TSUTAYA Asia TV Drama 2017 Annual Rental Rankings Announced: "Descendants of the Sun: Love Under the Sun" Tops Asia with Highest Viewer Rating of 41.6% in Korea
2017.12.01
Press Releases
TSUTAYA Co., Ltd.
- "Love Asia Book 2017 Winter Issue" giveaway campaign begins on December 5th -
TSUTAYA Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / President and COO: Nakanishi Kazuo / hereinafter referred to as "TSUTAYA") has compiled data from TSUTAYA users to announce the most popular Asian TV dramas of 2017 in the "TSUTAYA Asia TV Drama 2017 Annual Rental Rankings."In conjunction with the announcement, TSUTAYA stores have also begun setting up a corner linked to the rankings, so please take this opportunity to enjoy popular titles that you may have missed. (*Not available at some stores)
Additionally, a giveaway campaign will be held from December 5th (Tuesday) to December 25th (Monday) to win the highly anticipated "Love Asia Book 2017 Winter Issue," which is packed with the latest information on Asian entertainment, including Asian TV dramas and movies, with a focus on Korea.
The top spot on this year's rental rankings went to "Descendants of the Sun: Love Under the Sun" (13 volumes), which is said to have sparked the Song Joong-ki syndrome with an astonishing viewership rating of 41.6% in South Korea. It became a social phenomenon not only in Korea but throughout Asia, and was also a huge hit in Japan. In second place is "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" (18 volumes) starring Lee Joon Gi. A highly talked about romantic period drama depicting the love lives of princes, starring a star-studded cast including Lee Joon-gi, IU, Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, and Baekhyun (EXO). In third place was the fusion historical drama "Moonlight Drawn by Clouds" (14 volumes), directed by the director of "Descendants of the Sun," which attracted attention for its cast of popular actors, including Park Bo-gum, and many historical dramas occupied the top spots in the rankings.
TSUTAYA Asia TV Drama 2017 Annual Rental Ranking: http://tsutaya.jp/rank2017/
*The Asia TV Drama Rankings will be published on the above website on Thursday, December 14th.
*Based on a nationwide TSUTAYA survey conducted from January 1st to October 31st, 2017
■ Asian Entertainment: Overall Review of This Year and Predictions for Next Year: TSUTAYA Asia MD, Asaba Ochiai
Starting with the highly talked about "Descendants of the Sun: Love Under the Sun," 2017 saw the release of new Korean period dramas almost every month, resulting in a rich selection of titles, and a year in which a huge number of customers rented them. There were period dramas ranging from classics to ones that are easy for younger generations to watch, so I think people of all ages were able to watch it. In fact, while Korean dramas are often thought of as something that women like, the ratio of male to female viewers is roughly equal when it comes to period dramas. Furthermore, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" and "Hwarang" are similar to the 2011 smash hit "Sungkyunkwan Scandal," in that they feature many pop and vibrantly handsome actors, making them appealing to a younger generation who have no interest in period dramas, and I believe that the success of these shows is due to the fact that they have attracted a new audience different from previous years.
This year was also a year in which K-POP groups that are popular among women, such as TWICE, who have been confirmed to appear on the Red and White Song Battle, and BLACKPINK, which is made up of members from various countries, made a name for themselves in Japan. In that sense, it's similar to 2011, when KARA and Girls' Generation were active in Japan and had their biggest sales ever.
Next year will also see the birth of some highly anticipated films and new stars, so please look forward to them.
■"LOVE Asia Book 2017 Winter Issue" Giveaway Campaign: http://tsutaya.jp/asia-book/
The latest issue of "Love Asia Book" is a special 44-page issue in full color, with Lee Min-ho from "Legend of the Blue Sea" on the cover. It is packed with the latest information on popular works, including special interviews with Joo Won and Lee Jung Shin (CNBLUE), and the customer-popular "Have you seen it all? Checklist."
■Campaign period: Tuesday, December 5th, 2017 to Monday, December 25th, 2017
■Campaign details:
During the period, customers who rent five or more eligible Asian TV dramas or other eligible works at TSUTAYA stores nationwide will receive a gift on a first-come, first-served basis.
■Contents: Cover features Lee Min-ho, Joo Won, and Lee Jung-shin (CNBLUE), an interview with Lee Min-ho from the hit drama "Legend of the Blue Sea" starring Lee Min-ho and Jun Ji-hyun, and "My Sassy Girl," a Joseon-era remake of the legendary hit film "My Sassy Girl" that has become a hot topic thanks to its co-starring of Joo Won and Oh Yeon-seo. The issue is packed with content, including other new dramas and movie specials.
■ "Love Asia Book" Media Overview: Distribution / 200,000 copies, Binding / B5 size, full color, Pages / 44 pages in total
*Distribution will end once supplies run out. *We do not sell "Love Asia Book."
TSUTAYA will continue to expand its selection of popular Asian entertainment, including TV dramas and movies from Korea, Taiwan, and China. Through the "Love Asia Book" giveaway and the publication of "Monthly Asia Magazine" (http://tsutaya.jp/asiamagazine/), the store aims to create a more enjoyable and comfortable atmosphere for movie and drama fans, as well as to propose a lifestyle for them.
Materials related to this matter
TSUTAYA Asia TV Drama 2017 Annual Rental Rankings Announced: "Descendants of the Sun: Love Under the Sun" Tops Asia with Highest Viewer Rating of 41.6% in Korea
Inquiries regarding this matter
TSUTAYA Corporation Public Relations Unit TEL: 03-6800-4764 MAIL: tsutaya_pr@ccc.co.jp
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