TV Bang-ja Chronicles is another cable hit

29 November 6, 2011November 6, 2011

by javabeans

You’re probably going to get sick of hearing it, but here’s yet more news that cable is standing strong: Channel CGV’s newly premiered four-parter, TV Bang-ja Chronicles, enjoyed a promising start on Saturday with an overall viewership rating of 1.510%, hitting 2.475% at its highest point. Other current cable offerings like Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, Vampire Prosecutor and Empress are performing strongly as well.

To clarify, as there have been confused comments in recent ratings posts: Cable dramas have generally aired in non-prime-time slots and therefore don’t compete directly with broadcast dramas, which air in the 10 pm hour (with dailies in the 9 pm slot). A few exceptions: tvN has tried to carve out a spot in the prime-time landscape with Manny, I Need Romance, Birdie Buddy, and Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, all of which have competed with Big Three shows.

But given that many cable dramas are late-nighters (11 pm or midnight), and because cable has an inherently more limited audience, a 1% rating is considered favorable — even if a broadcast drama would be considered a failure in the 5% range or below. Only a year or two ago, a 1% cable show was a big success, but with the way things are changing, I think we’re going to see that baseline tick up to 2% very soon.

TV Bang-ja Chronicles is an adaptation of the sageuk film of the same name, updating the classic story of Chun-hyang. It brought in positive viewer response, thanks to its speedy storytelling, visuals, and portrayal of emotions as Episode 1 kicked off the love story between servant Bang-ja (played by Lee Sun-ho) and Chun-hyang (Lee Eun-woo), which naturally infuriates her other man, the aristocrat’s son Mong-ryong (Yeo Hyun-soo).

TV Bang-ja Chronicles continues airing on Saturday nights for the rest of the month.

Via E Daily, No Cut News

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Tags: cable programs, drama ratings

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1 MeeisLee

November 6, 2011 at 3:00 PM

Cable is still standing strong. At this point, I'm much more interested in what the cable channels have to offer.

But question, do cable channels have a little bit more freedom? Such as more risqué scenes? I would think so since they're not limited by the general audience that the Big Three seem to get tangled up in.

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November 6, 2011 at 4:11 PM

Some cable dramas have more risque scenes but as for the rest im not shore hopefully. as for Flower shop hope they hit some more mature subject matter Since its cable lol

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Jones

November 6, 2011 at 4:40 PM

I was thrilled to see that in tvNs 'I Need Romance,' sex was something normal and natural for the characters. While I hate with all my being the end of the drama I enjoyed it immensely for its newness; especially after oh so many build ups that impotently climaxed at chaste kisses.

I hope hope, hope, hope that my favorite drama since 'Damo' and 'WHIB' (aka. 'Flower Boy Ramyun Shop') doesn't shy away from that humanity. So what if he's in high school! We should at least be aware that sexuality is involved in people's decisions, no? I say yes!

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MJ

November 6, 2011 at 6:00 PM

If TV Bang-ja Chronicles were to KBS, MBC, and SBS, I bet the KCC (the Korean Communications Commission) would issue a warning or penalization to the drama and the broadcaster stating TV Bang-ja Chronicles is too risqué for the general public.

Two articles found that the KCC went after two dramas:

1. 49 Days Penalized for Suicide Plotline
Posted on June 20, 2011 by kaedejun

It states the following:

Suicide can be a touchy subject for South Korea.

The Korean FCC (known as KCC) had a meeting on June 20th and decided to issue warnings to dramas 49 Days and Pure Pumpkin Flower, and a ‘caution’ warning to I Believed in Men. 49 Days had depicted suicide when they showed Yi Kyung (Lee Yo Won) attempting to hang herself with rope from the ceiling. Pure Pumpkin Flower showed a mother threatening to kill herself when her daughter blackmails her. The daughter then tries to commit suicide by jumping off a roof after discovering her parents’ criminal record, and the mother encourages it! As for I Believed in Men, the female lead pulls a prank by pretending she killed herself by hanging.

The KCC stated, “Suicide is becoming a more prevalent social problem lately. We believe that detailed depiction of suicide or its methodology may negatively impact the viewers. We will respond strongly for future depiction of suicide attempts in drama content.”

source: My Daily

http://blog.dramafever.com/2011/06/49-days-penalized-for-suicide-plotline/comment-page-1/#comment-23143

2. “A Thousand Kisses“ gets a warning
by asianlook- November 4, 2011, 12:36 am

It states the following:

The MBC weekend drama “A Thousand Kisses” got a warning from the Korean Communications Commission.

In a general meeting of the KCC on November 3rd, “A Thousand Kisses” received a warning for its unethical development and indirect product placement.

About this disciplinary action KCC stated, “At a youth-heavy time slot, like the weekend, the drama shows unethical scenes and stories, such as trying to accept an abandoned woman as a daughter-in-law, or another daughter being in a relationship with a nephew”.

“They are also repeatedly displaying a certain supporter through lines and screen time, displaying them so much that it has an advertisement effect”.

The KCC ruled that “A Thousand Kisses” has breached Sections 1 and 3 of Article 46 on The Limitations of Advertisement, Section 2 of Article 25 on Ethics and Section 2 of Article 44 on Accommodating Standards.

The most recent episode of “A Thousand Kisses” shows Joo-mi and Woo-jin’s sweet honeymoon and Joo-young and Woo-bin’s love creating conflict within the family.

http://www.askactor.com/gossip/-A-Thousand_Kisses-_gets_a_warning/

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anais

November 6, 2011 at 6:16 PM

There was something in the wording of the penalty that made me incredibly skeptical, so I checked out the Korean wording for "accepting an abandoned woman as a daughter-in-law." Such bad translation. It should have been "accepting as daughter-in-law the child she'd abandoned in her past."

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alua

November 7, 2011 at 3:37 AM

Wow, very bad translation - completely different meaning!

Thanks for clarifying - your translation doesn't sound nearly as troublesome to me as the first version. At least it doesn't say anymore that divorcees ('abandoned women') deserve never to marry/love again, but it's just an objection to a mother becoming her own daughter's mother-in-law (even personally I don't see a problem with this either).

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Saa

November 6, 2011 at 6:46 PM

Did they charge Can You Hear My Heart? at the cliff scene in Saipan too?

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Barbara Starks

November 7, 2011 at 2:15 PM

The suicide warning is the only thing I'm on board with, the country has a high suicide rate in to glorify on drama and movies is irresponiable. There not a drama that don't accept suicde as a way to get over heart break,debt and grades.

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anais

November 8, 2011 at 8:37 AM

I actually find the suicide warning totally misplaced for 49 Days because the Show went to great lengths to depict suicide very negatively. Instead, in 49 Days , she's taught the value of choosing to live.

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2 YBisTOP

November 6, 2011 at 3:34 PM

Another saeguk movie.. awesome, where can I watch this?

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3 Sejong the Great

November 6, 2011 at 3:59 PM

I am still not buying all the cable hype... I think the hype comes from the fact that younger celebrities or less experienced actors like idols are being pushed into this general service channels and fangirls are continuously cheering and building the hype. I think that's the primary fact!

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lin

November 6, 2011 at 7:51 PM

Have you checked out any of the cable dramas that have aired or are currently airing?

Girl K, I Need Romance, and The Empress along with FBRS are all hella good. They are all well made, acted, produced and written. Your comment kind of comes off as mad that there are options other than the big three.

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mooses

November 7, 2011 at 8:52 PM

mte w/ the last sentence lol. why is it such a bad thing that cable is hyped? lol there's so much more freedom for the actors, the producers, and the writers

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4 disfigurine

November 6, 2011 at 4:26 PM

does anyone know where I will be able to watch all these cable dramas airing or to be aired? So far, it's hard to find them. The only one I can find is Flower Boy Ramen Shop which I absolutely love!

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Jen Neri

November 6, 2011 at 6:14 PM

MySoju has announced that they will host this drama on their site. Unfortunately, no links are up yet. Just keep checking their site for updates. Here's the link:

http://www.mysoju.com/korean-drama/bang-ja-chronicles/

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lin

November 6, 2011 at 7:53 PM

The Empress is on Vicki and if you are in the U.S dramafever has Vampire Prosecutor as well as Secret Investigation Record. Sadly not enough cable dramas get subbed.

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Cece

November 6, 2011 at 9:29 PM

You can watch most of it at dramacrazy. There's where I watch them :))

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anais

November 6, 2011 at 10:50 PM

Dramacrazy doesn't seem to have this one up yet.

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abc

November 6, 2011 at 11:18 PM

http://kpopella.org/2011/11/05/bang-ja-chronicles/

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anais

November 7, 2011 at 7:40 AM

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

5 Soom

November 6, 2011 at 5:06 PM

The first episode had some scenes that were pretty explicit. Not surprising since it's been teased as such, and given the movie it's inspired by. The story is interesting and it's aided by the brisk pace. Some of the acting though leaves a bit to be desired.

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6 Bim2

November 6, 2011 at 5:22 PM

I watch episode 1 of Bang Ja Chronicle tv series. It really suprising me, because the explicit scene were more tense than in movie. I already predict it, since it's adaptation from the movie. But to see more explicit scene than in movie, make me wonder if the ratings were high not because the storyline but because........................

I hope not like that. Ahhhh, Chun Hyang character really differ from the movie. Can't wait to see conflict between Chun Hyang and her mother develop intensely.

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7 Julianna

November 6, 2011 at 6:02 PM

wow I need to watch this series asap!

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8 Raine

November 6, 2011 at 6:08 PM

I'm going to watch the movie and then watch this. It's nice to see that virginal characters who freak out over mere sexual innuendo aren't the only thing to be found on television.

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9 cuteNuna

November 6, 2011 at 10:39 PM

i can't wait to watch it. more cable channel more option drama.. i just finished i need romance from tvN and i like it a lot, for me the story more realistic.

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10 canxi

November 6, 2011 at 10:51 PM

I really loved I Need Romance-not just because it didn't shy away from things such as sex-but it was funny and poignant too. I didn't hate the ending though--I saw it coming (and actually liked it)--I just don't know if I would choose that path.

SO I'm pretty excited to watch more cable dramas. All about the cable hype! It's well deserved and nothing wrong with more options. Not like I have anything to do at night anyway,lol.

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11 Venus

November 7, 2011 at 11:14 AM

I'm a cable girl all the way now....I'm loving the selection we getting...I have to check this out.

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12 eunshil

November 8, 2011 at 12:18 AM

do you know where I can watch bangja hronicles?

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jen

November 11, 2011 at 3:49 PM

i second that

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