IBC-13 launches more star-studded primetime

September 22, 2014

After making its presence felt in the local TV scene in recent years, the Canoy-led sequestered TV and radio media network IBC-13 aims to beat its established rivals at the ratings game this year with more than a dozen new shows to bolster its programming lineup and since has been through 54 years of Philippine TV.

In a recent press conference at Dish to Rockwell last Saturday, IBC President and Chief Boots Anson-Roa and IBC Executive Vice-President (EVP) Lito Ocampo Cruz unveiled the network’s aggressive stance to challenge the dominance of ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network, Inc. at the top of the TV ratings charts.

“Our goal is to overtake the competition in the network war as we target the Filipino masses and win by giving viewers something new, something they will look forward to watch on TV,” Mr. Lito told reporters.

He said more new shows will be launched this year to prove that the network is armed and ready to take on the two other networks for a battle for TV ratings.

“Hindi kami magpapahuli. (We will not be left behind.) We want to prove that IBC-13 is a major network, and we can provide shows that have more quality, more originality and more excitement,” he said.

For the first quarter of the year alone, Channel 13 beefs up its programming with a wide array of shows across all time blocks as IBC-13 eventually become the third giant network in the country.

More aggressive that their programming, IBC-13 will challenge the dominance of ABS-CBN and GMA on the primetime programming block with the launch of five new series, including children's adventure series, teen fantasy series, two action series and a romantic drama series for soap opera.

The show called Kroko: Ang Alamat sa Zoo is the children's croco adventurserye starring the Kapinoy child star wonder Thirdy Lacson meets the crocodile Kroko (voiced by Miguel Moreno), it will aired from Monday to Friday at 5:30 p.m. The show that imparts of kids while going to school and see the animals of lizards, aligator and crocodile, together with Cara Eriguel and a newbie actor Victor Anastacio.

The action-packed series Hitman topbilled by the primetime prince Dingdong Dantes with the Asia's drama queen Cristine Reyes in his own team-up. It airs from Monday to Friday at 5:30 p.m.

At night, it started airing its newest primetime teen fanta-drama serial Janella: A Princess Girl, starring the teen sweetheart Janella Salvador in the lead role as the only primetime princess as Janella Bernardo, the 16-year old ordinary girl who she is now her girl princess tale dressed up like the pink dress appearance.

Join Janella in this dramatic fantasy-teen fantaseryes are IBC contract actors Marlo Mortel and Jerome Ponce, together with the Kapinoy child star wonder Abby Bautista, Cogie Domingo and Maricar Reyes. The show will air on weeknights at 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. as the pre-programming to Express Balita.

Right after the 6:30 p.m. news Express Balita, the action-packed superserye Voltron Man featuring the action prince AJ Muhlach in the lead role suits up as the primetime prince known for the character Voltron Man, a superhero man. Joining AJ in this action suphero-drama series are IBC contract stars are Coleen Garcia, together with Freddie Gutierrez and Liza Soberano. It airs weeknights 7:30 p.m.

The Viva Tagalog movies are showing the film blocks such as Viva Cine Idols (Monday 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.), never-before-seen Viva Box Office (Saturday 10:45 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.) and Sunday Sinemaks (Sunday nights at 10:45 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.) will continue to air on primetime.

The nightly drama series Your Heart, My Love is a story about the romance, love, truth and revenge in this Filipino family values for father, mother and kids. The teleserye is topbilled by the queen of Pinoy soap opera Claudine Barretto and the king of action star Raymart Santiago with a powerhouse cast of veteran and young stars Xyriel Manabat, JC Tiuseco, Maxene Magalona, Christopher de Leon, Sandy Andalong, Ian Veneracion, Cherry Pie Picache, Ronaldo Valdez, Princess Punzalan, Juan Rodrigo, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Jaclyn Jose, Elisse Joson, Steven Silva, Janeena Chan, Dino Imperial, DJ Durano, Nikki Bacolod, Gardo Versoza, Tetchie Agbayani and Izzy Canillo with a special participation of Cheska Garcia-Kramer and Rommel Padilla.

Aside from having new primetime series, IBC-13's romantic comedy-sitcom Maya Loves Sir Chief (Saturday at 6:45 p.m.) which is topbilled by the comedy leading lady Jodi Sta. Maria and the veteran actor Richard Yap and the sexy drama anthology series Sandy's Romance (Saturday 8:15 p.m.) which is starring Nadine Lustre for the romantic love story, both are topping the list of charts.

Mr. Lito said IBC-13 will also present the new game and reality shows, starting off with the sing-along videoke game show Killer Karaoke, which began on Tuesday and Thursday at 8 p.m.

It will feature contestants attempting to sing in front of a live studio audience while various attempts are made to disrupt their performances. The heir of Pinoy rap Elmo Magalona hosting the show. The franchise of the phenomenal US show guarantees you a weekly dose of laughter as contestants attempt to sing while facing crazy distractions. Imagine singing while getting your body hair waxed, stepping on spiders and maggots, or walking through a cactus maze (with balloons stuck in your body). That’s quite a challenge, but there’s only one rule: “No matter what happens, do not stop singing!”

The final showdown puts the top three contenders on a spinning disc, with the prize money increasing as the turntable speeds up and tilts. The last player standing wins the jackpot. The game show was a success that the Killer Karaoke craze has reached the UK, Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Thailand, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and now here in the Philippines.

The local version of the US top-rating game shows on weekend: The Million Second Quiz with Drew Arellano on Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. to 8;15 p.m. and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? hosted by Robi Domingo on Sunday nights at 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., becoming the million-peso prize game show on primetime.

Meanwhile, IBC-13 will air the local version of the US singing-reality show contest Born to be a Superstar (Saturday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 p.m.), which is hosted by the young diva princess Anja Aguilar with a brand-new third season. The judges of the show Marlo Mortel, Paula Bianca, Joey Albert and Gino Padilla. It will be introducing the established singing champions like Joshua Cadelina, Cayleen Villamor, Veejay Aragon, Ronald Humarang, Anne Bernardo, Paolo Antenorcruz, Shanne Velasco and Arvin Ventanilla.

For the rest of 2015, Mr. Lito said IBC-13 will launch more game and reality shows, including the famly game show Family Game Night with the heir of Pinoy rap Elmo Magalona, the local version of the US reality dating show The Bachelor with the primetime prince Dingdong Dantes and the newest beauty queen TV competition Miss Universe Queen with IBC Kapinoy star Mario Maurer.

“There’s more shows to come, and there are more, more, more reasons to tune in to IBC-13 where TV viewing gets more thrilling, more exciting and all the more fun,” he said. -- Jeffrey O. Valisno