ATC on IBC 13: The best brodcaster

May 24, 2014

NOT FAR FROM NOW, on June 2, a new blocktimer will enter into the in-debted, bankrupt and crippled government-owned broadcaster. Asian Television Content Philippines (ATC) will start its blocktime operation with the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC 13). This will be the fifth agreed agreement and the fourth materialized blocktimer since government sequestration of 1986.

The privatized, currently government-owned yet dependent network much to block timers to alleviate capital deficiency and to get a significant slice on the audience share as the number 3 station in the country. According to the broadcaster’s financial statements, which can be downloadable on the Commission on Audit website, in calendar year 2012, Channel 13 incurred PHP 655 million in capital deficiency, improved from PHP 698 million in the audited financial position as of 2011.

Nonetheless, the politically-motivated social media scholars (PMSMS) paid the said channel’s major turn the masses’ viewing assessment, as part of the truth, while the Philippine TV monitors, initiated by the author-admin of this blog, commenced the clamor since last year. IBC’s Blocktime Interregnum (June 1, 2013-June 1, 2014)

When Vic del Rosario announced that Viva-TV would be merged as IBC-13 due to high operating expansion and becoming the number 3 stations, most sports aficionados and TV critics and expanded into the Philippine entertainment industry, including this blog, would question the operating of The Kapinoy Network.

Although, ONE FC, the Asian version of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, became a transitional saving face of Channel 13 in order for an audience retention every Saturday nights. The Singapore-based mixed martial arts show, the rerun of Noli Me Tangere (1990's) and the rest of the prime time block including the new hits of Janella in Wonderland, Your Heart, My Love, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Sandy's Romance, Maya Loves Sir Chief, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Born to be a Superstar, The Million Second Quiz, Happy TODAS and Dingdong n' Lani. Despite that, IBC is currently airs the PBA and NBA basketball games as well. Pacquiao’s bouts from Solar Sports were also aired the day following his bout as a catch up of viewers who missed the bout due to Sunday work.

They justify such a stale programming strategy based on the meticulous monetary instincts on how expensive the new programming and potential return of investment, the masses’ truth that Channel 13 is a broadcaster in a fully operated and eventually becoming the giant networks.

What’s in store in the new management?

What’s new?

According to the block timer company, they will air two Mexicanovelas, a resurging trend since 1990's Philippine TV. On Saturday nightst 9:15 p.m. (last May 10), La Teniente deals with the navy, a much learning drama for our own navy particularly on to the crisis of territorial disputes with China. The Two Sides of Ana will broadcast on weekday evenings, beginning Monday to Friday at 10:30 p.m.

Documentaries to be aired on ATC block include Animalia and Confidential series. The promised Retro TV will be fulfilled and to be hosted by Drew Arellano. According to one of the Pinoy Nostalgia administrators and TV monitors, Joshua Sabater Jimenez, who handles the RadyoTelebisyon blog, Viva Cine Idols, which is highlighting full-lenght Tagalog films and Sunday Sinemaks, featuring the hit Pinoy action movies as well.

Aside from ONE FC, two programs will return on the tube: Cooltura will return while expanded their scope to other nations and Hi-5 (from TV5), to jumpstart the ATC block on weekdays at 5:00 p.m. for children after school. What programs are to stay?

Daytime programming: the hit animes on weekdays including Ghost Fighter and Kirarin, and tokusatsu hits at 8 a.m. on weekends such as Kamen Rider Fourze (Saturday) and Sky Ranger Gavan (Sunday) will remain in the new management. Religious programming such as El Shaddai, Jesus Miracle Crusade and Family TV Mass will remain at their usual times and so does children's programming including KapinoyLand, Barney & Friends, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and some of educational programming like Learn with English, Math Makulay, Bayaning Bayani, Pamana and Science Kwela.

The network's primetime news program Express Balita is a one hour to 6:30 p.m. competing with ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol, GMA’s 24 Oras and her older sister TV5’s Aksyon. As long as IBC will air the block time, we would question ourselves: Will ATC block act for the network privatization.