[2026 Asian Games] MBC Asian Games Opening Ceremony Broadcast Ranks 1st with 0.7% 2054 Rating

MBC [Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games] Asia's sporting festival has finally begun! MBC's Kim Sung-joo and Kim Cho-rong, who teamed up for the opening ceremony for the second consecutive time, achieved the number one opening ceremony viewership rating thanks to their "veteran" chemistry that shone in Nagoya following Hangzhou!

- MBC's Kim Sung-joo and Kim Cho-rong achieve 1st place in 2054 viewership with high-quality Asian Games opening ceremony broadcast! - "As expected of MBC, the house of sports broadcasting" Ranks 1st in opening ceremony viewership! Unanimous praise poured in for the deep explanations and vivid sense of presence from Kim Sung-joo and Kim Cho-rong! - Women's handball secures a comfortable first win against Hong Kong! MBC ranks 1st in all categories: National, Seoul Metropolitan Area, and 2054 viewership!

The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games have entered 16 days of intense competition, starting with a spectacular opening ceremony. MBC continued its streak of ranking first in viewership for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony held on Saturday the 19th, as well as the first round of the women's handball full league match against Hong Kong.

According to data compiled by Nielsen, a professional viewership research institution, MBC recorded 1st place in the 2054 viewership with 0.7%, a key indicator of channel competitiveness reflecting changes in the media consumption environment, during the opening ceremony where caster Kim Sung-joo and announcer Kim Cho-rong worked together.

Additionally, in the previously held first round of the women's handball full league match against Hong Kong, MBC recorded 1st place in all categories with 0.6% (based on national households), 0.6% (based on Seoul metropolitan area households), and 0.2% (based on 2054).

The opening ceremony, held on Saturday the 19th at Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya, Japan, announced the start of the festival by expressing Asian harmony and solidarity under the slogan "Imagine One Asia, Unite Here." This competition, involving 45 countries, will feature medal competitions in 43 sports until October 4th. In particular, the performances and the lighting of the torch centered around the heart-shaped stage drew attention by capturing the opening ceremony's message that athletes, spectators, and Asia are connected as one.

MBC live-broadcasted the opening ceremony with the hosting of caster Kim Sung-joo and announcer Kim Cho-rong. The two, who have worked together for opening ceremonies for two consecutive games following Hangzhou, delivered the meaningful contents and various information contained in the opening ceremony, as well as the vivid moments of the atmosphere on site. Caster Kim Sung-joo introduced Techball, which has become a new official sport, explaining, "What soccer players used to practice has now become an official sport," while also touching upon the meaning of respect held by the Asian Games regarding the diversity of sports, stating, "Since there are sports that many countries can enjoy together rather than assigning only specific sports, it seems many different athletes are participating."

The entry of the athlete delegations proceeded in alphabetical order of country names. South Korea entered 16th, leading with the Taegukgi, with table tennis player Shin Yu-bin and rowing athlete Kim Dong-yong serving as joint flag bearers. As the South Korean delegation appeared, caster Kim Sung-joo delivered a powerful welcome, saying, "The proud athletes of South Korea are entering!" and announcer Kim Cho-rong conveyed the heated atmosphere on site, saying, "Many overseas Koreans in the stadium are waving the Taegukgi together."

The torch relay also left a deep impression. When Paris Olympics wrestling gold medalist Akari Fujinami appeared as the first torchbearer, announcer Kim Cho-rong expressed delight, saying, "It is said she likes K-pop and is very interested in Korean culture," and at the moment the torch was lit, she drew attention by vividly conveying the opening ceremony's 'heartbeat' concept with the expression, "It feels like heartbeats are echoing." Along with this, caster Kim Sung-joo expressed anticipation for the full-scale medal race, saying, "Starting with the opening ceremony, 16 days of intense competition will unfold."

In the first round of the women's handball full league held before the opening ceremony, South Korea secured a pleasant first victory by defeating Hong Kong 48-16. South Korea, which took control from the early part of the match based on solid defense, maintained a comfortable game management throughout both halves with fast counterattacks and various shots.

MBC caster Kim Min-ho highly evaluated the team's concentration, saying, "South Korea's reliable defense that will not allow even a single point," and after the match, he praised them, saying, "Every shot seen in handball appeared in this match," and "There must have been the burden and pressure of the first round, but they threw all of that off and showed a truly wonderful, perfect match." Commentator Yoon Hyun-kyung also gave unsparing support to the players, saying, "It is very good that they are leading the game but not slowing down their attack and are pushing forward." In particular, she expressed anticipation, saying, "The fact that there were no injuries despite the landslide victory is also a very good result," and "It was a match that started with smiles and finished with refreshing smiles until the end. I hope they quickly adjust their condition to continue their performance in the next match."

Meanwhile, South Korea will enter the medal race in swimming, women's handball, women's volleyball, shooting, and men's basketball finals starting from today (the 20th). MBC, the house of "trusted" sports broadcasting, plans to vividly broadcast the hot fighting spirit and moments of joy of South Korea for 16 days, led by a broadcasting team armed with diverse chemistry.

◆ At a Glance

· Publishing Institution: MBC

· Category: Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

· Distribution: September 20, 08:00

Source: MBC Press Release

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