SBS Ranks 1st in 2049 Ratings Before Nagoya Opening Ceremony, Live Broadcast of Korea-Japan Men's Basketball Match Today

SBS ranks 1st in 2049 ratings from women's handball before the opening ceremony! Anticipation rises for the Korea-Japan match today (20th).

Today (20th) is the men's basketball final between Korea and Japan! Meet the intense action through SBS live broadcast along with commentator Heo Hoon!

The SBS Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony, Asia becoming one through 'Harmonic HeartBeat'!

At the appearance of flag bearer Shin Yu-bin, announcer Joo Si-eun says, "As an older sister, I am very moved."

Caster Bae Seong Jae says, "Aichi-Nagoya becoming one, Asia becoming one."

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games announced their grand opening with SBS. SBS vividly conveyed the start of the Asian Games, which is being held in Japan for the third time, through a broadcast featuring caster Bae Seong Jae, announcer Joo Si-eun, and reporter Yoo Byeong-min. In particular, it heightened expectations for the 16-day competition by vividly capturing not only the key scenes of the opening ceremony held under the concept of 'Harmonic HeartBeat' but also the entrance of the South Korean delegation and the lighting of the flame.

According to the rating research company Nielsen Korea on the 20th, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games opening ceremony broadcast by SBS the previous day recorded a 2049 rating of 0.6% in both the metropolitan area and nationwide. Notably, starting from the first round of the women's handball full league held before the opening ceremony, SBS recorded 1st place in 2049 ratings with 0.2% in the metropolitan area, announcing the full-scale start of the Nagoya Asian Games amidst viewer interest. Furthermore, with the men's basketball final between Korea and Japan taking place today (20th), expectations are rising for another Korea-Japan match to be unfolded through SBS.

The opening ceremony on this day opened with a performance combining a heart-shaped main stage, music, and lighting under the theme of 'Harmonic HeartBeat'. The South Korean delegation entered alongside a stage carrying the message of 'Asia becoming one', with table tennis player Shin Yu-bin and rowing athlete Kim Dong-yong serving as flag bearers. Seeing this, announcer Joo Si-eun said, "Seeing our national 'Ppiyak-i' (chick) Shin Yu-bin appearing as a flag bearer representing the South Korean delegation like this, I am very moved as an older sister." 50 members of the South Korean delegation attended the opening ceremony to signal a powerful start.

The climax of the opening ceremony was decorated by the lighting of the flame and the finale performance. While Japanese sports heroes participated in the torch relay, hammer thrower Koji Murofushi handed the torch to his father, Shigenobu Murofushi, and the father and son climbed the torch stand together to light the flame. Afterwards, a finale performance involving all performers and the audience took place, and caster Bae Seong Jae concluded the opening ceremony by saying, "Now, we wonder if we can become a becoming Aichi-Nagoya and a becoming Asia."

Now, the full-scale medal competition begins starting today (20th). As major matches of the South Korean delegation continue, including the men's basketball final between Korea and Japan, SBS plans to convey the intense battles by broadcasting various sports live. Expectations are gathering to see how SBS, which announced the start of 'Asia becoming one' at the opening ceremony, will vividly convey the medal challenges of the South Korean athletes.

Meanwhile, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games broadcast live on SBS will take place for 16 days until Sunday, October 4, starting with the opening ceremony on the 19th.

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◆ At a Glance

· Issuing Organization: SBS

· Category: Asian Games

· Distribution: September 21, 14:17

Source: SBS Press Release

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