YouTube creators called in to revive TV

JTBC's new reality show “LAN Cable Life” hosts including comedian Lee Young-ja, left, pose during a press conference at the cable network's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of JTBC

By Park Jin-hai

Television is on the wane. Even the most popular local TV shows are struggling with single-digit viewership ratings.

In contrast, short mobile content is fast taking the place of traditional media, thanks to strong backing from generation Z _ those aged between 13 and 24. These creators live-stream their interests on a wide range of topics from online game broadcasting and makeup tutorials to dining, on YouTube or afreecaTV and enjoy as much popularity as celebrities.

According to a Korea Press Foundation survey released in 2017, one in five teenagers responded that they frequently watched mobile streaming shows. Content creator is now one of the most sought-after professions among teens.

To adapt to this trend and expand its viewers to include the young generation, broadcasting companies have been inviting those online one-man broadcasters into their frame of aired TV shows.

JTBC's new reality show “LAN Cable Life” premiered last Friday, featuring online content creators who have become cultural icons for young people.

Popular YouTuber Banzz is seen in JTBC's reality show "Lan Cable Life." / Courtesy of JTBC

On the show, hosted by comedians Lee Young-ja and Kim Sook and JR from boy band NU'EST W, popular Youtubers Banzz, SSIN, Yumdaeng, and BuzzBean will show their daily lives and show what goes on once they turn off their cameras.

“One-man broadcasting has been regarded as a sub-culture. But TV stations are moving to bring it into the mainstream,” said culture critic Kim Kyo-suk.

“Variety shows, which ran out of fresh formats after years of observatory reality shows, regard it as a breakthrough.” Reflecting viewers' interest in the rising new profession, the show's first episode started well with nearly 3 percent viewership in Seoul metropolitan area, according to Nielsen Korea.

Countering the misunderstanding that creators make easy money, the show disclosed their annual income and what they spent making their shows.

Banzz, with more than 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube, specializes in eating massive amounts of food and earns 1 billion won a year from his online broadcasting.

He disclosed that he spent up to 12 hours a day exercising so he could perform his two-hour binge eating show and that he spent 7-10 million won buying food each month.

Another creator Yumdaeng, who mainly broadcasts interactive talk shows on diverse topics, recalled when she had to sit in front of a camera when she had not fully recovered from a kidney transplant.

Also, the creators gave tips about lighting and camera angles for different types of content.

“You might think that online creators have an easy job where they get a lot of gifts for just uploading a short, 10-minute video and putting their makeup on in their rooms,” said beauty YouTuber SSIN during the press conference for the show at the broadcaster's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday.

“In reality, the work requires a great deal of research and effort behind the scenes. You have to learn about cameras and known everything about editing, planning, directing, and audio.”

The show airs on Friday at 9 p.m. on JTBC.