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Spot On: Tuning in to what's on in South Korea, Japan

  • By John Andersen, GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 20, 2006 5:54 pm PT

G4, SpikeTV, and MTV have their own array of game-centric programming, but what's available in Asia is over the top.

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If you think you've seen the best of what TV can do in the area of game coverage, you need to take a trip to Korea. Two cable TV networks, known as Ongamenet and MBCgame, compete for viewers with their own 24-hour programming dedicated to PC and console gaming. Fierce gaming competitions are held, backed by major corporate sponsors, and studios overflow with live audiences trying to catch a glimpse at players who are practically given celebrity status.

The programming is an odd mix of competition coverage, game news, and school-girl-cute window dressing. Curious to know what's on tonight in Seoul? GameSpot News takes you on a trip East, clicker in hand.

Tuning in to South Korea TV, we find Ongamenet, a 24-hour PC/console gaming cable channel. Their number one program is called Ongamenet Starleague, which is a three-month long Starcraft tournament broadcast live every Friday beginning at 7:00 p.m. Players in the final round compete for a top cash prize of $20,000. Second- and third-place winners can win up to $10,000 and $6,000, respectively.

Surprisingly, Ongamenet's second most popular program also revolves around the world of Starcraft--titled SKY Proleague, sponsored by SKY (phone service provider SK Telecom). Eleven Starcraft teams compete in a yearlong tournament through 11 rounds, and each final competition is broadcast live, with the ultimate winner pocketing a $50,000 cash prize. The final match of this year was held in an outdoor arena rather than an indoor studio facility, and local Busan police had to control more than 120,000 spectators.

Yes, South Koreans take their gaming competitions extremely seriously.

Other popular Ongamenet programs include Game Plus, a news program that covers game releases, game news and online game league updates. Here We Go is a daily broadcast where comedian host Woot-Chat-sa and 15-year-old cohost Lee Ji-Ln compete in live online games with home viewers. South Korean teen supermodel Kim Sae-Rom hosts Hello PS Market, where new Sony PS products are introduced to viewers in the program.

Ongamenet maintains more than four studio facilities to produce and broadcast its programming in conjunction with OnMedia, its parent company. When the indoor studios become filled to capacity, people gather outside to watch the gaming competitions unfold on big screens.

AGB Nielsen Media Research has reported that ratings for this kind of programming are on the rise in South Korea. According to The Korea Times, Ongamenet and competitor MBCGame have been ranked among the top 20 shows in monthly viewership among South Korea's 99 cable TV channels. The TV viewing audience consists mostly of teenagers and has rivaled that of even MBC and KBS1, South Korea's major terrestrial networks.

The Korea Times is also reporting that competition to win audiences among broadcasters will become fierce. It's important to keep in mind that corporate sponsorship is involved as well, allocating millions of dollars in prizes and ad revenue.

China is the next country that South Korea hopes to dominate with its game competition programming, but Jung Il-hoon, the operator of the World e-Sports Games (WEG), worries that North American TV networks may take interest in such programming and overtake South Korea "Some major US TV channels such as MTV already started to have computer game shows, though we still have more know-how in running such programs. If we don't try hard to develop the content of e-sports and fail to win the Chinese market, soon we will have to import e-sports broadcasting programs from the US, just like we pay a large amount of money to watch Major League baseball," Jung said in a recent interview with Korea Times reporter Cho Jin-seo.

Jung continued with a surprising projection saying that although broadcasters and audiences are satisfied now, American TV networks may soon begin to take an interest. Jung predicts America will "easily catch up to South Korea and will eventually swallow the industry."

Interestingly, in Japan, game TV programming is surprisingly thin.

This past year Gran Turismo 4 fans in Japan got a special behind-the-scenes look at the game courtesy of TV Tokyo business program Gaia no Yoake. This hour-long program followed the game's production staff in its development offices where tense final preparations were being made on the game before its release to Japanese store shelves. A bootleg recording of the program found its way to North America via an Internet download site, and English-speaking GT4 fans discussed the show's content on bulletin boards.

The only regular game program in Japan is Gamecenter CX on Fuji TV. There used to be a morning show named Game Ex and a midnight show named Game Wave (both on the TV Tokyo network), but both shows were discontinued.

GameSpot acquired a copy of Gamecenter CX to see what the program is all about, and while no English subtitles were provided, the one-hour show was still very entertaining.

Gamecenter CX stars comedian Shinya Arino and has more of a retro-gaming focus. Arino sits down to play popular retro video games in a small room in front of a camera crew. Arino interviews famous video game designers in between games and visits popular local game arcades. Designers that Arino has interviewed in previous episodes have included Yoshiki Okamoto (Resident Evil), Yu Suzuki (Virtua Fighter), and Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid series).

In the episode Gamespot viewed, Arino sits down to play Super Mario Brothers 3 on the Nintendo Famicom (NES).

Arino inserts the cartridge and begins to play in front of the LCD flat-panel display surrounded by snacks and drinks on the table. Cameras placed around the room record every movement. Suddenly the gameplay is stopped momentarily so that the crew can refer to the instruction manual to find out how Mario can pick up an object. The production crew can be heard off-camera laughing hysterically at every mistake Arino makes in the game. The host begins to feel stressed out and, playing it for laughs, places a cold compress on his head. A soundtrack of tense music begins playing.

A narrator provides a precise play-by-play voice-over, accompanied ultimately by a triumphant music cue.

Fuji TV has produced more than 25 one-hour episodes of Gamecenter CX so far for its partner network Fuji TV Ch721.

Why hasn't all this programming made its way to English-speaking shores? Couldn't they be acquired or licensed by networks outside of Asia?

Programming executives from G4, North America's dedicated game network owned by Comcast, and SpikeTV, a Viacom-owned network aimed at men, politely declined to take part in this story citing that they are developing their own original game programming.

"Video games are the core of G4's programming strategy," a G4 spokeswoman said in a statement. "They are the foundation and basis of our network. Any programming we add to our slate will be attractive to a gamer audience and serve the male 18-34 demographic".

There is a small glimmer of hope. Niki Yoo, PR and promotions producer of Ongamenet, states that the programming will make its way to America via specialized networks aimed at Korean-speaking audiences.

"Ongamenet made a contract with TVK24 and iSkyCom, both in the US, to provide Ongamenet programs. TVK24 currently broadcasts Ongamenet programs since last March, and iSkyCom is scheduled to broadcast from early 2006," Yoo says.

Meanwhile, Iron Chef thrives on the Food Network, Asian cinema (from Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan) finds its way into Best Buy's DVD section, and Japanese female pop-duo Puffy Ami Yumi still rock their way onto Turner's Cartoon Network with their own animated series. Could the time be right for game programming to jump the Pacific and land on US shores?

For now, video game TV from the Far East will finds it way through webcasts and illegal bootleg recordings. But as the popularity of gaming competitions continues, and the acceptance of Asian pop culture grows stronger, TV viewers and gamers around the globe may not have to wait too much longer for the arrival of Asia's video game TV revolution.

58 Comments

  • Softaco21

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 12:46 am GMT

    Its good to see that there are people who take gaming seriously, even if they are not in the US...

  • LordOfMidnight

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 9:27 am GMT

    Yeah, G4 did ruin tech TV. I miss the old days with Leo, Pat, etc.

  • ghsacidman

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 8:54 am GMT

    Today is a good day for Gamers. If the US follows suit with Live Tournaments and big cash prizes.... There would be a call for more professional gamers..... Someone here could be the future "Babe Ruth" of professional gaming and not even know it yet. Gaming could be as big as professional football. The NGA Nation Gamers Association.

  • plightstar

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 8:48 am GMT

    Would be good if we cud have something like that in the UK, wud be like Gamesmaster but all day. All we get is some Italian Games network which is so rubbish and then gets cut short later in the day and replaced by Interactive press the red button now games and at night bloody Babestation like interactive po*n. Anyway Gaming needs a channel or more shows like what the Asians get so people can learn about it without thinking everyone who plays games are 12.

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 8:35 am GMT

    tommy tallerico still thinks he's 4 years old. the other loser is like the king of dorks with his oversized head. oh and tommy's game music sucks butt, jus listen to the shows theme music-what a masterpiece. the shows' intro makes my eyes burn and my tummy hurt. just about everything they review is so old it's in the $20 game bin by the time the show airs. but their reviews are decent. don't think i'm a hayta-i jus keep it reala. i wish them all the best.

  • ZEtAHybrid

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 8:25 am GMT

    I'm happy with G4

  • dr_taffin

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 7:05 am GMT

    I have to say, the last thing I want to watch is somebody else playing a videogame. I could root for my friend against someone, but Fata1ity, or some South Korean champion gamer? Not interested. It's a waste of valuable time that could be spent playing the game myself.

  • elreyway

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 6:56 am GMT

    y did they take away my TINA WOOD ? .....damn u g4 ...the only thing good in g4 is x-play, though i wish adam sesswhatever would die....thx g4 4 getting rid of the shows that mattered and 4 ruining the screen savers....attack of the show friggin sux

    PS3 savings: $0.00........just say no, just say no, just say no....aaaaaah i cant !!.....hippie lettuce u own me

    MugeN -aka- MugZ....not elreyway

  • dragonsama

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 6:49 am GMT

    I'll sum this up really quick.

    Korea's Game TV Stations >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> G4

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 6:27 am GMT

    the most relevant show on G4 was G4tv.com and now iss gone. all the other shows on G4 are so dated iss pointless to watch. now we get to watch star trek, waht a sad joke.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 4:21 am GMT

    man, i miss the 'nintendo power' show that was on in the 80's...

  • BurdGoBoom

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 7:23 pm GMT

    Because the "male 18-34 demographic" is the only one that plays games...

  • DEViANce3

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 4:31 pm GMT

    Dat's it. Im goin to Korea to make a living playing games

  • natethegreat235

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 3:40 pm GMT

    I read somewhere that in china MMO games are becoming such a problem that the government is forcing the companies that run MMO's to limit children to playing MMO's for no longer then 3 hours at a time. If they go over there character's levels/powers are cut in half. That only applys for kids though.

  • krispydigital

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 2:18 pm GMT

    yea....korea is like that. I watched this one match, and this one popular dude was gonna lose... all these girls were crying. But he made some frickin insande comback with a dropship... and yea.... its just insane. Apparently that dude makes 700k a yer -_-

  • PSPdude79

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 11:10 am GMT

    That's cool but I think somthing like that would not happen in The U.S.

  • Sonicplys

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 10:16 am GMT

    They should put these shows on the AZN channel.
    That would rock.

  • Destiny_Smasher

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 4:59 pm GMT

    Then there's the whole spiel with Koreans playing so much MMO that they DIE.

  • IvanR34

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 4:54 pm GMT

    xzasdn

  • joeamis

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 4:08 pm GMT

    Also it still has more games being played online than most every other game out there, it was in the top 10 of the sales charts for years upon years, and its still being sold today (8 years later). Not that these facts should be noted of its quality, but rather something which gives weight to the equation.

  • joeamis

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 4:04 pm GMT

    Name them + tell why. In my personal experience and in the opinion of most gamers the world over, SC, was the best of it's time, better than all before it, and even seen as the best today. There are many reasons why, one of the most significant being the 3 vastly different races and incredible balancing.

    Also just wondering if you've ever played it online, tried UMS games, created your own campaigns or your own UMS games that you hosted online?

  • wytefang

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 1:21 pm GMT

    I thought it wasn't that great. There are and were FAR better RTSs, sorry bud. Talk about a game being WAY over-hyped...silly Koreans.

  • joeamis

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 12:52 pm GMT

    I've known about SC being televised for years now, that is why I'm moving to Korea; that and the pretty asian women. Oh, and I still play SC, and always will; it's one of the most amazing games ever made, anyone who calls it cr@p needs a lobotomy.

  • 481989

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 11:33 am GMT

    Man, I would love to see that Korean Starcraft tournament.

  • 1krnassassin

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 10:03 am GMT

    Which is exacly why, in America, the channel should be a tech channel first, video game channel second. Just like TechTV was. Mainly focused on the technology stuff which is always changing, but when E3 arrived, a lot of the shows added stuff about that and xplay got more air time. But when I went over to Korea, I was watching those channels 24/7. I really couldn't get enough, me and my friends are still talking about those things. But when I think about a show like that over here in America, it just doesn't feel right. Maybe it's because I know that some person who doesn't know gaming will host and mess it all up. I really do miss TechTV though, thats where my first love of technology started.

  • Destiny_Smasher

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 9:12 am GMT

    Yea, I'd say G4 is lucky just to be around right now. Spike TV has tried to do their owbn VG stuff, and I remember seeing a small show on Next-Gen stuff recently, and it was amazing because I was able to watch MGS4 footage in high-res, solid framrate-ness, but still...
    G4 HAS been taking off all of their gaming shows,and that is because, quite simply, they probably just don't get the viewers.
    And let's face it, gaming news isn't exactly somethinhg you can have exciting programming about every week.
    GDC, E3, TGS, you've got plenty to cover, and you spend an entire week sifting through E3, but after that, there's just not all that much except reviews of recent games, which is where X-Play falls in.

  • solsub

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 8:29 am GMT

    "What the hell ever happened to Leo LaPorte by the way?" He's the host for Call for Help at G4TechTv here in Canada. Yup, he's still around.

  • FortunaBib

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 8:23 am GMT

    Can i actually download that episode of Gamecenter GX somewhere? Sounds really interesting.

    By the way: In Germany, we have just one show dedicated to video games. It's called "Giga Games", and it's two hours a day, all week. But they have a hard time staying on the market and taking the show further, since not many people watch it... it's Germany, not Korea.

  • XlpranksterlX

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 8:07 am GMT

    Screenshots 8 & 9 sum it up nicely for those of you that didnt read.
    Anyway im surprised they dont talk about WOW in there.

  • wokisan

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 7:37 am GMT

    I would love to be able to watch some of these programs. The Gamecenter CX show sounds hilarious but I know alot of peeps here in the US would think it's just 'stupid'. I don't think we will ever see these shows over here in the States. As far as G4 goes....how exactly are they concentrating on gaming? ROFL. Execs make these statements all the time that are just so obviously false....do they think we are that stupid. Geez......................BTW I love the drama on Iron Chef...cracks me up.. "And today's mystery ingredient is....(drum roll) CARROTS!!!! (dramatic music) Yes, Carrot Battle begins NOW!!!" LOL.

  • petrnorth18

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 7:01 am GMT

    i wish we had some more video game shows!

  • Atarii

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 6:27 am GMT

    North America will likely never sustain a popular 'video game' program channel. Look at G4 taking over TechTV.... it sort of ruined both.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 5:02 am GMT

    more video games shows to watch

  • gdogg4210

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 2:43 am GMT

    Colorful

  • wytefang

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 2:39 am GMT

    G4TV was totally weak, they were mainly console supporters and it was very obvious at that. Glad it's gone, honestly. I do enjoy Xplay though due to their crappy rating system they should probably call X-play, 3 out of 5. Digital Playground is interesting from time to time and the show with Tommy Tallarico and Victor (forget what it's called) is very good, I think. Their reviews are far better than X-play's... South Koreans are still playing STARCRAP? LOLOLOL

  • wytefang

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 2:36 am GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • winnazdaluza

    Posted Jan 21, 2006 12:19 am GMT

    I think there are some naive old people people out there that still think video games are for kids instead of a cultural phenomenon and the newest social revolution.They need to wake up and smell the coffee . vidoe gamming is part of the future --they can deny it now but not for long.

  • arnyy

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 10:47 pm GMT

    The board game I went to occasionally, enjoi_your_day, didn't have drinks for free. In fact, they were very expensive. Saw a sign that said 시티 DVD 방 on Jongno, I think between the second and third station. Amusing to me because of the pronunciation discrepancy.

    You ever go to the arcade in Insadong? They have about 4 different types of Bubble Bobble. All of them the HARD version. Couldn't get past level 12.

  • ZeldaMaster32

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 10:36 pm GMT

    I want G4tv.com back on the air! I miss Tina, Jeff, and Laura.

  • Dax207983

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 10:15 pm GMT

    Sorry but I find X-Play mostly funny and entertaining. The biography show G4 does (can't remember the name) is well done, sort of an A&E for videogames. But some of the other crap: Man Show, Star Trek, Happy Tree Friends (disgusting) is mind-numbingly off topic for a VIDEO GAME CHANNEL. What the hell ever happened to Leo LaPorte by the way?

  • Wesker22222

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 10:07 pm GMT

    yeah G4 is really screwing things up it all started for me with the new attack of the show thing i wasnt really into that i mean they took allot of the tech stuff off not to mention new shows that are coming up I mean whats up with training camp and not to mention star trek i mean whats up with that they shouldve kept g4tv.com , the screensavers and have more shows that are purely tech and games. say all you want aobut judgement day sucking but at least they only talk games

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 10:05 pm GMT

    I'd like to see some of those shows, it looks pretty fun. And very good article GS, enjoyed the read a lot.

  • enjoi_your_day

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 9:37 pm GMT

    I live in Seoul, its all true, and yes Korean people LOVE Starcraft. Also their used to be three channels that had game coverage. These guys over here are hardcore. Especially PC gaming their are PC Bongs (pc cafe's) every like 15-20minutes, and offer great prices and with many more now offering free drinks, food, and console gaming.

    Hardcore gaming is very accepted in Korea.

  • 2bitSmOkEy

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 9:04 pm GMT

    gaming has become a big part of korea's culture. that is where most of the big tournaments are held for pro gamers (at least for starcraft and warcraft3) and its all televised and such. i have never been their only read about it but i assume that wathcing matches on tv is like watching football or basketball here. this sort of programming will never make its way to north america because gaming is still looked down upon by society (at least in terms of hardcore gaming). it is a shame because i personally love wathcing matches of counter strike or warcraft while i eat or when im bored. if only some1 with massive influence could start shining some positive lights on the whole esports movement that is happening in the rest of the world. websites like www.gotfrag.com have become quite serious but that isnt enough, we need some1 big like microsoft to start using xboxlive to hold leagues and tournaments for fps games and hopefully sponsors will catch on and start supporting the whole pro gamer dream. my 2 cents anyways.

  • ze_krusty_krab

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 8:36 pm GMT

    More proof that Asia really does have it sweet when it comes to videogames. Rest of the world, look on in envy...I happened to watch some videogame TV when I was in Singapore last year, and it really is good entertainment. Hopefully , such programming can find its way into living rooms in other parts of the world, too.

  • abdu4

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 8:25 pm GMT

    Cant wait to watch it

  • arnyy

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 7:52 pm GMT

    Lots of Lurkers in those games. Lots and lots of them. When I watched them, nearly 60% of the time it was Lurkers vs Heavy Metal.

  • Donkeljohn

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 7:39 pm GMT

    Infotainment at its best

  • Mona5443

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 7:30 pm GMT

    Good article. I would love for something like that to happen here in the states, but it probably wouldn't.

  • breakout911

    Posted Jan 20, 2006 7:27 pm GMT

    I'd gladly accept it, especially after G4 ruined TechTV.

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