Foreign drama thread (BBC4, C4's Walter Pres, Sky Arts etc)

Oh boy, this is going to get more interesting. It looks like Channel 4 will set up a dedicated channel to show foreign dramas (that will probably include Korean dramas). It'll go by the name, 4World Drama.

Channel 4 press release

Digital Spy report

I think Korean dramas could find it's way on to that:

@Channel4 to launch #4WorldDrama service @All4 @4oD dedicated programming block @More4Tweets http://t.co/Nj40C9CVgW pic.twitter.com/ifxMV11ZgE

— London K-Drama Club (@KDramaClubLDN) June 9, 2015

Hopefully, I hope BBC iPlayer, and ITV Player could do something similar like what Channel 4 is doing for foreign dramas.

Sounds good, although it's an on demand service rather than an outright channel. I suspect the majority of content will be European, however.

The BBC possibly, but ITV as a mainstream broadcaster is very unlikely, although they're showing Jordskott on ITV Encore, their premium drama channel.

From what I read about the 4WorldDrama VoD service, the programmes will be mainly European, although I understand they will be showing drama from Argentina in addition. A launch around Series 2 of The Returned would be perfect for the launch.

According to sources, Channel 4 said they'll be picking up dramas from around the world . So that means Korean dramas, and maybe dramas from Hong Kong could be added in the future.

I'm hoping the BBC could follow this. Even though you said that ITV is a mainstream channel, that doesn't mean they may jump in on this.

Around the world as a quote is ambiguous. Apple are launching a global radio station, skewed around English language alternative and urban music. That doesn't mean they'll start playing Korean music.

Not to go off topic, I've seen some radio station on Apple Itune having dedicated station for K-pop. Also, why do some of you sound so skeptical if K-drama can't be shown on All4? I already shown you that K-dramas has already gotten a big fanbases around the world, and a lot of them can hold up to European dramas in term of storyline and charm.

I've watched bits of some K-drama and J-Dorama and they are very different, at least to my eyes, to the European (often Northern European) drama that is proving popular in the UK. I think that the Nordic Noir stuff, in particular, has become really accessible, probably coupled to the massive growth in popularity of Nordic Noir crime fiction books. This isn't just a UK thing - The Netherlands and Germany are also big consumers of Nordic drama (Germany has a strong link to Scandinavia and co-produces a lot of the stuff)

I understand that, but I think Korean dramas (along with HK dramas) can have the same type of appeal like their European counterparts. I mean K-dramas and Asian dramas can have appeal that you can't find in European dramas. I mean you're not going to find an exotic period drama in European dramas when Korean dramas have them. Also I don't see how a K-drama wouldn't appeal to a UK audience when it was proven that K-dramas have been watched by 18 million Americans (and majority of them aren't Asian-American audiences). So the UK audiences wouldn't be that different from the US audiences (except the UK audiences are more open-minded to English subtitle shows then your average American audiences).

Just today, I saw this trailer for the upcoming gritty cop thriller from South Korea, Hidden Identity. Check out the trailers:

From Dramafever:



In case if the one from Dramafever is region blocked, here's the region free trailer (minus the English sub):



This drama look like it could appeal to the UK audiences.

OK, you like Korean drama, we get it.

Yes, and I think these genre may have fans in Europe and UK is no exception. As I said, there shouldn't be any issue showing K-dramas in UK TVs in the future. I mean it's good that UK can show European dramas, and K-dramas (and dramas from Hong Kong, and Mainland China) shouldn't be any different. Don't tell me the UK audiences don't want to see an Asian face (I mean I get the impression the UK is more open-minded after I read that foreign dramas with English sub are shown).

I mean it would make me happy to see UK TV could show K-dramas, and dramas from Asia because in the US you can't see US TV network showing foreign shows with English subtitle. I mean you'll not see a US TV channel showing The Killing (got a US remake), Spiral (available on Hulu), Those who Kill (that one got a US remake), or The Bridge (also got a US remake and the original is shown on Hulu) in it's original audio with English subtitle when the UK can do this. The only way to watch them in the US is either on Hulu, Netflix, etc... I understand showing foreign dramas on UK TV can be limited due to budget, and other issues. But at least Channel 4 is kinda smart for making a dedicated VOD for world dramas. I'm hoping BBC iPlayer will follow and can do the same to maybe help foreign dramas gain more audiences in the UK. It would make me proud to see K-dramas and East Asian TV dramas shown on a TV in a English-speaking country like the UK when US can't do this.

I don't expect US TV network to show neither East Asian dramas or non-English European dramas anytime in the future (that's why I'm happy for Hulu and Netflix exist for). But as an American, I have more respect for audiences in the UK because they can handle English subtitled TV dramas better then majority of the average American audiences (although that has been changing thanks to streaming sites like Hulu and Netflix).

I missed this one, starts Friday:


http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/more4-acquires-kampen-om-tungtvannet-translation-heavy-water-war

Ah - knew it was imminent. Didn't know when. Looks to be good.