MBC reconsiders airing Disney+ drama ‘Big Bet’ after internal backlash

The MBC broadcast of Disney+ original series “Big Bet” remains uncertain. Courtesy of Disney+

MBC is reconsidering its decision to air the Disney+ original series “Big Bet” after internal pushback from its own drama production staff.

According to MBC officials on Wednesday, discussions are underway to reevaluate the planned July broadcast of “Big Bet” in the network’s prime Friday-Saturday slot. The move comes in response to a joint statement issued by 53 producers and crew members from MBC’s drama division on Monday.

In the statement, the drama department criticized management’s decision to prioritize “Big Bet” over the new original series “Judge Lee Han-young,” which had already been cast and scheduled to air this year. The internal team claimed that the new series was postponed until 2025 to make room for the Disney+ title.

The drama division said it had explicitly opposed the programming change during a Drama Competitiveness Committee meeting held on Mar. 27, but the decision was pushed through regardless. They accused MBC’s executives of attempting to manufacture a budget surplus by delaying an in-house production.

The group further condemned the move as unilateral and lacking proper consultation, stating, “MBC is at risk of becoming nothing more than a rebroadcast channel for Disney+.”

Along with demanding a review of the “Big Bet” programming decision, the drama team called for greater authority over drama lineup planning and a shift away from revenue-centered budgeting practices.

“Big Bet,” which originally premiered on Disney+, stars Choi Min-sik and gained popularity for its gritty portrayal of crime and gambling in the Philippines.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.