Sunday, April 13, 2008

[08.04.07][news] Singers become victims of MBC-SBS entertainment battle

MBC and SBS sparked off a controversy when they recently announced that singers who appear on other stations' Sunday variety programs will not be allowed to appear on their station's music programs. The management of the singers have been notified of the new rule, which has been implemented with immediate effect, starting with the programs in early April.

Thus this means that singers who appear on MBC's Sunday Sunday Night and SBS' Good Sunday will not be able to appear on SBS' Inkigayo and MBC's Show! Music Core. With the new restriction, the real victims are not only the singers, but the audience as well.

A spokesperson from one management company said, "Although singers appear on variety shows in the hope of getting a spot on the music programs, even this will be difficult now. Singers, being at the losing end of the bargain, can't do much but do the bidding of the stations. The fans are likely to form organized protests against this, and singers themselves are also nervous about this situation."

Singers' appearances on music programs are often a result of their appearances on the stations' variety shows, and it has always been the norm. These appearances also give them a chance to air their MV clips after popular programs.

However, the two stations' move of banning singers comes across as somewhat impulsive and extreme. It's clear that the rivalry between both stations have reached a boiling point.

An industry insider said, "Both stations have been at odds since the end of last year, when MBC refused to allow singers from their artiste management company appear on Exploration of the Human Body on SBS' Good Sunday. The response to We're Married on MBC's Sunday Sunday Night has also been very good. Doesn't this move seem like a reactive measure then?"

Affected artistes
Jewelry, Clazziquai, Crown J, Typhoon, Andy - banned from SBS Inkigayo
Super Junior, Lee Hyori, Han Young - banned from MBC Show! Music Core
Lee Seung Gi - no comeback stages on both MBC and SBS

Source: Hankook Ilbo
Chi trans:韩小国 @ BESTSHINHWA
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@shinhwabiz

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