Sam YG is Phl’s Nego King
Radio host and TV personality Sam YG was officially launched as the host of the Philippine version of Nego King (“the king of negotiation”), a variety show based on South Korea’s web hit that offers good deals to customers.
In the show, Sam roams the streets of Metro Manila (and outside the metro) to ask potential customers about how they feel about a certain product and what would make them purchase it. He uses these customer sentiments to negotiate the best possible deals with chief executive officers (CEOs) and business owners and get huge discounts or freebies that viewers can avail of themselves.
The Philippine edition is produced by KROMA Entertainment’s ANIMA Studios and global entertainment company A+E Networks Asia.
Going into detail about the show, Sam said in a recent mediacon that Nego King is “as real as it can be.” “Even my crew from ANIMA doesn’t know the product or the service I am gonna be talking about or dealing with for the episode,” he shared. “They will reveal it while the camera is on. That’s how raw and candid the show is.”
After the man-on-the-street interview, Sam would then visit the business owner and negotiate for good deals. “We try to call if we can interview or (talk to them) on that day so that at least they are there. Just for that. But they don’t know what’s gonna happen (next),” he furthered.
Even Sam doesn’t know how the conversation will end. “There are times that they don’t agree with the negotiating price. So, either of us need to adjust. Either ako ang mag-a-adjust to the price that I negotiate or sila ang mag-a-adjust ng ganun.”
After they agree on the discounted price, the signing of the contract will then take place. “Because of the deal that I’m having, they execute it. Yes, they have to (implement it),” Sam explained. “Because Nego King is a reality show. We are doing this for the Filipino people.
“Let’s say in a restaurant, I was able to execute a 50-percent off deal for one month. They have to live up to that expectation,” he continued. “They would probably release a promo code that everybody can use to avail of the 50-percent off.”
“I am the one who ‘nego’ for the people. Whatever happens during negotiation, they have to live up to that because we have a signed contact. Meron na kaming kasama ngayon na abogado tsaka notaryo,” he added.
Sam admitted that he didn’t have any idea about the show when it was first offered to him. He had to check the original Korean program on the internet. “I learned that my internet connection was cut off,” he quipped and continued, “So, I subscribed and went online to check the Nego King. Since it’s a Korean-based show originally, there are no subtitles. But eventually, I found a version that had subtitles so that I could understand what was happening.
“This is between us, I don’t know how to say this but at first, I thought, wait, did they choose me (for the show) because I am Bumbay? Kasi ‘nego’ eh. ‘Pag ‘nego,’ ‘pag Bumbay, yan ang kausap mo eh,” he joked. “Being Bumbay is in my blood and I can actually ‘nego’ because that is part of my blood.”
Seriously speaking, Sam said he eventually found out it was “a very interesting show.” “Sabi ko, talagang nilalapitan nila yung tao. (The host) would ask, ‘Do you know this product? Do you know this service? Do you use it? Do you think that what you’re paying for that product is worth it?’ These are things you use on a daily basis, things and services that we avail of and we are not sure, you know, if we get better deals.” Aldo Miravalles, head of Anima’s Distribution and Operations, stated that they “tweaked” the popular Korean variety show and turned it into a Filipinized version to capture local audiences. One of the things that they modified was the product offers. He explained, “We just want to make sure that the products are actually into that Filipino taste. I think in local terms, yung talagang matatakam. Yung mane-nego king dun sa mga offers. And of course, we are egging Sam on (to) get that discount.” Aldo continued, “As Sam mentioned, he doesn’t know where our ANIMA production crew is going to drop him off. I think the important essence of that is the location of our shoots, our locations to show that we are similar to the Korean program wherein you will get to see different walks of life.” On why they selected Sam as the face of the show, the Anima executive noted that, besides his “good looks, which is a bonus,” he has a hosting background in TV and radio. “Because of the show’s essence of being unscripted, we wanted somebody who is smart and can talk to all kinds of people — (regardless of) social class, employment level and age,” he said. The original Nego King premiered two years ago on YouTube and was considered one of the most successful Korean shows on the video-sharing platform with millions of global viewers. Nego King Philippines streams on ANIMA Studios’ YouTube Channel and LazLive on the Lazada app. Lazada is the official partner of Philippines.