Park Bo-gum Fails to Avoid 0% Ratings “A Wall Even Lee Hyori and Lee Young-ji Couldn’t Overcome”
As the first actor to take on the role of MC for a music talk show, KBS2’s “The Seasons – Park Bo-gum’s Cantabile” generated buzz, but is now struggling with viewership ratings falling into the 0% range.
Since March 14, Park Bo-gum has been hosting KBS2’s late-night music program “The Seasons“. It was the first time a non-singer had taken on the MC role, which raised both anticipation and concern. Regarding this, KBS stated, “Casting Park Bo-gum was a gamble for KBS as well. He has a deep understanding of music and we believed it was a challenge worth pursuing.”
Amid concerns, the premiere episode of “The Seasons – Park Bo-gum’s Cantabile” recorded a nationwide household rating of 1.5% according to Nielsen Korea. The episode aired on March 21 dropped to 1.0%, and the most recent episode recorded 0.9%, marking the show’s descent into the 0% range—a disappointing result.
Previously aired “Lee Young-ji’s Rainbow” peaked at 1.1% and dropped as low as 0.7%. “Zico’s Artist” fared even worse—it started with 1.1% but fell to a dismal low of 0.3% before ending.
“The Seasons” has attempted to shake things up each season by recruiting headline-worthy MCs like Lee Hyori, Lee Young-ji and Jay Park. However, none of the seasons have managed to break past the 1% ratings mark. Many episodes recorded ratings in the 0% range.
There are various analyses as to why “The Seasons” has consistently failed to surpass the 1% threshold. In the past, programs like “Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” and “Yoon Do-hyun’s Love Letter” built loyal fan bases, but today’s music shows have shifted focus to idols from major entertainment companies. As a result, audiences looking for indie music or emotional live stages have declined. While it’s meaningful that “The Seasons” shines a spotlight on diverse musicians, industry insiders point out that this approach falls short of generating mass appeal.
Casting Park Bo-gum as MC was a refreshing move. He brought a unique color to the role compared to previous music program hosts, helping to increase buzz around the show. His soft and warm hosting style received a positive response from viewers. While he showed some awkwardness during the first broadcast, he has since become more stable in his delivery.
However, simply bringing in a star MC does not guarantee a rise in ratings. Despite Park Bo-gum’s strong fanbase, it’s difficult to expect long-term ratings growth unless the music program delivers compelling content. This is why some argue that changing the MC alone won’t fix the structural issues within the program.
Currently, “The Seasons” is placing its greatest emphasis on musical value. KBS commented, “We believe the identity and meaning that a music program conveys is important. That’s why we’re focusing on delivering meaningful stages, especially with rookie artists.” However, as a show aired on a public broadcaster, maintaining a certain level of viewership is also necessary. Amid continuous underperformance, all eyes are now on whether “The Seasons” can usher in a turning point.