(SBS)

SBS TV's new variety show with Korea-born Japanese mixed martial artist Chu Sung-hoon and his family has gotten off to a strong start on the local weekly TV ratings, data showed Tuesday.

The reality-variety show "Chuvely's Family Outing" has ranked as the fifth most popular program on the Content Power Index (CPI) for Aug. 21-27, with a score of 220.8. "Chuvely" is the combination of the family name Chu and the word "lovely."

The show films the Chu family -- the judo player-turned-mixed martial artist, his model wife Shiho Yano and their 5-year-old daughter Chu Sa-rang -- going on a trip to Mongolia and living like the locals there.

The first episode that aired Aug. 26 garnered a viewership of 5.1-6.4 percent for showing the country's exotic landscape and interesting episodes of the celebrity family's struggle to adapt to foreign life.

"Happy Together" on KBS 2TV topped the chart, largely thanks to the special episode of "Star Golden Bell" featuring K-pop idols.

The index, created by CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, measures the level of popularity and influence on consumer behavior of all entertainment TV programs aired on major territorial networks and cable channels during prime time. (Yonhap)