The 'Special Baseball Live Broadcast - Fire Fighters VS Inha University' ended with a victory for the Fire Fighters, thrilling not only the 17,000 spectators but also the viewers.
The match, held on the 22nd at 2 PM at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, was broadcast live on SBS Plus, and the comeback of 'Baseball God' Kim Sung-keun and the thrilling 7-6 victory of the Fire Fighters sent excitement through homes.
The broadcast recorded a peak viewership rating of 1.2% among the target audience (ages 20-49) and a household peak rating of 1.5% (according to Nielsen Korea's paid broadcasting in the metropolitan area), clearly demonstrating viewer interest. Additionally, the nationwide peak viewership reached 306,000, marking a 'mega hit'. Previously, 'Fire Baseball' episode 7 recorded a maximum concurrent viewership of 272,700.
This 'Special Baseball Live Broadcast' was the first-ever TV live broadcast that allowed viewers to experience the performance of the Fire Fighters without any editing. Like other sports events, it engaged viewers for 3 hours and 20 minutes, fully conveying the sincerity and passion of the 'Fire Fighters', who are more serious about baseball than anyone else, over nine innings.
Both teams showed a fierce commitment to the competition, with multiple requests for 'video reviews', and Park Yong-taek, who was trailing 4-1 against Inha University until the third inning, made a remarkable comeback performance, earning him the MVP of the day. 'Genius Shortstop' Kim Jae-ho also showcased an incredible defensive play in the seventh inning, receiving high praise with comments like "A play you would see in Major League Baseball!" which effectively stimulated viewers' dopamine.
Most importantly, Kim Sung-keun, who returned to the field that day, utilized his charismatic leadership and cool strategies to make the live broadcast even more exciting, despite the intimidating momentum of Inha University in the early three innings.
When Inha University's strategic play ignited in the third inning, Coach Kim quickly pulled out starting pitcher Lee Dae-eun and brought in Nippert, successfully navigating the crisis with a sacrifice fly.
In the ninth inning, Moon Kyo-won, who played for Inha University instead of the Fire Fighters, hit a timely hit against Yoo Hee-kwan, closing the gap to one point. Instead of substituting the pitcher, Coach Kim surprised everyone by choosing to trust Yoo Hee-kwan one more time. Yoo Hee-kwan rewarded Coach Kim's faith by finishing the ninth inning with a strikeout, securing a victory for the Fire Fighters in their first live broadcast game.
After the game, Park Yong-taek, who was named MVP, shared his thoughts on completing the first live broadcast game. He said, "We, the Fire Fighters, always play baseball sincerely and desperately. There are people who don't know our mindset, but I'm glad we could show how fun and hard we play baseball through this live broadcast," he smiled.
He continued, "It's been five years since I've played in a live broadcast game. I only interviewed players from the commentary booth, but doing this interview as a player feels different," expressing his excitement about the live broadcast after five years.
Regarding the pivotal moment in the fourth inning, he humbly stated, "I thought to keep the timing light and focus on the hitting point, avoiding an overswing, and it seems like a good hit came out."
Finally, Park Yong-taek expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the viewers who watched the live broadcast.
He said, "Retired players and those who haven't yet ignited their flames are gathering to play baseball sincerely. I think it was a great opportunity to show how genuine we are, and I hope there will be many more opportunities like this in the future. Many people came to the baseball field today and watched from home, and I hope you always love our baseball and the Fire Fighters," he stated.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
