JTBC and ’Strongest Baseball’ Director Clash Over Production Costs, Profit Sharing
A dispute has erupted between broadcaster JTBC and Jang Si-won, the director of the popular Korean baseball-themed entertainment program “Strongest Baseball,” over allegations of inflated production costs and disagreements regarding profit sharing. This conflict has led to the cancellation of tryouts for the show’s new season, leaving fans in limbo.
JTBC Accuses Studio C1 of overbilling
JTBC publicly accused Studio C1, Jang Si-won’s production company responsible for the first three seasons of “Strongest Baseball,” of improperly billing the network for production costs. According to JTBC, Studio C1 allegedly overcharged by “hundreds of millions to billions of Korean won” (equivalent to hundreds of thousands to millions of U.S.dollars).
JTBC claims the production company charged them duplicate fees. Contractually, production costs were to be calculated per game. Though, JTBC alleges that Studio C1 billed them as if they were producing two games when splitting a single game into two parts for broadcast, thereby inflating costs.
The broadcasting company further stated its concern that money it provided Studio C1 may not have been spent for the show. JTBC, which owns the IP and funds all production costs, has demanded records and documentation from Studio C1 to verify how production funds were spent. JTBC says Studio C1 has refused to comply,which the network finds unacceptable because they are a related company.
Director Jang Si-won Denies Allegations, Counter-Accuses JTBC of Profit withholding
In response, Jang Si-won vehemently denied JTBC’s allegations via social media, calling them a “serious distortion of facts” and a “defamatory accusation” against Studio C1 and himself.
Jang stated that the production contract with JTBC was based on a fixed total cost per season, agreed upon in advance, and not subject to retroactive cost adjustments. He argued any additional expenses due to things like extra filming or pre-emptions were absorbed by Studio C1 itself.
Furthermore,Jang counter-accused JTBC of withholding profit distributions from the program’s live audience attendance and merchandise revenue for the past two years. he claims JTBC is refusing to share earnings and has not been transparent about the overall scale of revenue that has been generated since the show became popular. He contends that while profit sharing occurred during the first season, JTBC has since refused, citing a lack of specific profit percentage regulations in the production agreement.
Intellectual Property Dispute
Tensions escalated when JTBC informed Studio C1 of its plans to produce “Strongest Baseball” in-house. Jang claims JTBC secretly contacted key cast members and staff, urging them to not work with the production company. Jang believes JTBC is attempting to steal knowledge, copyrights, production no-how, and other proprietary information related to the show.
The Future of ‘Strongest Baseball’
“Strongest Baseball” is a reality entertainment show about baseball, centering on a team known as the “Strongest Monsters.” Produced by Studio C1, founded by Jang Si-won, the show aired three seasons, concluding its most recent run on March 10th. The show has gained considerable popularity, making the current dispute all the more unsettling for fans who have been eagerly awaiting the next season.
How has the public reacted to the controversy surrounding “Strongest Baseball,” and has it impacted the show’s viewership or reputation?
JTBC and ‘Strongest Baseball’ Q&A: Unpacking the Controversy
Q: What is “Strongest Baseball”?
A popular Korean reality entertainment show centered around a baseball team called the “Strongest Monsters.” It’s a sports-themed program that has garnered a significant fanbase.
Q: What’s the central conflict between JTBC and Studio C1?
The core issue revolves around a dispute over production costs and profit sharing. JTBC, the broadcaster, accuses Studio C1, the production company founded by Jang Si-won, of overbilling for production expenses. Together,Jang Si-won counter-accuses JTBC of withholding profit distributions.
Q: What are the specific accusations of overbilling by JTBC?
JTBC alleges Studio C1 inflated costs by billing for two games when a single game was split into two broadcast parts. They also claim concern over how production funds were spent and demand documentation, which Studio C1 has allegedly refused to provide.
Q: How does Jang Si-won defend himself against the accusations?
Jang Si-won denies the overbilling,stating that the production contract stipulated a fixed total cost per season,not subject to retroactive adjustments. He argues that Studio C1 absorbed additional expenses. He also accuses JTBC of not sharing profits from audience attendance and merchandise sales.
Q: What’s the status of the new season of “Strongest Baseball”?
Tryouts for the new season have been cancelled due to the ongoing dispute, leaving fans uncertain about the show’s future.
Q: What is the intellectual property (IP) dispute about?
JTBC informed Studio C1 that they planned to produce “Strongest Baseball” in-house, without studio C1. Jang Si-won claims JTBC secretly contacted key cast members and staff to discourage them from working with Studio C1, attempting to steal knowledge, and proprietary information about the show.
Q: Can you provide some trivia about the show?
The “Strongest Monsters” were originally composed of retired professional baseball players. The first season of the show featured a regular season, playoffs, and a championship series, setting a precedent for the show.
Q: What’s next for fans of the program?
the future of “Strongest Baseball” hangs in the balance. Stay tuned for updates as the situation unfolds and the key players negotiate their differences to see if the Monsters will be able to keep their winning streak.
