Up to the challenge

Tempo

9 Mar 2019By NEIL RAMOS

KAT de Castro

AIMING to reinvigorate long moribund Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation or IBC 13 is Katherine Chloe “Kat” de Castro.

A TV veteran of several years (she started her career as ABS- CBN field reporter), the daughter of former vice president and veteran broadcaster Noli de Castro and show producer Arlene de Castro, was recently appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as IBC 13 president and CEO.

Note De Castro previously served as Tourism Undersecretary.

In a press conference, De Castro crowed how viewers should expect an “improved and vibrant” IBC 13 under her helm.

She admitted, however, there are “many things to be done” along the way, including, among others, payment of the station’s mounting debts and the improvement of the station’s transmitter.

De Castro is hoping the planned privatization of IBC 13 will expedite matters.

“We are doing all we can to make it possible hopefully within the year,” she said. “Beyond that we are aiming to remind people why IBC 13 was the number one channel way before ABS-CBN or GMA.”

They are doing so re-airing some of IB 13’s biggest hits via the “Ultimate Throwback.”

This would include classics like “TODAS” (Monday-Friday, 7:30 p.m.); “Sic O’ Clock News” (Monday-Friday, 6:30 p.m.); “Hapi House” (Monday-Friday 4 p.m.); “Retro TV” (Monday-Friday, 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.); and “Cooltura” (Monday-Friday, 10:30 p.m.).

“When I took over, my immediate concern was to address urgent matters that needed attention. We want IBC 13 to be back on top. It’s a long ways but we’re doing our best,” she added.

As to the network’s news and public affairs department, De Castro said they will focus on the “good news” – meaning the “improvements and progress” under the Duterte administration.

This will be bannered by “Tutok 13,” as anchored by Vincent Santos, a 30minute daily news magazine program airing from 5:30 to 6 p.m. delivering a mix of stories as with specialized segments on economy, business, science and technology, sports, lifestyle, travel, and entertainment here and abroad.

Then there’s “OOTD: Opisyal of The Day,” a 30-minutes, bi-weekly program that features candidates running in this year’s mid-term elections.

De Castro said, “It aims to showcase and humanize the aspirants so that the viewers would be able to see them up close, know more about them on a personal love, as well as known their visions and programs too.”