Channel A’s dating reality variety show ″Heart Signal″ Season 5 is experiencing poor performance in both ratings and public interest.

Starting with Season 1 in 2017, ″Heart Signal″ consistently gained popularity through Season 4 and established itself as Channel A’s representative dating variety show. Season 5, returning after three years since the broadcast of Season 4 in 2023, premiered last April but started with a 0.6% viewership rating and maintained only between 0.4% and 0.6% through the eighth episode. It lagged behind MBC Every1 and E Channel’s ″Dolsing N Mosol,″ which aired during the same period. Unlike previous seasons that recorded ratings in the 2% range, this season’s results were disappointing.

Not only the ratings but also the buzz on online communities and social media have been low. The individual charm of the cast members and the love lines have not spread widely among the public, and there have been no clearly notable scenes or viral short-form videos that generate anticipation for the next episode after the broadcast.

Changes in the program’s format have also failed to attract viewer response. The newly introduced ″Self Talk″ system this season, where cast members directly reveal their inner thoughts in front of the camera, has been praised for effectively conveying emotions but criticized for reducing the existing fun of viewers guessing the cast members’ feelings. As a result, opinions have emerged that the unique identity of ″Heart Signal″ has weakened.

The appeal of the cast members is also considered less strong compared to previous seasons. In the past, notable cast members such as Bae Yoon-kyung, Kim Hyun-woo, Lim Hyun-joo, Park Ji-hyun, and Kim Ji-young stirred social media, but this season lacks a standout central figure. The mid-season added ″catfish″ cast members have also failed to make a significant impact.

Concerns about the sincerity of the cast members have been repeatedly raised. Viewers questioned whether participants with strong influencer characteristics, such as former Miss Korea contestants, actors, and fashion models, truly appeared to find real love, which led to decreased immersion in the program.

Despite changes in the panel, the addition of Tsuki and Roy Kim alongside Kim Eana, Yoon Jong-shin, and Lee Sang-min failed to generate new empathy, which was also pointed out as a limitation. The repetitive reactions and comments of the panel members were cited as factors that hindered viewer engagement.

Thus, the poor performance of ″Heart Signal 5″ appears to be caused by a combination of various factors. It was confirmed that elements such as the program’s directing style, cast composition, and panel changes failed to meet the changed expectations of viewers.