The shows in Malaysia are only mentioned if they did well, high rated with no specific number. I dont know how the newspaper got that. But we never have that kind of specific comparison before.

On Astro, you can choose to change the substitle and the audio language. Since Moon Lovers is preproduced, they can provide 3 different languages for viewers to choose. Besides, the same episode can also be aired simultaneously with the one aired in Korea. Moonlight on the other hand, they have to air late to produce the substitle first.

By the way, i dont think Moonlight appeals to viewers here. Youth shows never did that great on television here unless its a family comedy show. Moon Lovers which is more matured and grandious would appeal more. The quality of a show never effect the viewers much as our shows are not that good anyway. Korea spends a lot on their entertainment and our country not, thus the quality like that.

@dia, I think you missed my point which is simply to clarify that:
1) all shows are rated in Malaysia, there is ratings data available.
2) Moonlight is not only aired in the KBS World Channel at STREAMING site for worldwide viewers, but also currently being broadcast on KBS World TV on TV channels in SEA.

I did not compare the 2 dramas, so there's no need to tell me whether it's fair or not.

@Wanne, thanks for the info, Malaysia is so fortunate that Astro allows the viewers to choose to change the subtitles and the audio language. On Starhub, we have to buy the Malay subtitle channel separately.

NIFTY and BIPS99

THIS. I don't think it started with that Strait Times article. The last weeks ratings report have the same comments.

I remember there's one person that said "ML fans are just sugarcoating it's international success. A flop is a flop."

So that Youku 1B and Malaysia and Singapore popularity is sugarcoated? I don't think so.

I agree. The amount of negativity this drama gets is sometimes ridiculous. I'm not talking about the people who note the flaws in the production (I've done it myself many times) but the people who just want to tear it down without any solid argument. But I guess if you have a drama that was promoted this heavily and had Universal and YG put their hands on it, it's a given that there will be a lot more talk about the show - good and bad.

@dia

Moonlight is a huge success domestic and overseas. It doesn't need to be explained or compared to any show.
Whatever it's going to make from the overseas market is going to be all profit.
It didn't have a huge budget. The production team was headline by KBS's own people and having their own sageuk set cut the cost of the production in half.

This is great for these young casts and their career. I'd be rooting for them and their future projects.

Lol. To be fair, both Moons' fans (some, not all) did try to bring down the other Moon.

It is a fact that some ML fans did deny Moonlight's popularity by saying that it's all fluff and question the taste of SK viewers. There's so many forums or sites if you want proof.

On the other hand, there are some Moonlight fans who are feeling dissatisfied with ML's international popularity, so they tend to tone down (dismiss?) the success by saying it's not that valid and that angers ML fans. Even this is seen in so many forums and sites.

Honestly speaking, it's a matter of preference in which everyone has the right to convey their opinions, but it doesn't mean we need to be condescending to prove our points.
Otherwise it will be Doctors and BM fanwars once again. Ugh.

I watched both Moons and I am more inclined towards MDBC but it doesn't change the fact that ML is a good drama (it's not a flop to me unless it has no viewers lol), just a matter of preference. I dropped DOTS as well but I do acknowledge it as a megahit even though I can't connect with the drama.

Gonna end this with the phrase I use daily, if you don't like, don't watch la. Talk so much for what. (Excuse the Manglish). Hahaha.

Just read this, thank you again!

So in other words, viewers pretty much have access to all networks and even if they pay subscription, it's minimal.

That's correct!

Retransmission fees are just so minimal, it's like cable subscrivers do not even feel it on their cable bills. Besides , free to air channels and the General cable channels are must carry channels so it will be available regardless of your cable plan.

Omo! You're so lucky, then!

Yup! tvN and JTBC airs lots of commercials. Because unlike the network, cable channels are not restricted to either air commercials, or to charge huge subscription fees and not commercials at all.

Seriously, though, tvN and JTBC nowadays air lots of commercials

By the way, cable and free to air ratings cannot be compared. Because although free to air networks still have the chunk of total viewership, they are losing viewers in the coveted 20-49 and 20-59 demographics. It refers to the age group that advertisers love. Just last year, KBS1 was the No.1 channel in South Korea. Sure, it sounds good. But they don't have any reasons to celebrate since they were almost defeated by TVN in the 20-49 category. That means, although KBS1 is the most watched channel, they are skewing elder viewers, and advertisers do not even care about them. Meanwhile, tvN, althogh having overall ratings that is not as high as the networks, is skewing younger viewers better than the networks. In fact, they are selling ad spots to advertisers, with prices that is almost similar to the networks.

Another example is JTBC. Currently, among all the four general cable channels (JTBC, MBN, TV Chosun and Channel A) , JTBC is No.4. In fact, MBN's ratings is 2x higher than JTBC.

However, JTBC's ad sales are almost double than that of MBN, and that is because their ratings in the ad friendly demographics are way above the ratings of MBN, Channel A and TV Chosun COMBINED. So basically, it doesn't matter if a TV network rates well overall. What matters most is their ratings in the demo, becayse that's where the money flows.

Fantastic! @Princess Amira, thanks for sharing all these information. It's really interesting especially about the ratings.