Watcha, one of the popular streaming service providers (OTT) in South Korea, is facing serious challenges in bringing the second season of their popular drama, "Semantic Error," to fruition. This drama, based on the Boys Love (BL) webtoon genre, unexpectedly achieved success after its release in February 2022. However, the fate of the second season of this drama is now uncertain due to the difficult financial situation faced by Watcha.
Watcha's revenue has significantly declined in recent years. According to reports from the Financial Supervisory Service Electronic Disclosure System of Korea, their revenue last year reached 438 billion won, with an operational loss of 221 billion won. Even after restructuring and selling subsidiaries in the previous year, Watcha still struggles to maintain financial stability.
The success of "Semantic Error" was uplifting news for Watcha, considering the great potential of this drama to attract audiences. However, many now wonder whether Watcha will be able to proceed with the second season of "Semantic Error." One of the main challenges is the involvement of one of the lead actors, Park Seo-ham, in mandatory military service. Park Seo-ham, who portrayed the main role of Jang Jae-young, has to be absent for an unpredictable period, complicating the planning for the production of the second season.
Watcha's financial constraints also play a determining factor. With declining revenue and increasing financial pressures, continuing the production of "Semantic Error Season 2" becomes more challenging. As an alternative solution, some parties have speculated the possibility of transferring the production rights of "Semantic Error Season 2" to other streaming platforms, such as Netflix.
Transferring production rights to Netflix could be an appealing option. Netflix has proven successful in presenting various genres including BL dramas. Another successful example is the BL drama "Heartstopper," which received warm reception from viewers worldwide. With a strong production infrastructure and capacity, Netflix could be an ideal platform to continue the narrative of "Semantic Error."
Although the transfer of production rights to Netflix may disappoint some Watcha fans, it could be a strategic step to ensure the continuity of the "Semantic Error" story. Moreover, with a strong BL drama presence on Netflix, there is high hope that the second season of "Semantic Error" will be well-received by global audiences.
Nevertheless, the final decision regarding the fate of "Semantic Error Season 2" is still in the planning stages. Watcha must consider various factors including finances, actor availability, and market potential. Whatever the outcome, fans of "Semantic Error" will eagerly await further developments of this drama with great anticipation.
source:
https://www.seoulfn.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=517407
0 Comments