'Running Man' Time Slot Wil Be Moved To Weekday Evening Or Late Night?

"Running Man" variety show might start airing at a different time slot soon. A source from SBS revealed Tuesday that the new broadcast time will probably take place in spring as part of a broadcasting strategic overhaul. Korea's longest running variety program has been on air since 2010 every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. KST.

The time slot has been part of SBS' Good Sunday lineup that competes against the other two major networks MBC's Sunday Night and KBS2's Happy Sunday lineups. The show goes head to head against MBC's "Secretly Greatly" and KBS2's "1 Night 2 Days." Yet this might soon change as SBS' reality TV competition program "K-pop Star" finally closes after six seasons. "The sixth season of "K-pop Star" is ending in April, so various broadcast schedules are being considered to fill up the empty spot, and "Running Man" is one of those programs that might be moved around. We have many options in mind, like switching to a weekday evening or late night slot or sticking to the current schedule," Soompi quoted the SBS insider as saying.

"Running Man" received a second lease on life after its creator stepped in and saved it from its scheduled cancellation this month. The creator and also SBS' Chief of Headquarters Nam Seung Yong explained that the show "isn't just a variety program" as it "boasts 100 million fans just overseas" and so decided that cancelling the show "just because of internal problems" is a disservice to its many viewers.  

Its current cast members Kim Jong Kook, Song Ji Hyo, Lee Kwang Soo, Ji Suk Jin and HaHa kicked off their Asian fan meeting "Running Man Live 2017" this month with a special appearance of former member and rapper Gary, also known as Monday Couple onscreen partner with Song Ji Hyo. The "Nation's MC" Yoo Jae Suk couldn't make it to the fan meeting tour because of his hectic schedule.