No negotiation between PTV 4 & Kris of IBC 13

Updated February 21, 2017 - 12:00am

‘We can’t afford Kris,’ says PTV 4 general manager Dino Apolonio, shown at leftmost (in photo at far right) with (from left) PKEI chairman/CEO Junsu Ryu, PTV 4 executive Mon del Rosario and Dohyun Jang, president of Jade Communications providing contents for PKEI (Philippine Korean Entertainment, Inc.)

To put things in the proper perspective, there is no negotiation between Kris Aquino and PTV 4. Neither side ever made any move in that direction.

The question was popped at PTV 4 general manager Dino Apolonio at random during last Saturday’s presscon where Apolonio and the officials of PKEI (Philippine Korean Entertainment, Inc.) announced the airing of two Koreanovelas that will air on primetime: Rosy Lovers on Monday to Friday at 9:15 effective last Monday, Feb. 13; and The Legendary Doctor on Saturday and Sunday nights at 9:15 effective last Saturday, Feb. 18.

“Kris has never applied for a show on PTV 4 and neither has PTV 4 made her any offer,” clarified Apolonio, adding with a smile, “besides, I don’t think we can afford her.”

Set in Joseon during the reign of King Seonjo 50 years after the death of Jang Geum (reputedly the first female doctor in that part of South Korea), The Legendary Doctor is a medical drama about Hur Jun, the son of a devon (meaning “untouchable” in English) mother. Because of his mother’s social status, Hur Jun was also considered worthy of the same status under the Joseon law at that time. Its producer, PKEI, was also behind the airing of the Koreanovela Here Comes Mr. Oh on PTV 4 two years ago.

Rosy Lovers and The Legendary Doctor part of PTV 4’s effort to beef up its programming this year.

“Our signal has improved nationwide,” said Apolonio. “Our signal is now clear in 84 percent of the country,” adding that the network is focused on strengthening its own image and not competitive with the big Kapamiya, Kapuso and Kapinoy networks.

PTV 4 is subsidized by the government, it being the administration’s official network.