GMA Entertainment Group signed a co-production deal with SBS Korea for the reality-comedy game show, Running Man Philippines, on Tuesday at GMA Network Center.
Present during the contract signing were GMA Chairman and chief executive officer Felipe Gozon; president and chief operating officer Gilberto Duavit Jr.; executive vice president and chief financial officer Felipe Yalong; vice president for Entertainment Group Redgie Acuña-Magno; vice president for Business Development Department II – Comedy/Infotainment/Reality Productions Janine Piad-Nacar; assistant vice president for Business Development Department II Bang Arespacochaga; and senior program manager/producer Enri Calaycay.
Representing SBS Korea were chief global contents officer Kim Yong Jae and global production and business team director Kim Soo Hwan.
For Atty. Gozon, the partnership with SBS Korea is another milestone for GMA and the country, “We are very delighted to partner with a great institution in content. We know that Running Man is a top-rating program not only in South Korea, but in other countries as well. And we hope to make it a top-rater, too, here in the Philippines.”
Kim Yong Jae, in turn, is elated to bring the hit Korean show to the local audience, “This is the first time to co-produce this show in the Philippines. We experienced big success in Vietnam, China, and we are expecting a lot here, too. We are adapting the Filipino culture and artists, so Filipino fans have a lot to be excited for.”
One of South Korea’s most popular variety shows, Running Man features top Korean stars as cast and high-profile guests like Jackie Chan, Tom Cruise, Ryan Reynolds and Henry Cavill to compete in fun or hilarious challenges, games and races in different locations. After being on-air for almost a decade, the show has gained legions of fans not just across Asia, but all over the world as well.
It was supposed to hold a show in Manila for the first time, titled Running Man: A Decade of Laughter, last February 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena, tickets to which were sold out within an hour of selling. Due to COVID-19 threat, Running Man postponed its show to June 21.
