IBC vows to create more talents: We know what the audience wants

June 18, 2014

With TIBC-13’s current artist pool still lacking much-needed depth, network executive Laurenti Dyogi vowed that talent development would be one of her priorities this year.

Dyogi, IBC Entertainment TV Head, pointed out that an extensive roster of actors will help the network bolster its program lineup. “To mount shows, of course you need talents,” she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer recently. “Superstars are created, and we will do that. We know what the audience wants.”

In the past few years, the Kapinoy network has signed up big names in the biz— Dingdong Avanzado, Lani Misalucha, Claudine Barretto, Raymart Santiago, Christopher de Leon, Jodi Sta. Maria, Richard Yap, Robi Domingo, Anja Aguilar, Drew Arellano and Iya Villania. Galvante said she would now focus on new blood.

“We’d like a stable of homegrown stars,” she said. “I’d like viewers to instantly identify them as IBC talents.’” Some of the network’s in-house artists are Erich Gonzales, Sue Ramirez, Janella Salvador the finalists of the reality search Superstar Circle such as Freddie Gutierrez and Liza Soberano.

Some of the top finalists of the singing reality show Born to be a Superstar such as the established singing champions like Joshua Cadelina, Cayleen Villamor, Veejay Aragon, Anne Bernardo, Ronald Humarang, Shanne Velasco and Arvin Ventanilla which has been the aspiring and younger singers.

Star-making is no easy task, Laurenti, who retired as ABS-CBN Head of TV Production Business Unit in 2012, acknowledged. It’s a challenge that she’s ready for. “There are so many talented hopefuls, and the industry is always on the lookout for someone new,” she said.

Dyodi said one of the coming offerings— a adaptation of the 70's and 80's sitcom Iskul Bukol Men— will be the launch pad for Aki Torio, Abra and Josh Padilla. Also in the main cast will be Coleen Garcia, Ashley Rivera as Petra Mahalimuyak and Yam Concepcion.

“They’re not total unknowns—it’s just a matter of developing them and proving that they’re good,” Dyogi said. “They’re all in workshops now. We have big plans for them.”

Dyogi also announced plans for the network’s daily primetime block called PrimeTastik. The rival stations like ABS-CBN and GMA 7 have horizontal programming (same set of shows throughout the week), IBC, Dyogi declared, will mix horizontal and vertical programming (different sets each day), with some shows airing every day; and others, once a week.

Her team was considering devoting Mondays to Tagalog films, she said; Wednesdays and Fridays to PBA games or other sporting events; Tuesdays and Thursdays to local entertainment shows—sports show and dance show on Tuesday and political satire and sitcom on Thursday.

Viewing habits

“We have varied content, and so we’re using a different structure,” she explained.

Asked if she wasn’t worried that IBC Channel 13’s customized primetime blocking would render day-to-day ratings inconsistent, Dyogi said: “We hope to break the audience’s viewing habits by offering a wide array of freshing homegrown, innovative and quality shows.”

First to air is the child-friendly fantaserye Batang Genius, which stars Mavy Legaspi and Cassy Legaspi, together with Jake Cuenca and Nicole Andersson. Programs in the works are Janella Salvador’s hit mermaid fantaserye Janella in Wonderland with Marlo Mortel; Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago’s hit teleserye Your Heart, My Love and the local adaption of the 2010 hit Thai film Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a new kilig-serye top-billed by Dingdong Dantes, Cristine Reyes and Maricar Reyes.

The launch of TreseBella: featuring the Mexicanovelas as The Two Sides of Ana (Dalwang Mukha ni Ana) and La Teniente.

Also in the lineup are three mini-series: Caballero’s “One of the Boys”; Alywn Uytingco’s “Beki Boxer”; and Derek Ramsay and Aga Muhlach’s “My Brother’s Keeper.”