South Korean broadcast station MBC is receiving flak from viewers after its quick cancellations of several programs, including the variety program 'Come to Play' and sitcom 'What is Mom'.

The station suddenly cancelled its long-running variety program 'Come to Play' - featuring Yoo Jae Suk and Kim Won Hee - without notifying the producers and the cast members in advance, not even giving them the time to film a final goodbye episode. �This echoes a similar move MBC made earlier this week when it suddenly terminated the short-lived sitcom, 'What is Mom', without prior notice.

The cancellations seem to be a direct result of current CEO Kim Jae Chul and his declaration of a new start. "To place first in viewer ratings, December is very important," he said at a prior event. "We need to throw out what we have to, and change up what we need to change, so that we can claim first place next year."

The majority of MBC's programming had been suffering declining ratings throughout this year, the product of a months-long staff strike and the following dearth in new programming.

Although it is normal for stations to cancel under-performing shows and replace them with new ones, MBC viewers criticized that the station did not show proper etiquette and care towards its staff members, cast, and crew when it one-sidedly notified them of their program's cancellation.

"What should a follow-up program do to stop being cancelled?" viewers asked. "You say you're cancelling programs due to low ratings, but you're losing the hearts & minds of your viewers."

Source: MyDaily via Nate