SBS achieved a "quadruple crown" in viewership ratings by vividly delivering the key medal matches of the South Korean national team in shooting, table tennis, and swimming at the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games.

According to Nielsen Korea, a ratings research company, on September 23, the men's 400m medley relay final broadcast by SBS the previous day recorded a 2049 (targeted demographic aged 20 to 49) rating of 1.2% and a household rating of 3.5% in the Seoul metropolitan area, significantly outperforming MBC (2049 0.7%, household 1.9%) and KBS2 (2049 0.2%, household 1.6%). Nationally, it also claimed the top spot in the same time slot with a 2049 rating of 1.2% and a household rating of 3.0%, sweeping all four major metrics for both metropolitan and national households and 2049 viewers.

In the swimming arena that day, the men's 400m medley relay team consisting of Lee Ju-ho, Choi Dong-yeol, Yang Jae-hoon, and Kim Young-bum won the bronze medal while setting a new Korean record of 3:31.97. Prior to the race, commentator Park Tae-hwan's precise analysis that "recording a time in the 3:31 range will guarantee a medal" came true precisely as predicted, giving viewers goosebumps.

In shooting, commentator Kim Jun-hyuk and caster Yoon Jang-hyun vividly conveyed the moment Park Ha-jun and Ban Hyojin won the silver medal, while in the men's table tennis team round of 16, a spot in the quarterfinals was secured amidst the sharp analysis of commentator Hyun Jung-hwa. The women's volleyball bronze medal match (a 0-3 defeat against Thailand) also received favorable reviews from viewers for commentator Han Song-yi's calm, one-point lesson-style commentary.

Solidifying its strong presence in Asian Games broadcasting, SBS will continue its live broadcasts of the medal race today (September 23). Starting with the men's gymnastics team final at 1 PM, followed by the men's badminton team semifinals at 3 PM, and the men's and women's swimming finals at 5 PM, SBS plans to deliver the scenes of victory to living rooms in real time.

Reported by Kang Sun-ae

(Photo: SBS E&S / Reported by Kang Sun-ae)