The initial season of the reality survival show, Produce 101, is under fire after the results of investigations came out.
The KCSC or the Korea Communications Standards of Commission decided to apply the highest level of possible punishment after investigations were done in line with the controversial manipulation that happened in the first three seasons of the show. Specific details of the said exploitation are also released.
Thus, the agency announced that they decided to fine Mnet over the violations during the following shows: Produce 101 Season 1, Produce 101 Season 2, Produce 48, and Produce X 101.
"Through devising a tactic wherein the final members of the group will undergo the viewers' votes to finally decide the final line-up, to increase the audience participation, they (viewers) were encouraged to vote for their choice. However, the results of the poll were manipulated to mislead the spectators, thus avoiding the public from unveiling the fair judgment," said one representative from KCSC.
KSCS revealed through their investigation that Mnet made the manipulations on the mentioned seasons through randomly setting the final rankings before the final occurrence of the vote, overturning rankings of eliminated and safe trainees, and the deceptions done among viewers by delivering false and unfair results. In particular, Produce 101 season 1's fourth and final round of poll were manipulated.
Lee So Young, a member of the broadcasting subcommittee, shared that CJ ENM Strategy and Support Vice President Lim Hyeong Chan confirms that the manipulation is true. IZ*ONE, a female group that is the product of Season 3 was mentioned due to the said exploitation.
Although Produce X 101 was not specified among the other mentioned shows, Lim Hyeong Chan revealed that it is included among the survival shows' manipulation controversy. Being said, one of the I.O.I members' ranking in Season 1 was manipulated to enter a spot in the group.
The exact amount that CJ ENM and Mnet is yet to be known as several details of violations has to be considered. As an initial projection, a fine of around $101,020 is being discussed initially. We will keep updates on this.
Mnet's Produce 101 is a widely-known talent reality survival show franchise by CJ ENM aiming to form new girl or boy groups. It started in South Korea and since then extended to Japan and China. It has become a sought after show among KPOP audiences internationally that it gathered around 4.3 billion views on Tencent Video. I.O.I, Wanna One, IZ*ONE and X1 are the byproducts of the talent search.
