So Ji Sub's 'Mr. Kim' & Im Young Woong's Jackpot

SBS has seized control of the prime-time television landscape right from the start of the second half of the year. The Friday-Saturday drama "Chief Detective 1958", the Tuesday variety show "​Mountain Village Bachelor Hero", and the Thursday variety show "​Child Release Project - Cohabitation Blind Date 2" have each attracted viewers with their distinct genre colors. The strategy of evenly distributing programs with different characteristics—revenge action, healing observational variety, and dating reality—across weekdays and weekends is proving effective from the outset. These three programs are not only topping terrestrial TV ratings but also ranking high on Netflix's daily charts, garnering reactions simultaneously on live broadcast and online video services (OTT).

"Chief Detective 1958" surpassed double-digit viewership ratings within just two episodes. The first episode recorded a nationwide household rating of 9.5% and a peak of 11.3%, while the second episode achieved 15.7% nationwide household rating and a peak of 18.1%, marking the highest viewership ratings for an SBS drama in 2024. This is the first time in five years, since "The Penthouse 3" in 2021, that a drama across all channels has exceeded a 15% viewership rating within two episodes. The key advertising metric, the 2049 viewership rating, also averaged 5.8%, ranking first among all programs across all channels and genres broadcast that week. Based on the webtoon of the same name, the drama depicts a former special agent, living as an ordinary family man, who springs back into action to rescue his kidnapped daughter. The combination of a realistic portrayal of a family man and revenge action has driven its initial success. Lee Je-hoon anchors the drama, oscillating between his role as a weak father in front of his daughter and a legendary special agent. Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho add humor to the heavy revenge plot with their relatable comedic performances.

"Mountain Village Bachelor Hero", featuring singer Lim Young-woong, has chosen a different direction from variety shows that rely on fast pacing and strong stimulation. The program, which premiered on the 23rd, shows Lim Young-woong and his acquaintances living in a mountain village, away from familiar civilization. By focusing on the everyday conversations and relationships of the cast members without specific plans or competition, it elicits comfortable laughter. The first guests were actor Hyun Bong-sik, comedian Heo Kyung-hwan, and singer Jo Jjaj, who showed unexpected chemistry. The first episode's 2049 viewership rating was 1.3%, ranking first among variety shows in the same time slot, while the household rating reached 5%, with a peak minute rating of 6.5%. It reached a peak of 4th place on Netflix's daily rankings. The format, which prioritizes the cast's natural relationships and conversations over strong settings or conflicts, serves to reduce viewer fatigue and demonstrates that the demand for healing variety shows remains valid.

"Child Release Project - Cohabitation Blind Date 2" has maintained the format of its previous season while accelerating the emotional expression and relationship development of its cast members. The first episode began with the contestants sitting across from each other at a blind date table amidst tension. In pre-interview segments, the female contestants revealed their specific criteria for marriage and partner selection, showcasing their individual personalities. MC Kim Yo-han advised, "Before getting to know each other, it's important to clearly state your religion." The contestants actively expressed their interest from the first meeting, quickly forming relationship dynamics before the cohabitation period began. After its premiere, the show ranked as high as 4th on Netflix's daily chart and 1st in the variety category, confirming the interest in the series as a seasonal program.

With "Chief Detective 1958" securing the weekend drama audience and "Mountain Village Bachelor Hero" and "Cohabitation Blind Date 2" catering to weekday variety show demand, SBS has achieved balanced success across its entire weekly programming. The simultaneous initial success of new shows in different genres is noteworthy, and attention is focused on whether this momentum will carry through the rest of the second half of the year.