‘WHO IS NEXT:WIN’, which determines the formation of YG Entertainment’s new boy group, attracted many viewers with its interesting twist.
‘WHO IS NEXT:WIN’ is a new real survival program that divides YG’s 11 trainees into Teams A and B for a battle. The result of the fight depends completely on the viewers. The show was aired on Mnet and tvN for the first time on August 23.
Even before the program was officially revealed, ‘WIN’ drew much attention for its brutal rules for the trainee. But when the show went on air, the fierceness of the show was even more emphasized with the twists in episode 1.
YG’s founder Yang Hyun Suk aims to put a twist in the show by himself, by transforming into a cold and harsh producer. As one of the judges on SBS’s K-Pop Star, he was known for his angelic side by encouraging young contestants and giving them kind words. But now he is a completely different judge, not holding back on giving harsh comments, standing before WIN’s 11 contestants.
He tells K-Pop Star’s Lee Seung Hoon, “Somehow you look like a country mouse,” or to the oldest Kim Jin Woo, “Your expressions are over-the-top, compared to what you actually have.”
One of the members of Team A, Kang Seung Yoon, who is already well known to the public for appearing on a talent show, returned with a completely transformed self as well. Kang Seung Yoon, who always approached the audience as the ex-contestant of Superstar K and a rock star, surprised everyone with his sharp choreography and a soulful voice on the 1stepisode of WIN.
But Kang Seung Yoon is determined to win the battle on the program. On the show, he stressed, “I want to be a helpful member of the team, and I want to be the vocalist of the group WINNER.”
Many thought Team A would be at an advantage since they have two members already known to the public, like Kang Seung Yoon and Lee Seung Hoon, but after the 1st episode, Team B’s remarkable talents changed that perception and hinted a much fiercer battle that is yet to come.
B Team, with B.I. as the leader, won praises from Yang Hyun Suk at the end-of-the-month evaluation for its teamwork, “Currently Team B is better than Team A.”
But no one can predict the result because WIN solely relies on the audience to pick the team. During the 10 episodes the teams will have 3 battles, which the viewers can vote through online, mobile, and live text message system. WIN will be aired every Friday at 10p.m. on Mnet and 11:20p.m. on tvN.
The first episode on Mnet and KM on August 23 at 10p.m. rated 1% viewing rate, with the top of 1.5%, according to Nielson Korea (Mnet and KM in total, counting households with cable channels). The viewing rate hit its maximum when Team A’s Kim Jin Woo broke into tears with his father after going home.
The program will be aired overseas beginning from September 17, through channel V (part of the cable channels of START TV) and channel M (the Southeast Asian channel of CJ E&M) in 10 countries. In China, the largest video-sharing website Youku will exclusively air the program. On Daum portal site, fans will be able to enjoy replays and behind-the-scenes of the show.
cr: YG LIFE