Two hours of news

August 8, 2001 (page 25, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

WHILE other networks are constantly beefing up their entertainment programs, National Broadcasting Network (NBN), formerly known as PTV 4, has been concentrate on the news. The networks recently launched its flagship program, TeleDyaryo, a two-hour nightly newscast.

"We want to underscore the fact that we are a news network," says NBN chair and president Mia Concio. "It is what the station has been known for from the start and it is the role that we see for NBN."

TeleDyaryo combines the urgency of radio broadcasting and the wide coverage of a newspaper," explains the network general manager Joey Isabelo. "It presents news an an alternative program, which is actually a first on local TV."

At the helm of TeleDyaryo is veteran TV director Ed Finlan. The theme was composed and arranged by young musical director Jessie Lucas.

TeleDyaryo's two-hour format basically follows that of a newspaper," Concio informs. "There will be segments for updates on business and the economy, interviews with people in the news, special reports, lifestyle, showbiz and sports, another venue the network is known for."

Broadcast personalities, segment and field reporters called Mga Tagapagbalita joined the primetime news program. They include broadcasters Gani Oro, Chino Trinidad, Freddie Abando, Noel Perfecto and Toby Nebrida, reporters Butch Marco covering police; Rocky Ignacio and Justine Espina, Malacañang; Christine  Ong, foreign news; and Nikka Cleofe-Alejar, the weather.

David Nye does interviews with personalities in the news. Miguel Gil and Candace Giron cover business developments, while Edmund Rosales handle science and technology.

Mymy Davao handles lifestyle and entertainment and Patricia Bermudez covers sports.

Consio says the station will have other interesting programs and features.

Sigaw, Mondays, 6 p.m., is a spin-off of the successful campus dabate portion of Hatol ng Bayan, the network's Election 2001 coverage. David Nye and Chi Chi Fajardo host.

Aiza Seguerra returns to her noontime show roots as she host the Sunday noontime program, Baranggayan, with Hexilon Alvarez.

Foreign movies from Solar Films are aired on Sunday's Big Showdown, 9 p.m. every Sunday.

Despite NBN's low profile, the network has the capabilities to be a major player in the industry.

"We want to maximize the potentials of the network," says Concio. "We're simply following the broadcast tradition of PTV 4 since it started reaching out to people and serving the nation as a government network."

Concio does not want the network's 27 years of broadcast experience be put to waste, especially with NBN's new corporate identity and image.

Concio wants to see NBN play a more substantial role in the local broadcast industry.

"Now we have for NBN a vision of the future that we want to share with the rest of the country, a vision that is positive as it is dynamic in responding to the fast changing times," she says.