An official from SBS stated on January 6, “Running Man recently has received a 100 million won bonus.” The official continued, “The program was rewarded with the bonus because it gave a boost to SBS entertainment programs, which have been faltering these days, and it has exceeded 20 percent in viewership ratings.”
In the meantime, SBS’ Entertainment Division have been encouraging producers with a policy to give incentives to a program that reaches 20 percent in viewership ratings to revitalize SBS entertainment programs, which have been on a downturn since Family Outing ended.
Running Man, which has gradually gathered popularity, ultimately broke the 20 percent mark, posting 21.7 percent (AGB Nielsen Media Research) on January 1 by the standard of capital area. It posted 19.2 percent nationwide, but as SBS computed the viewership by the standard of capital area, Running Man became the first recipient of the promised bonus.
But the results were kind of predictable. At the end of last year, the cast members of Running Man swept the SBS Entertainment Awards which was held on December 30. On that day, Yoo Jae Suk won the grand prize and Kim Jong Kook and Song Ji Hyo took home the Excellence awards, respectively. Haha won the Best Entertainer Award while Lee Kwang Soo, the Rookie Award. The program grabbed the top Excellence Program Award as well.
Meanwhile, actors who rarely appear on entertainment programs, Ji Jin Hee, Kim Sung Soo, Joo Sang Wook, and Lee Chun Hee, will join the January 8 broadcast of the show.
Source:eNewsWorld