Boots Anson-Roa pulls Channel 13 to No.3

Quezon City, Aug. 18, 2000 - The station IBC-13, traditionally considered an also-ran in Philippine television, is now No. 3, behind top-notchers ABS-CBN 2 and GMA-7.

Actress and former Washington diplomat Boots Anson Roa, IBC-13 top honcho, made the disclosure at a press conference last Monday.

The network is still sequestered, and Boots admitted that it’s still up for privatization.

Boots also revealed that the network’s franchise was granted by Congress very recently, after the network had operated for more than 30 years.

“No, the network wasn’t operating illegally all through those years. It simply had to keep renewing its temporary permit to operate every year,” she how the network managed to operate for almost three decades without a congressional franchise.

The purpose of that luncheon affair was to introduce to the press most of the shows produced by the network itself. Several hours of programming are produced daily by a blocktimer group, Viva-Vintage. Such programs include basketball and international sports events like the Cardiff, Wales World 9-Ball Billiards Championship participated in by several Filipino cue artists.

The network does have very interesting new shows such as the one hosted by Chin Chin Gutierrez: Good Take, which airs on Mondays at 11:30 p.m.

It features the best of Pinoy as exemplified by non-grandstanding heroes (meaning, non-politicians and non-showbiz idols dreaming of becoming politicians). Chin Chin’s co-hosts are Tintin Pizarro and Karen Cabrera, both well-experienced IBC-13 news reporters and newscasters.

And, oh, yes, Chin Chin was asked to lead the invocation that afternoon and she did it in a very dramatic (even cinematic!) style that combined traditional Filipino and New Age rituals.

She led the invocation wearing some native outfit from the Mountain Province and in front of fruits and earthen jars (and this was on the stage) with three musicians playing some native instruments, including a giant shell. She lit some candles and burned some incense.

And then she had the people close their eyes, observe silence, get in touch with their inner selves, recall the people who have hurt them and forgive them mentally, recall the people they have hurt and offended and ask for their forgiveness and then project the spirit of success to all the shows of IBC-13.

Then she switched to Filipino (her first invocations were in English) and prayed to Bathala for the success of IBC-13 shows. Afterwards, she asked everybody to light the candles they found at their tables to radiate to everyone and to the universe the spirit of success, peace, and harmony.

IBC-13: 'Don't cont us out'
August 19, 2000

CHANNEL 13 has always been identified with the PBA Games, and recently with Viva’s local production. That’s because the Viva-Vintage Tandem has more or less cornered the network’s primetime hours. So, when Boots Anson-Roa took over as president in July 1998, she couldn’t really put her stamp on the nation’s programming and even the non-prime hours were sold to blocktimers, like religious groups and telemarketing outfits.

Slowly, however, Boots managed to make her presence felt in the industry. It started with specials like Homecoming sa 13 and other youth-oriented one shot presentations. Last Monday, the network held a press conference to tell everyone not to count IBC-13 out. Boots told us that her station had gotten back some of its primetime hours: 7 to 9 p.m. on Mondays; 8 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays; 11:30 p.m. to 12 midnight on Sundays; and 11 p.m. to 12 midnight across the board.

To fill up these hours, IBC-13 has lined up the following shows:

Children’s programming from Mondays to Fridays at 4 to 4:30 p.m. as the new cartoons with Gogo's Adventures with English.

Local movies on Mondays, 7 to 9 p.m., a co-production with Viva Television.

Good Take, Mondays at 11:30 p.m. A program that highlights the achievements of individuals or groups that make them living heroes that viewers can emulate. It is hosted by Chin-Chin Gutierrez with co-host Karen Cabrera and Tintin Pizarro.

DMZ-TV, Tuesdays, 8 to 9 p.m. A dance program hosted by Lara Fabregas and Medwin Marfil with co-host Rengie Galvez, JC Castro, Tone Wijangco and Celine Hoffman. The show, which is simulcast on 89 DMZ on radio, is directed by Mark Reyes.

Last Fool Show, Fridays, 11:30 p.m. to 12 midnight. Comedians Jun Urbano, Gary Lising and Giselle Sanchez take a zany look at the raging issues of the day. The trio interview newsmakers on current developments in their own inimitable way.

Y2K: Yes to Kids, Sundays, 10 to 10:30 a.m. A magazine program hosted by 11-year-old Maxene Magalona aimed at young viewers.

Hapi Kung Healthy, Sundays, 10:30 to 11 a.m. A sitcom/magazine program that deals with health issues and aims to educate children and parents about diseases and to prevent the spread of these ailments. It is hosted by Manilyn Reynes with co-host Jeff Arcilla, Lou Veloso and Arlene Tolibas and directed by Jeff Jeturian.

Then there are the news programs: Express Balita anchored by Snooky Serna-Go and Anne Marie Soriano; Ronda Trese with Ida Marie Bernasconi and Elmer Mercado; and IBC Headliners with Precious Hipolito-Castelo, Grace Choa, Neil Edward Santos III and Manuel Llige.

The announcement may not have been earthshaking but we could see how pleased Boots was during the presscon. Ratings wise, she says, IBC-13 is now a strong No. 3, thanks primarily to the PBA games and the Viva programs. She hopes that the station-produced shows will eventually contribute to an even higher station rating.

Boots told us that for the first time, the network registered a net profit of P 37 million as of June this year. The network has been able to remit some P 58 million to the BIR for back taxes and another P28 million to its employees for back wages.

Boots explained the creative way in which the network has been able to settle these accounts. One way was to use exchange deals with suppliers so that employees can get appliances instead of cash.

The station’s transmitter has also been repaired and the main studio has been fixed. Slowly, she says IBC-13 is showing positive results, so that when it is finally privatized, the network will get an attractive price. That, in the final analysis, is what Boots is aiming for, to make IBC-13 a sellable network in the future.

In the meantime, she’s been telling her employees to perform well. When the new owners take over, she says many of them may just land with the new management; if they don’t have good records, they may not stand a chance of being hired.

We admire Boots’ management style, one in which her fellow workers are given importance. During the presscon, she took the trouble of thanking the managers who have helped her in making IBC-13 a much improved station.

IBC-13: The No.3 Network in 2000
August 20, 2000

The station IBC-13, traditionally considered an also-ran in Philippine Television is now No.3, behind the giant networks GMA Network and ABS-CBN.

Actress and former Washington diplomat Boots Anson-Roa, a president of IBC-13 top hontcho, made ths disclosure at a press conference last Monday.

The network is still sequestered and Boots admitted that it's still up for privatization. Boots also revealed that the network’s franchise was granted by Congress very recently, after the network had operated for more than 30 years and announce her new Viva-Vintage programs.

The purpose of that luncheon affair was to introduce to the press most of the shows produced by the network itself. Several hours of programming are produced daily by a blocktimer group Viva-Vintage for the PBA Games as well as the Viva's local production.

She added: IBC-13 is the No.3 network for making gains in viewership and this launch of new Viva-TV shows. Despite the dominance of giants GMA and ABS-CBN while out plans to bee-up our new programming with new Viva-TV for the primetime hours and even the non-prime hours were sold to blocktimers like religious groups and telemarketing outfits.

He believes that IBC with its viewers and advertisers with their beefed-up programming. IBC-13 has been known for airing popular and top-rating Viva-TV shows.

Right now, the network are courtesy of Viva Entertainment, while Boots informed the press, they will also be coming up with local news and public affairs programs, and entertainment-produced, some of them to be all produced by Viva Television.

IBC-13 has new Viva-TV primetime programming line-up as it follows:

MILO Sporting World (Sundays at 3:30 to 4 p.m.), is hosted by Janelle So and Paolo Trillo featuring a weekly news roundup on the PBA and NBA, the two sports league closest to Filipino hearts, and viewer-favorites like boxing, billiards, tennis and golf as well as football, bowling, wushu, badminton, table tennis and others.

Local movies are: Viva Proudly Presents (Mondays 7 to 9 p.m.), Now Showing (Tuesdays 9 p.m.), Viva Premiere Night (Saturdays 7 p.m.) and action-packed Sinemaks (Sundays at 9 p.m.)

The new treat of Tagalog-dubbed anime Akazukin Cha Cha which airs from Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m., with the voice of Antoinette Taus as Cha Cha.

New imported drama series are: soap opera May Bukas Pa (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 to 7 p.m.) starring Dina Bonnevie, Albert Martinez and Cherie Gil along with Angelu de Leon,Kim delos Santos and Anne Curtis, youth-oriented drama H2K: Hati-Hating Kapatid (Saturdays at 5 to 6 p.m.) starring Anne Curtis, Rica Peralejo, Dingdong Dantes, Bojo Molina, Chubi del Rosario and Melissa “Mumay” Santiago, the horror anthology Kagat ng Dilim (Saturdays at 9 p.m.) directed by Erik Matti, Subic Bay (Thursdays at 9 to 10:30 p.m.) starring Ruffa Mae Quinto, Joyce Jimenez, Priscilla Almeda, Troy Montero, Jake Roxas and Bobby Andrews, and teen drama anthology Dear Heart (Sundays at 2:30 p.m.) starring Antoinette Taus.

For the new basketball, PBA Games (Wednesday and Friday 5 to 10 p.m. and Sundays at 4 to 9 p.m.), NBA Series (Monday and Thursday 5:30 p.m.), NBA Acrion (Thursdays at 10:30 p.m.) and PBA Moments (Wednesday and Thursday at 11:30 p.m., as well as sports events are Super Bouts (Mondays 10:30 to 11 p.m.), boxing matches Blow By Blow (Wednesdays at 10 p.m.), horse-racing Kabayo, Karera, Karerista (Fridays at 10 p.m.), billiards World Pool Championships (Mondays, 9 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 7 p.m.) and the golf Asian PGA Tour (Saturdays at 11 p.m.).

Crowd favorite sitcom Gags Must Be Crazy (Saturdays at 10 to 11 p.m.), starring Ruffa Mae Quinto together with Maureen Larrazabal, Klaudia Koronel, Andrew E., Caloy Alde, Jeffrey Tam, Ardi Aquino, Cholo Medina, Goms Burza and CC Docena.

Among new IBC produced programs are: noontime show Alas Dose sa Trese (Monday to Saturday at 12 noon), is hosted by Eddie Ilarde and Boots Anson Roa along with Ernani "Jong" Cuenco, Chiqui Roa-Puno, Paco Arespacochaga and Pia Pilapi will compete with rivals Eat Bulaga! and Magandang Tanghali Bayan.

Good Take with host Chin-Chin Gutierrez with co-host Karen Kabrera and Tintin Pizarro (Mondays at 11:30 p.m.), a tele-magazine program showcasing extraordinary accomplishments and achievements to be inspiring, it is a show that will definitely make you feel proud to be a Filipino.

As the country's premier dance music station is now on our TV screen called DMZ-TV which airs on Tuesdays at 8 to 9 p.m., with simulcast on radio thru 89 DMZ, a dance program is hosted by Lara Fabregas and Medwin Marfil with co-host Rengie Galvez, JC Castro and Tone Wijangco, directed by Mark Reyes.

Last Fool Show (Fridays at 11:30 p.m. to 12 midnight), a late night television is flooded by news, public forums, debates, exposes and public service with host comedian Jun Urbano, Gary Lising and Giselle Sanchez together in one talk show late at night with director Maning Rivera.

11-year old Maxene Magalona will host the children show Y2K: Yes to Kids (Sundays at 10 a.m.), which revitalize your interests for young viewers with director of Ryan Agoncillo.

Snooky Serna-Go and Anne Maie Soriano will anchor the flagship afternoon newscast Express Balita at 4:30 p.m., while Ida Miranda Castro and return Elmer Mercado is anchor the late-night newscast Ronda Trese at 11 p.m.