By This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that has spent some time in Korea:
South Korea’s big three national broadcasters, KBS, SBS and MBC, have huge influence on all aspects of daily Korean life, and sport is no exception. The battle between the three to attract sports viewers is growing fiercer in a lucrative, competitive market.
One thing broadcasters can agree on is that the average Korean television viewer is more interested in watching compatriots compete on the world stage than watching the game.
“Koreans are unusual in their sports viewing habits,” said Baek Jung-hyun, producer and director of sports at KBS, the nation’s publicly funded network.
“National feeling is the most important aspect of sports coverage. There are five great events in Korean sports broadcasting: The World Cup, World Cup qualifiers for the Korean national team, Olympic Games, baseball playoffs and (female figure skater) Kim Yu-na.”
“The special characteristic of the Korean television viewer is that almost every Korean cares more about how the Korean players on view are playing than how the game is going. Koreans love to watch Manchester United with Park Ji-sung but don’t care so much about the team without Park.” [Yonhap News]
She hasn’t seen...
6:25 pm on July 2nd, 2011 1
When Choo hits a HR but the Indians lose 8-1, Koreans are happy. When Choo goes 0-3 but the Indians win, Koreans are sad.
7:14 pm on July 2nd, 2011 2
Anyone who was in Korea before 2002 knew that soccer had not been the national passion it became then. And general interest rapidly dropped off again except when it came to international events with the few star players.
But Korea is not unique. The USA has places known for their fair-weather fans too. Los Angeles is the prime example. I can’t count the number of sports franchises that failed in there in my lifetime. The Dodgers are currently going through bankruptcy and despite all the potential of such a large media market, they lost all, and haven’t been able to attract a football franchises in decades.
I’m talking about real football. Not that sport they hired Beckham to play. Why? Because there, the value of a sports team is how much celebrity and status it attacks. Losing or marginal teams don’t bring out the “beautiful people”, they lose their trendiness and interest falls. Seems very similar to what this article suggests about Korea.
Compare that to places like Boston, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Chicago and even New Orleans where the fans are raised with a passion for their teams and support them for life, win or lose, and you see the difference.
7:14 pm on July 2nd, 2011 3
This is easy to figure out by looking at their sports stadiums when the national teams aren’t playing. Yes they have a lot of rabid baseball fans. Soccer? Yeah right? Figure skating? Only because Kim, Yun-Ah was the favorite for the gold. Where were all these people who “LOVE” figure skating in 2006,2002 etc.
8:02 pm on July 2nd, 2011 4
I don’t care who is playing. I just want to see the best.
8:48 pm on July 2nd, 2011 5
USA is the only country where nationalism is frowned upon.
8:57 pm on July 2nd, 2011 6
Sam,
“USA is the only country where nationalism is frowned upon.”
That’s the stupidest thing I ever saw posted here… and is absolutely untrue.
Nationalism in the USA is encouraged… well… Mexican nationalism.
8:58 pm on July 2nd, 2011 7
Sam – you don’t talk to a lot of Europeans do you?
9:06 pm on July 2nd, 2011 8
“Koreans love to watch Manchester United with Park Ji-sung but don’t care so much about the team without Park”
Duhhh…
11:49 pm on July 2nd, 2011 9
“But Korea is not unique.”
It certainly isn’t. I watch hockey once every 4 years…Which is when the Canadian team is kicking your ass at the Olympics.
12:08 am on July 3rd, 2011 10
Canadians are so cute when they are nationalistic.
You just have to root them on…
…and be happy for them when they win…
…like when the perpetually goofy-smiled club-footed kid with the harelip, and all the fibromas running down his neck and arm, takes first place in the Special Olympics.
Go Canada!
3:59 am on July 3rd, 2011 11
#10,
Ok. You win. When it comes to tasteless displays of blind nationalism, you guys will always be number one.
4:36 am on July 3rd, 2011 12
Teadrinker,
Listen… as a friend… please take my heartfelt advice and spend 14 seconds on Google to check for obvious come-backs so you can save yourself embarrassment by adjusting phrasing and presentation in such a way that they don’t bite you on the bottom.
Canada, Funk Yeah!
6:00 am on July 3rd, 2011 13
US television has almost zero interest in sports when a fellow citizen is not playing. This is fairly common in any country that has a significant number of successful athletes. The countries who are international in their sports viewing are typically the ones who have lousy athletes and teams.
7:04 am on July 3rd, 2011 14
#12,
7:07 am on July 3rd, 2011 15
7:42 am on July 3rd, 2011 16
Did you know that despite Canada being recognized by over 200 nations that it is actually a horribly written joke and Teadrinker is the punchline?
8:36 pm on July 3rd, 2011 17
#16,
1 Canadian dollar = 1.0433 U.S. dollars
10:33 pm on July 3rd, 2011 18
1 Azerbaijani Manat = 1.23 Canadian dollars
4:47 pm on July 4th, 2011 19
#18,
You’re from Azerbaijan? No? Didn’t think so.
Really, I find it hilarious that for years Americans would joke about the Canadian dollar not being real money. You’re eating your words now.
7:49 pm on July 4th, 2011 20
Teadrinker…
I understand.
The Canadian dollar was lower than the American dollar for a long time… and that did prompt jokes about it not being real money… and also built skills in spotting the dullest-looking cashier at the supermarket who was least likely to notice the toxic Canadian dimes that needed passing off.
And, now, the Canadian dollar is higher than the American dollar… although that might be due to an intentional devaluation of the dollar rather than a rise in the confidence and value of Canada.
The reason I pointed out Azerbaijani money being more “valuable” than Canadian money is to demonstrate that while relative values are important, absolute values are somewhat arbitrary.
The reality is that, Azerbaijani money is more “valuable” than Canadian dollars on paper… but there is likely widespread agreement that it is not more valuable to have… and not a sought-after currency.
The real test of “real money” is to check out currency exchanges throughout the world and see what is accepted and what the rate spread between buying and selling is.
The American dollar, the Euro, and the Yen are universally accepted at good rates.
The Canadian dollar?
Not so much.
But I don’t mean to sound so critical. I completely see your point. And, there may be some word-eating necessary… especially if it lasts… which it might… as America tries to make exports competitive, reduce imports, and bring in foreign investment to the housing market.
In reality, America and Canada have one of the best relationships of any two countries in the world… and it would not be unreasonable to form a monetary union between America and Canada… although Canada would not be blamed for waiting until America gets its irresponsible spending under control… if that can even happen.
9:45 pm on July 4th, 2011 21
Canada makes a fine top hat. Why without it all our heads would be cold in the winter. :p
And yes the US currency is intentionally inflated right now, its the consequence of creating so much currency during a recession. Its one of those necessary evil’s of the real world, after we can get our sh!t straight then things will start to improve. Next time we’re riding high economically we need to pay down on outstanding loans and reduce national debt.
9:52 pm on July 4th, 2011 22
Unfortunately, actions taken now, or not taken, may drive us back into a double dip.
Too bad economics is not a real science.
9:53 pm on July 4th, 2011 23
“America tries to make exports competitive, reduce imports, and bring in foreign investment to the housing market.”
Yes, it’s possible that the US would want to devalue its dollar to reduce the amount of imports (most of which are coming in from Canada, despite what your politicians will have you believe)…but, a double digit percentage drop over the last few years? No. You can’t attribute the devaluation to that alone. If that was the case, then the Canadian economy would have been contracting, when in fact it has seen some growth after suffering in 2009. It’s mainly because the US economy is in the dumps and the Canadian economy has seen some growth.
“In reality, America and Canada have one of the best relationships of any two countries in the world… and it would not be unreasonable to form a monetary union between America and Canada… although Canada would not be blamed for waiting until America gets its irresponsible spending under control… if that can even happen.”
It won’t. American politics are a basket case. Special interest groups have far too much power. Canada’s not there yet, despite the fact that we have Harper as PM.
12:53 am on July 5th, 2011 24
This last rescission was kinda funny actually, or at least people’s reaction to it. When the initial breakage happened the US dollar actually spiked in value. Deleting a few trillion “fake” USD out of the economy has that effect. Of course those tn of USD were the stocks and financial instruments of the banks, so all the high rollers and many 401K’s got their value blasted. Now throw tons of money back into the economy all while making it easier to create more money, inflation steps in and this the dollar’s international value is under attack.
The interesting thing about all this is that nothing production wise has changed in the USA. American’s aren’t buying as much as before, but seeing as we import vastly more products then we produce, that loss of buying power is hurting other countries more then its hurting the USA. If anything, in the grand scheme of things the USD is highly undervalued right now. We have a large correction coming soon, and there is absolutely nothing the US Government can do about it. The USA as both a country and as a people has simply spent too much, people were encouraged not to save money and to instead buy more. Trickle down / supply side economics work to make the production side richer but they absolutely lead to a huge financial crisis once the bill comes due.
2:49 am on July 5th, 2011 25
The Correction is gonna be ugly… and remembered for a couple of generations.
As with anything, ignore what people say and watch what those in the know do.
Start here…
http://politicalcorrection.org/mobile/blog/201106280009
5:31 am on July 5th, 2011 26
I meant The Great Correction.
I got a B- in Twenty-First Century History 101.
6:30 am on July 5th, 2011 27
http://www.economist.com/node/18897627
Anybody got a SOLID ECONOMIC reason not to take Chinese FDI after all the FDI we’ve put into them?
6:49 am on July 5th, 2011 28
#27,
As much as I hate the Chinese government, my investments in China have grown by 20% in the first half of this year.
8:14 am on July 5th, 2011 29
Thank you for that eye-opening link, CH. I’ll be adding the website to my regular reading list and passing around that link to my fellow VA residents. Want to thank Glans, too, for introducing me to the Daily Howler.
9:55 am on July 5th, 2011 30
Sonagi,
Take a look at this.
For the most part, everybody ignores the idea that a lot of really rich and powerful people and organizations invest as if the economy will fail further… and they have the combined power to make it happen.
They either believe it must happen or they are conspiring to make it so.
http://www.dailymarkets.com/stock/2010/05/05/how-is-the-us-economy-supposed-to-succeed-when-our-politicians-and-the-big-banks-are-making-billions-of-dollars-betting-against-it/
1:11 pm on July 5th, 2011 31
Thank you again, CH. A janitor who used to work at our school was fond of quoting his father’s bit of political folk wisdom, “Democrats take your money and give it to people who don’t want to work. Republicans take your money and give it to people who don’t have to.” Curious as to the political leanings, if any, of the two websites you linked to.
2:47 pm on July 5th, 2011 32
Conservative pundit David Brooks has his doubts about the Republicans.
BTW, Sonagi 29, it’s very rare when anyone accepts my reading recommendations, so I thank you.
3:14 pm on July 5th, 2011 33
Sonagi,
That is a problem. People are so worried about the political leanings of the source that it affects their consideration of the material.
All sides lie and all sides speak the truth… so content becomes much more important than leanings.
5:08 pm on July 5th, 2011 34
#32
Re: that Op-Ed. Anybody who wasn’t aware of that hadn’t been paying attention.
5:15 pm on July 5th, 2011 35
I’m not worried. I want to know what biases a source might have for the very reason you stated. Leanings DO matter, and that’s why it’s important to watch and read a variety of media.
5:48 pm on July 5th, 2011 36
Glans,
I had a look at the Daily Howler. Very solid writing, interesting and humorous take on issues (just read a few articles, but am I wrong to think he’s a centrist with conservative leanings?)…although the layout (black on grey) is a bit distracting. The best compliment I can give it is that if I were American, I’d probably become a reader.
3:51 pm on July 6th, 2011 37
ChickenHead 33, good thinking. If some guy says carbon dioxide causes climate change, we don’t decide the issue by asking if he lives like a guy who thinks carbon dioxide causes climate change.
Teadrinker 36, Somerby is moderately liberal. He despises fake liberals.