NewsWatch (Philippine TV program)

NewsWatch is the longest-running English language flagship newscast of 9TV under the Media ng Bayan in the Philippines. It has a complicated history, undergoing many name changes. It airs Monday to Friday at 11:00PM-11:30PM. It is also broadcast overseas via Radio Philippines Network's international brand RPN USA.

It is the longest-running English language evening newscast since its inception on June 1, 1970.

Viewers send their reactions on each news through text messaging through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram account while read by the news anchors after each news items, thus making NewsWatch more interactive for those online citizen journalism and online.

Broadcast chronology
Launched on June 1, 1970, it became one of the highly watched English newscasts on Philippine TV. Prior to 2008, it produced some spin-offs like: On January 7, 2008, when Solar Entertainment channel C/S started to air on free-TV, it went back on the air replacing the original Aksyon Balita. It was anchored by the network's President and Chief Executive Officer, and former Senator Orly Mercado and the News and Current Affairs department head Marigold Haber-Dunca. On January 14, 2008, its late-night spin-off was aired as NewsWatch Second Edition. This broadcast was anchored by Jay Esteban and Queen Sebastian. It also started to air on cable on all frequencies occupying C/S. The network's hourly news updates was renamed as NewsWatch Update.
 * NewsWatch Balita Ngayon, a Tagalog newscast.
 * NewsWatch sa Umaga, morning spin-off of the newscast.
 * NewsWatch sa Tanghali, noontime spin-off of the newscast.
 * NewsWatch Kids Edition, first youth spin-off of the newscast that aired from 1979 to 1993.
 * NewsWatch Evening Cast, evening Filipino newscast anchored by Cielo Villaluna and Cristina Pecson.
 * NewsWatch Prime Cast, late night English edition with Cathy Santillan, Harry Gasser and Eric Eloriaga.
 * Primetime Balita from 2000 to 2001 anchored by Buddy Lopa and Marigold Haber.
 * NewsWatch Now, replacement of Prime Cast from 2001 to March 9, 2007.
 * Jr. News, second youth spin-off that aired in 2005.
 * Aksyon Balita successor of NewsWatch from 2006 to January 4, 2008 first anchored by Erwin Tulfo, Connie Sison, Aljo Bendijo, Jake Morales, Vikki Sambilay and Bobby Yan.
 * i-Watch News anchored by former K-Lite disc jockey Carlo Tirona, and Aryana Lim, who was replaced by Lexi Schulze after a few months. It aired from March 12, 2007 to January 4, 2008.

The reality show between June 7, 2008 and August 16, 2008. On October 11, 2008, another version was premiered, entitled NewsWatch Junior Edition with the contestants of the show anchoring it. This was the third youth spin-off of the NewsWatch; the previous two were NewsWatch Kids Edition (1979 to 1993) and Jr. News (2005). On October 8, 2008, broadcasts covering of the games of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) was started. These were broadcast to coincide with the second half of the game on Wednesday and Friday. This coverage had ended since 2011 when RPN lost its PBA broadcasting rights to Studio 23.

On February 16, 2009, former ABS-CBN news anchor Joyce Burton-Titular replaced Orly Mercado as anchor. Mercado was then able to focus on his duties as the network's President and CEO. The second time that a female became the anchor of the newscast since the time of Cathy Santillian, Cielo Villaluna and Cristina Peczon.

On November 30, 2009, Radio Philippines Network (RPN) relaunched as Solar TV. Broadcast times were changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes duration. From the usual twice a day times of 5:30 pm and 11:00 pm, it became once a day at 5:30 pm and Reema Chanco was engaged as an additional anchor. RPN NewsCap replaced NewsWatch Second Edition and started airing at midnight. In 2010, the timeslot was moved to back to 11:30 in the evening. It also continued to air on cable until February 25, 2011.

On March 2, 2011, after Solar Entertainment bought 34% of RPN, RPN relaunched as ETC. Alongside NewsCap, NewsWatch started to air only on free TV on the date at 5 pm as ETC had occupied the RPN frequency on all cable providers nationwide. But, it is still being managed to air only through Global Destiny Cable on channel 116, which was the frequency occupied by The Game Channel occupying the 5:00 pm timeslot. On August 15, 2011, two newscast began to air on BEAM TV Channel 31 as The Game Channel was simulcast on that channel. Its simulcast on that channel stopped on October 2011.

On October 29, 2012, NewsWatch and NewsCap had its final episode due to the impending privatization of the network and the controversial retrenchment of some employees of the network. However, NewsWatch is still used by RPN's radio AM Radyo Ronda for its newscasts.

But in April 1, 2013, alongside Arangkada Balita, NewsWatch marked its return to the English newscast and the returning anchors of Eric Eloriaga and Cristina Peczon as the news anchors and the timeslot moved to 11:00 pm introducing a new set, new logo, opening titles, modified its newsdesk and new graphics design

On April 7, 2014, NewsWatch introduce the first time to interview the tribute to the late veteran news broadcaster Harry Gasser dead at 76 for the first time will covered the updates about Gasser's death and wake in stroke as Harry was the face of RPN's main primetime well-respected news anchor on domestic satellite and NewsWatch is the highest-rated and the most-watched news program at that time was an icon in Philippine broadcast media when Harry passed away with the longest telecast in its history to millions of viewers worldwide. At the same time, NewsWatch started to celebrate its 44th anniversary.

44 Anniversary Celebration
On August 25, 2014 during the network's re-launch as 9TV, together with Arangkada Balita, NewsWatch which will celebrated on its 44th year anniversary, reformatted with a new set, new logo, brand new studio set, new graphic design, new OBB, modified its newsdesk and new title cards. A retrospective segment was also added in to commemorate the best events covered during the first 44 years. It remains the highest-rated, most-watched and longest-running English news program at the time.

Commemorative activities include 44 marker openings in various parts of the country to honor the many important events marked in the first 44 years since 1970, and a fund-raising drive aimed at giving back to those who became part of the news coverages through the years.

Other prominent media figures who have made their mark on RPN News and Public Affairs: Bong Lapira, Babes Romualdez, Ramon Imperial, Joe Carlos, Teresa Guanzon, Ninez Cacho-Olivarez, Ernie Fresnido, Luchi Cruz-Valdez, Pat Lazaro, and Jing Magsaysay.

In the past RPN news anchors such as, Dennis Cabalfin, one of the original newscasters of RPN started his news career in the 1960's; beauty, brain guts Cathy Santillan; the veteran news icon Harry Gasser was the face of RPN's main primetime well-respected news anchor; Buddy Lopa and Coco Quisimbing made their mark in the world of news; the dynamic duo Dodi Lacuna and Cielo Villaluna made the perpect pair in delivering news on RPN with the famous line That's the Way it is; former RPN news manager and the executive vice-president Frankie Abao became one the most known newscasters in the country; former news anchior Loren Legarda; and one of the most familiar faces on television and the broadcast journalist Lulu Pascual.

Segments

 * Biz Watch - Business and Economy News
 * WorldWatch - Global News
 * Sports - Sports News
 * Weather Cast - Weather Forecast
 * Spotlight - Showbiz News

Current anchors

 * Eric Eloriaga (1995-2000, 2001-2007, 2011-present)
 * Cristina Peczon (1986-1998, 2004-2007, 2011-present)

Segment anchors

 * Samuel Duran - Weather Cast

Past anchors

 * Dennis Principe (Sports correspondent)
 * Pircelyn Pialago (now on PTV)
 * Roma Agsalud (2013-2014, moved to PTV)
 * Phoebe Javier (now on PTV)
 * Janeena Chan (Spotlight correspondent)
 * Marlene Alcaide (now on News5)
 * Frank Abao
 * Joyce Burton-Titular (2009-2012)
 * Harry Gasser (1975-1995)
 * Lina Ramos
 * Charlie Ismael
 * Dodi Lacuna
 * Joee Guilas
 * Buddy Lopa
 * Meanne Los Baños (2008-2010) (now on News5)
 * Coco Quisumbing
 * Cathy Santillan
 * Pat Lazaro
 * Babes Romualdez
 * Bong Lapira
 * Joe Carlos
 * Teresa Guanzon
 * Ernie Fresnido
 * Jing Magsaysay
 * Luchi Cruz-Valdez
 * Twink Macaraig
 * Thelma Aranda Sagay
 * Ninez Cacho Olivares
 * Dennis Cabalfin
 * Cielo Villaluna
 * Arlene Lim-Farol
 * Ramon Imperial
 * Orly Mercado (2008-2009)
 * Gaby Roldan-Concepcion
 * Jay Esteban (2008-2009)
 * Queen Sebastian (2008-2009)
 * Reema Chanco (2009-2010)
 * Loren Legarda
 * Lulu Pascual
 * Mel Tiangco
 * Stephanie Ongkiko (2008-2012)
 * Marigold Haber-Dunca (1995-2000, 2001-2004, 2009-2012)
 * Ina Andolong (2008-2012)
 * Kara Javier

Anak TV Seal Awards

 * 2013 Anak TV Seal Awardee (Most Well-Liked TV Program) - Won