JTBC Suspends Variety Shoots Except 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' and 'Dating War'

JTBC, the Korean broadcaster now going through corporate rehabilitation procedures, is beginning its downsizing effort by temporarily suspending filming for part of its entertainment lineup. The move affects variety programming first, signaling an immediate reduction in production activity while the company responds to its financial situation.

The broadcaster will continue filming only the popular variety show 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' and the new variety program 'Dating War.' Shoots for other titles, including 'Divorce Cooling-Off Camp,' 'Knowing Bros,' and 'Talk Pawon 25 O'Clock,' will be put on hold for the time being.

The suspension appears to be connected to JTBC's declaration of debt default and the subsequent applications for corporate rehabilitation filed by affiliates of JoongAng Group. Once episodes that have already been filmed finish airing, the network is expected to fill those programming slots with reruns instead of newly produced installments.

JTBC declared default on June 12 after failing to repay 20.6 billion won in securitized borrowings by maturity. On June 14, JoongAng Holdings, Contentree JoongAng, Megabox JoongAng, and JoongAng P&I each applied to begin rehabilitation procedures, and JTBC followed with its own filing on June 15.

The sequence of developments across JoongAng Group is drawing close attention from the broadcasting industry, the media sector, and the entertainment world.