drama in a drama.
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3 danna
June 16, 2010 at 5:21 PM
lol..so i cn complain??!...I miss Cofee house!!..boooohoooo!!!....2 weeks...lol...bt serioulsy i guess this is good news fr Baker Kim Tak gu..not so much for Bad Guy..I wonder hw this will fare with Road No 1 premiering next week...I have a feeling tto might be leading considering its bigger cast and production...bt u never know
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4 Annie
June 16, 2010 at 6:02 PM
@dannaluk, I've been complaining to my soccer loving friends and they all give me strange looks. I want me some coffee house! 2 weeks is too long! *cries*
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5 taeyanglover
June 16, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Same here I like watching the games but after the ending kissing scene in coffee house I just want more I wish they would give it
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6 Ahjummoni
June 16, 2010 at 6:24 PM
errmm 16% of World Cup coverage at SBS is a lil' lil' lil' better than 14% of Bad Guy... but this is bad bad bad for Bad Guy...
jb have you read the latest Bad Guy's cast interview?KNG's family really enjoyed Baker King:D:D:D ...and KNG's thoughts about how Korea is like "under attack"when their team scores?(I've experienced in my country I was in the middle of exams and they all had fun with World Cup and our National giving goals... its super fun to win against Maradona and Argentina at World Cup 1994...believe me...I've experienced that... the whole country danced all night ... and adrenalina was in very high dose)
for the SBS's drama crews its like a Jocker... with an eye are super happy... with another eye they cry a little
and if Korea goes to 16 Bad Guy will be postponed again:((((
btw tomorrow is Argentina against South Korea and on 06.22 is Nigeria against Korea(then Jang Geun Suk will hold his LoungeH- I think it is 장근석 월드컵파티 - with Kurt and fans so they can see the game together)
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7 jo
June 16, 2010 at 6:29 PM
this whole world cup thing is so overrated, imo.
btw, is that Eugene on the left of the poster???. that woman in black dress? 0_0 she looks like an ahjummaaaaaaa!!!
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8 moochi2000
June 16, 2010 at 6:36 PM
i am SO SAD without dramas
i am not a soccer fan so this has been a sad week for me. evening japanese dramas are getting uploaded and subbed at a slower pace
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9 birdscout
June 16, 2010 at 6:43 PM
I'm actually getting into the FIFA WC. I'm training myself to call it "football" instead of "soccer", and I've learned that the netminders are called "goal keepers", not "goalies". The first game I watched I was so bewildered with the constant buzzing sound of the vuvuzela horns...I thought it was just poor antenna reception on my tv.LOL
Although I''m missing Coffee House and reading javabeans' Bad Guy recaps, this break is giving me the chance to catch up on Dong Yi episodes.
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10 yen_nguyen
June 16, 2010 at 6:48 PM
I'm watching Baker King now, even there is so much drama in it, it seems to be okey. I really like baking! Can't wait to see Lee Young Ah and adult Tak Gu.
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11 soysauce
June 16, 2010 at 7:12 PM
I'm totally in Coffee House withdrawal, but the WC is going great! I'm excited for the Argentina vs. S. Korea tomorrow. I'll make sure to have enough will power to wake up at 7 am to catch the game. EEEXXXCCCIITTEDDD!!!!!
I think this whole hiatus for drama has made the anticipation for Coffee House Episode 9 to go up the roof. I seriously CANNOT WAIT to get to see it.
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12 kellie
June 16, 2010 at 7:17 PM
Can someone tell me who are the veteran actors in Baker King? Is that Jeon Kwang-ryeol sitting upfront right of center? And the actor on the far right in the photo is familiar too from many shows but I don't know his name.
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13 Cam
June 16, 2010 at 7:17 PM
Aigoo!
I really miss watching this awesome action-thriller drama "Bad Guy" because it really made me so fascinating to Kim Nam Gil is acting as "kinda" like Johnny Depp, ohh.........How impressive. CAN'T WAIT to SEE it again NEXT Wed (beams & squeals)
And, I enjoy watching this crazy, wildness, fun drama "Coffee House" -- I really love Kang Ji Hwan ----- oooh, nooooo, Coffee House will be starting on June 28th, ehh?? oh jeez!
So, The thing is --- I am not really, like, an "soccer fan" who still love watching soccer sport, but it doesn't matter to me. =/ =)
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14 Ahjummoni
June 16, 2010 at 7:19 PM
@7 when you see javabeans so diplomatic... why don't you restrain yourself... just a little?
now even my country isn't in WC... and the vuvuzela annoys me like hell... I can't belittle WC
@9 where is difference between football and soccer...in my language is only "fotbal" and "goalkeeper" is "portar"... when I've learned English "fotbal" was "soccer"... and I tend to use them in the same sentence if I need the word "football" twice... enlighten me please
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15 glencorajane
June 16, 2010 at 7:26 PM
oh Javabeans,
I am currently in Seoul and the WC fever is really high and raging. On the streets, alot of shops are selling the red t-shirts to support the korean team, including headbands with red horns. Then there are the advertisements starring the player who scored the goal (nevermind he look so duh).
And on TV, some CF will go shout the Dae Han Ming Guk (great korea). I am not korean, but I am so swept by their fervent spirit too!
The korean HD TV is incredible, all the details are so clear. No wonder all the actors and actresses need to have flawless skin! hahaha
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16 pabo ceo reom
June 16, 2010 at 7:48 PM
Nooooooo
I have Coffee House withdrawal!! :(
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17 Snikki
June 16, 2010 at 8:09 PM
I miss Coffee House; no amount of Cristiano Ronaldo can help me through this withdrawal.
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18 Sonam
June 16, 2010 at 8:14 PM
I love football. I was rooting for North Korea and they held up so well and the goal they scored was awesome. I am looking forward to their next game. I love rooting for underdogs who don't give up and give their best till the very end.
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19 Dara
June 16, 2010 at 8:53 PM
Coffee House, COffee HOuse....>_<!!
Sigh....Spain lost to Swiss last night 0:1 ....How can that be?...Sob Sob...
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20 sora
June 16, 2010 at 9:07 PM
funny you should mention that Javabeans because I am a hugeeeeeee soccer fan i mean football fan hahaha
I'm gonna complain a little bit even though I was sad that Spain were beaten by Switzerland are you kidding me?!!
Can't wait to see new episodes of Coffee House hehe
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21 slatternelle200
June 16, 2010 at 9:08 PM
I'm normally not that much of a football fan but every time the World Cup comes around I'm completely obsessed and yelling at the TV.
@19 I wasn't really sure who I was rooting for, so I was surprised with how happy I was at the outcome. Spain was playing well, they had a good passing game and pressed relentlessly after the goal. Switzerland's goal was kind of lucky but they were able to seize the opportunity and tenaciously defend their lucky goal against the Spanish. They nearly made it 2-0 as well. The most entertaining game thus far!
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22 all4movies
June 16, 2010 at 9:15 PM
The WC was never on my radar until I started watching korean and japanese dramas. Now I'm rooting for the korean and japanese teams.
I must say the North Korean team gave Brazil something to worry about with their awesome defensive playing and last minute goal. The most exciting game so far.
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23 amktsy
June 16, 2010 at 9:29 PM
I hope with world cup, 1 drama can have 50+% rating :D
It's been so long since there is a drama with 50=% rating ._.
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24 jenny
June 17, 2010 at 12:53 AM
Bad Guy is suffering the toughest bad luck. First it got kicked out of it scheduled broadcast timeslot and then finally got it back. But, the timing is awful, first the election, now the WC. Please no more, poor Kim Nam Gil. Hopefully, after the storm bad guy will see the brightest light. Best wishes!
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25 bjharm
June 17, 2010 at 1:49 AM
lol well certainly not with Korea having a good chance to get through to the next round, even with only two draws in the next games, with a little luck.
Of course my own country NZ got its first world cup point ever, with a draw, so I can not complain about the delay in K-drama. So Korean and Japan well have my support once NZ had its run for much the same reason as All4Movies...watching their country film/drama makes you feel empathic.
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26 Ahjummoni
June 17, 2010 at 4:16 AM
@25 the fun is that first 2 teams from a group go to next round... so if S.Korea wins against Nigeria and maintain the high score ...they will be in the next round... and it's not impossible to win against Argentina(errm its just a lil harder)....and now are 15 mins until the Argentina vs S.Korea begins... Koreans now are on needles
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27 Annie
June 17, 2010 at 6:27 AM
when I saw that baker king have a 28.5% rating, I was like WHAT??!!! it increased over 10%!!! anyway I feel bad for bad guy, I think it is the one that is going to get the lowest rating next week
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28 CW
June 17, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Yeah, Korea lost against Argentina (as expected) and hopefully, Nigeria won't mess up against Greece and Korea... fingers crossed.
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29 chi^^
June 17, 2010 at 8:19 AM
i don't have any interest watching baker king,,may be i don't like the cast,,i prefer watch Bad Guy,,it's really great drama and great cast,,I wish it will got higher rating next week,,Korean,please watch Bad Guy ^^v
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30 CW
June 17, 2010 at 8:39 AM
The stupid ass Nigerian team has screwed up. Korea still has a chance to go to the next round. ARGH.
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31 birdscout
June 17, 2010 at 9:30 AM
@14 Leona
In Canada and the US, most people call the game "soccer", but in Europe I believe the common term is "football". (In Canada and the US, "football" is a different game played with an oval shaped ball and the players wear a lot of protective equipment because there's lots of tackling involved.)
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32 Ahjummoni
June 17, 2010 at 4:26 PM
@31 birdscout thank you... here we call that sport you described "american footbal" = "fotbal american"(in my language)... and we watch it only in the movies(that is a tough contact sport)
waw Argentina beat the Koreans with a score(auch)
my husband said smth about 4 North Koreans footbal players that already run away
so if S. Korea doesn't win against Nigeria at a big score...they will return home soon..and next week we will have Bad Guy... if it happens for sure S.Koreans won't be glad
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33 jiikun
June 20, 2010 at 7:49 AM
ok, now I know why i've been waiting with no result whatsoever for Coffee House....the world cup..yeah.good, so my country (Italy)-not me- is not the only one going totally crazy over soccerXD by the way, I hate soccer-_-I'll hate it more from now onXDLOL <sometimes it just fits right complainingù_ù
so now, I can't do anything but studying#_#"<growing hate
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