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The poster for JTBC's upcoming survival show "Peak Time" / Courtesy of JTBC |
By Dong Sun-hwa
"Peak Time," a survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands, is scheduled to premiere on Feb. 15, according to cable channel JTBC.
The upcoming program will feature 23 boy groups who could not perform on stage for different reasons. Some of them have been on indefinite hiatus, while others already disbanded. Those who have been off the public's radar despite their musical talent, as well as rookie groups seeking more recognition, will also get the chance to showcase themselves with the help of experts in music production and performance.
Among the contestants are ATBO, VANNER, KINGDOM, BAE173, GHOST 9, BDC, 24K and DGNA. The most experienced act is DGNA, which debuted with the single "Admiring Boy" in 2010.
"About 30 boy bands debut every year, but only two to three of them survive," JTBC said. "We will discover hidden gems among the contenders, who desperately want to shine on stage."
"Peak Time" will be created by the production team of JTBC's hit show "Sing Again," which aired its first and second seasons in 2020 and 2021. The audition program became the talk of the town for shining attention on anonymous singers, who were only identified by numbers to stir up people's curiosity. Kim Ki-tae, the winner of the second season, received 100 million won ($91,000) in prize money.
Singer-actor Lee Seung-gi, who was an emcee of the "Sing Again" series, will host the upcoming show, with Super Junior's Kyuhyun, Girls' Generation's Tiffany Young, INFINITE's Sungkyu, WINNER's Mino, HIGHLIGHT's Lee Gi-kwang and singer-producer Jay Park appearing as judges.
"Peak Time" will also be released on Japanese platforms, CS Channel and ABEMA.