Perfect ratio of fantasy and reality keeps viewers tuning in



By Jin Yu-young



In 2002, American broadcasting station ABC released the first season of "The Bachelor," a dating reality television series in which a single bachelor is immersed in a pool of women with hopes of marrying one by the end of the season. Highly popular, The Bachelor continues and completed its 22nd season in March 2018.



Spurred by the success of the American trend of dating reality shows, South Korea has created its own dating shows such as Channel A's "Heart Signal." Its first season drew attention from women in their 20s and 30s and last year its highest viewership hit 2 percent, a rating that was seen as positive given it aired on cable.





Poster for Chanel A's reality show Heart Signal 2