Networks announce new prime-time shows

January 20, 2014

THE BATTLE for TV ratings supremacy continues as major broadcast networks prepare to launch their initial prime-time offerings for the new year.

MARIAN RIVERA and Alden Richards star in GMA’s new nightly soap opera Carmela.

Listed GMA Network, Inc. has tapped its contract star Marian Rivera to lead the primetime assault with the drama series Carmela: Ang Pinakamagandang Babae sa Mundong Ibabaw, set to begin airing on Jan. 27, weeknights at 8:30 p.m.

Lopez-led ABS-CBN Corp. will launch its adaptation of the US reality show The Biggest Loser called The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition Doubles scheduled to begin airing on Feb. 3 at 10 p.m.

Canoy and Roa-led Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. or IBC continues with its counter-programming strategy by coming up with launch its newest drama series Your Heart, My Love top-billed by the return of the queen of Philippine soap opera Claudine Barretto and the Kapinoy primetime prince Dingdong Dantes, scheduled to begin airing on Jan. 27, weeknights 9:30 p.m.

Pangilinan-led TV5 continues with its counter-programming strategy by coming up with another once-a-week drama series called Obsession, set to premiere on Jan. 23, 8 p.m.

MARIAN RIVERA

"I admit I am pressured because of the ratings. But I believe we have a good show. We worked hard to make it the best," Ms. Rivera told reporters in the vernacular last Thursday.

In Carmela, Ms. Rivera plays a woman who is judged by her beauty not only by other people but also by people close to her.

"The viewers will be able to watch a different Marian Rivera in this show. I am very excited to play this role, because I can say, this is one of the most difficult roles I have ever played," Ms. Rivera said in Filipino.

Ms. Rivera shares the screen for the first time young actor Alden Richards. Mr. Richards plays Yago, the handsome and smart grandson of Fernando (Roi Vinzon) and Fides (Laurice Guillen). Searching for someone who will love and accept him despite his flaws and insecurities, his perspective changes when he meets Carmela.

At the helm of the new show is TV director Dominic Zapata who was behind GMA Network’s successful primetime series My Husband’s Lover.

Mr. Zapata said viewers will see something fresh and interesting in the new tandem of Ms. Rivera and Mr. Richards since they will be playing characters that are so different from those they played in the past.

"I like it that they are being paired together for the first time because as artists they are forced to bring something new to the table. And being the consummate professionals that they are, I am sure they welcome both the opportunity to showcase their acting dexterity in the challenge to help create new characters that viewers will love," Mr. Zapata told reporters.

BIGGEST LOSER

Award-winning actress Iza Calzado is preparing for one of her most challenging projects to date -- hosting the new season of The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition Doubles on ABS-CBN. "It’s my first time hosting a major TV show. I’m happy because I learned a lot from it. As much as I can, I will make sure that I will do it right and I will give my very best for this project," Ms. Calzado told reporters last Friday.

Aside from hosting, she will talk about her own weight-loss success story and experiences in the show. Ms. Calzado has been open about her struggle with her weight: she weighed more than 220 pounds as a teen.

The show will feature 14 pairs of overweight Filipinos who will face difficult challenges in their journey to better health. As in previous editions, the contestants will live in a camp where they will undergo rigorous training conducted by challenge masters Matteo Guidicelli and Robi Domingo, along with coaches Jim and Toni Saret.

YOUR HEART, MY LOVE

While other networks launched new shows thatair every night on prime time as IBC presents shows that airing the daily primetime teleserye.

IBC's primetime block of television shows aired from 5:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. called PrimeTastik compared to the rival Primetime Bida and Telebabad of the two other stations. Unlike other countries where programmes are largely varied each weekday night, the prime time line-up on one day will be the same line-up for the entire week for the most part. Programming is mainly composed of soap operas done by local artists.

PrimeTastik is the top-rating program composed of a daily soap operas for teleseryes and fantaseryes, telenovela and Koreanovela, as well as its once-a-week shows (8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) from Monday (political satire and horror-thriller), Tuesday (television films for original made-for TV movies) and Thursday (mini-series and horror anthology) while Wednesday and Friday (4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) for the PBA games.

IBC Chief Entertainment Officer Laurenti Dyogi calls this counterpart-programming, inwhich TV audiences get to watch something new each night of this horizontal programming of other networks where TV audiences om a nightly basis. "We Believe there there is offer a daily prime-time dramas such as what we have in IBC," Mr. Dyogi told reporters last Friday.

After airing the daily drama series Safe In The Arms Of Love starring Cristine Reyes and Dingdong Dantes, now IBC will premiere the new daily series Your Heart, My Love on weeknights.

The return of the queen of Philippine soap opera Claudine Barretto prepearing for their own projects in the teleserye, together with Dingdong Dantes. "It's my first time starring a major TV series for this best project."

Sophie dela Cruz (Claudine Barretto), the daughter of mother Cherry dela Cruz (Ces Quesada), was raised in the princess. On her 33rd birthday, she found that the brother Diether Ramos (DJ Durano) and the friends of good men Richard Buenavista (Dingdong Dantes) fall in love again. Every family in the world of her mom called Susan Bonnevon (Cherry Pie Picache) part of the story, and dad Ronald Bautista (Ronnie Ricketts). Whose fighting off her evil aunt Barbara Perez (Princess Punzalan), due to her desire to acquire the power and wealth of Don Regaldo (Juan Rodrigo), her brother. In surprise of dad Martin Gutierrez (Ian Veneracion) and Dario Buenavista (Ronaldo Valdez) as the father of dad.

Completing the cast are Bimby Yap, Jr., DJ Durano, Nikki Bacolod, Steven Silva, Joyce Jimenez, Xyriel Manabat, Janeena Chan, Dino Imperial, Tetchie Agbayani, Andi Manzano, Maui Taylor and Bojo Molina with a special participation of Rommel Padilla.

Your Heart, My Love is directed by the box-office director Wenn V. Deramas. PrimeTastik is the primetime block of IBC home of the top rating programs in Philippine TV for the primetime seryes Carita de Angel, Janella in Wonderland and Your Heart, My Love.

ONCE A WEEK

While other networks launch new shows that air every night on prime time, TV5 presents shows that air once a week, as is the practice in the US.

TV5 Chief Entertainment Officer Wilma V. Galvante calls this vertical programming, in which TV audiences get to watch something new each night. "Instead of the horizontal programming of other networks where TV audiences watch something on a nightly basis, we believe there is room to offer once-a-week prime-time dramas such as what we have in TV5," Ms. Galvante told reporters last Friday.

After airing the once-a-week drama series For Love or Money starring Alice Dixon and Derek Ramsey, TV5 will premiere the new series Obsession on Thursday night.

The show centers on Bernadette (Neri Naig), a chemist in a successful beauty company. Highly insecure and unhappy about herself, her relationships were short-lived because of her tendency to be possessive. Then she undergoes an experimental procedure offered by a wealthy cosmetic surgeon, played by Marvin Agustin -- a procedure that involves changing her face and identity. Bernadette becomes Vanessa (Bianca King), determined to take her revenge on the playboy James (Martin Escudero) who broke her heart.

Completing the cast are Elizabeth Oropesa and Maureen Mauricio. Obsession is directed by Jay Altarejos.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. -- which is a subsidiary of the Beneficial Trust Fund of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., and which operates TV5 -- has a majority stake in BusinessWorld.