JTBC has officially severed ties with Studio C1, marking the end of their collaboration on the hit baseball entertainment program 'Strongest Baseball.' This decision was announced on March 11, 2025, following serious disputes over production costs and trust issues, leading to significant confusion among participants and viewers.
According to JTBC, the relationship with Studio C1 deteriorated following claims of excessive production costs, indicating breaches of trust. "We decided not to produce the new season with Studio C1 due to the breakdown of mutual trust," the broadcaster stated, emphasizing the severe breach of trust.
The root of the problem lies in allegations made by JTBC against Studio C1 which suggests they billed the network tens of millions of won through duplicate billing for production costs. JTBC explained, "C1 requested production costs corresponding to two episodes even when dividing one game footage." This means even when the content could be aired as one episode, costs were claimed for two, leading to suspicions of financial mismanagement.
Further aggravation surfaced when JTBC asked C1 for detailed accounts of production expenses and supporting documents but claimed C1 failed to disclose such information without valid reasons. This lack of transparency intensified concerns within JTBC. "C1's actions exploit their presumed superior position over viewers," the channel reiterated, underlining both the moral and financial ramifications of such dealings.
Prior to this announcement, JTBC had formally notified C1 of the impending change as of February 10, 2025. They clarified, "C1 will no longer be involved in the production of 'Strongest Baseball,' as all intellectual property rights belong to JTBC." This stipulation indicates JTBC’s clear intent to safeguard their interests moving forward.
Despite the backdrop of this conflict, PD Jang of Studio C1 has publicly rebuffed the claims and stated conditions of the production. He remarked on social media, "The storyboard is proceeding without setbacks, and the tryouts scheduled for early March will proceed as planned,” directly contesting JTBC's authority over production decisions.
Discrepancies escalated as JTBC had previously announced the cancellation of the tryouts on February 25, which PD Jang contested through another social media statement, asserting the event's continuation was part of their commitment to fans. Jang previously posted, "I will do my utmost to keep promises to the fans," indicating his dedication amid rising tensions.
The conflict has drawn attention to the running narrative of 'Strongest Baseball,' where former and amateur players engage with various professional teams. Since its debut in 2022, the franchise has developed significant viewership and fan engagement, implying high stakes for creators on both sides of this conflict.
With possibly contentious ramifications, JTBC's future production plans include bringing season 4 back to viewers with a new production team. While they pledge to maintain quality and excitement for the show, the challenge will be ensuring they capture the established essence of 'Strongest Baseball' without PD Jang’s direct involvement, who has been pivotal as its PD and creative leader.
The questions surrounding the actual handling of previous seasons’ budgets remain unresolved, and as the situation continues to evolve, it raises doubts about collaborations between the two entities and the future success of the program. "We apologize for the confusion caused to all those anticipating 'Strongest Baseball' and remain committed to returning with season four," JTBC assured fans, signaling their dedication to the show's future.
Overall, the situation between JTBC and Studio C1 is indicative of larger issues within entertainment production, where transparency and trust are increasingly under scrutiny. The outcome of this specific dispute will be closely watched by the industry's stakeholders as the future of 'Strongest Baseball' hangs in the balance.