Orly Mercado pulls Channel 13 to No. 4

Quezon City, Aug. 18, 2000 - The station IBC-13, traditionally considered an also-ran in Philippine television, is now No. 4, behind topnotchers ABS-CBN, GMA-7 and TV5.

The newest chairman, veteran broadcaster and former senator Orly Mercado, IBC-13 top honcho, made the disclosure at a press conference last July 2, 2012.

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

Mercado also revealed that the network’s franchise was granted by Congress very recently, after the network had operated for more than 42 years was set for the launch of Viva TV on IBC recently became more aggressive after surging ahead in the TV ratings. It made us the most financially stable among all the government-owned networks (like RPN-9 and PTV-4). IBC 13 also plans to rehabilitate its provincial stations in Baguio, Davao, Cebu and Iloilo. It also has a dance mix radio iDMZ in Mega Manila.

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 newest entertainment network, Viva-TV. Such programs include basketball and international sports events like the NBA Games and PBA Games. Some new shows like Popstar Diaries, @Annsbishowsa, KC.com, The Jon Santos Show, Petra's Panniest, Pantaxya X, Daily Top 10 and Especially For U participated by Filipino artists and game shows like The Weakest Link and Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

Viva TV broadcast for daily primetime programs for IBC-13, from 5:00 to 11:30 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sundays. The station also has the PBA Games, the Viva Tagalog movies and Asian koreanovelas. IBC-13 now supplements its monthly income with its earnings from Viva and other block timers, as well as with ETC on RPN-9's rental of the facilities.

The network has also beef up its news and public affairs programs of News Team 13: Good Take, hosted by Chin-Chin Gutierrez, earned for IBC-13 its 2011 Anak TV Seal Awards for best adult educational program. Now on its second year (Thursdays, 12 mn), it features inspirational and success stories about ordinary people.

Jarius Bondoc hosts Linawin Natin (Mondays, 12 mn), which focuses on the issues and programs of government. Snooky Serna and Josh Susi team up in the daily flagship newscast, Express Balita at 4:30 p.m. Makabayang Duktor (Saturdays, 8 a.m.), a public service program to be hosted by Dr. Willie Ong and Dra. Liza Ong. Veteran broadcasters Jay Sonza, who also anchors the late-night newscast Ronda Trese at 11:30 p.m. along with co-anchor Cathy Eigenmann-Bordalba, will host Tapatan with Jay Sonza (Wednesdays, 12 mn), a debate on TV ans Eigenmann host Cooltura (Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m.), a culture on TV.