TV5 and ABSCBN Inks Major Deal

It was certainly a regular day until news cam out of the investment agreement between ABS-CBN and TV5. To tell you honestly, I wasn't surprised because at the end of the day, ABSCBN has evolved into a company that provides content for the Filipino worldwide. ABS-CBN entered this deal by acquiring 34.99% or 2.16 Billion Pesos of common shares, with MediaQuest still holding controlling position of TV5. There would also be an option to get more stocks after 8 years of no more than 49.92% off of TV5.

The proceeds of the purchase will be sent to fund TV5 operations, specifically content, their programming and also public service. This will certainly change both ABSCBN and TV5's ways of delivering content not just locally, but abroad where ABS-CBN already has a lot of experience in. This will also make TV5's capability to make content in entertainment, public affairs and even sports even greater in the coming years. The deal will be closed this August 2022.

MediaQuest Holdings Chairman Manny Pangilinan says "We at TV5 welcome ABSCBN for their investments. We all know ABSCBN has always been the leading provider of Filipino related content here and abroad. We have cherished values, synergies to provide top quality programs and hope this will continue to grow, succeed in the coming years."

ABSCBN Chairman Mark Lopez adds "This is an opportunity to help TV5 strengthen its broadcast capabilities and our work in content production and talent management will add not just for TV5's growth, but the ability to serve the public. We see the opportunity to help TV5 grow, to work with the best talent off cam and on cam. This partnership will evolve ABSCBN to become a storytelling company. "

You've seen ABSCBN shows increase on TV5 these previous months and surely, they will further enhance their relationships. Really, this makes me so happy!  

TV5's Official Statement On Mr. Vic del Rosario's Appointment as Chief Strategist for Entertainment

It looks like there's movement inside TV5. After breaking down most of their internal Entertainment support offices, the country's happiest network is revamping their executives as Sari Sari Network take over Entertainment requirements for the channel and putting in Mr. Vic Del Rosario as its Chief Strategist for Entertainment. TV5's CEO Noel Lorenzana acknowledges Boss Vic's expertise in producing quality shows since the 80's and the recent pool of talents they're making shows with right now. He says "We hope this partnership would bear fruit and find similar success in the future".

The Viva patriarch will now handle all existing and new entertainment shows, those that will be line produced and the network's content strategy. Boss Vic says "I am extremely excited to see the limitless possibilities of this partnership and more so to show the creative content to the public and the rest of the world". True enough, I've seen really good shows in their lineup these past few weeks and for what it's worth some of them are line produced. Hopefully this will only become another way to get the best shows out of this third and hopefully soon, a battling second rated network giving Filipinos the good TV programs we deserve.

Here's TV5's statement:

I think this is the same post vacated by Madame Wilma Galvante who is I think currently is a consultant. Here's to more good shows on Kapatid Network!

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Mark Neumann's Character "Takgu" Finally Appears in Baker King

You've seen the past few weeks of Baker King shown on TV5. The show is adapted from a Korean drama which I had the chance to actually follow on KBS which is a Korean cable channel available locally too. I loved the plot, I loved the story, and I loved the way they made it in the original one so hearing that they're going to make Baker King done here, I had my doubts about how it would turn out. I know Mark Neumann since his stint with Artista Academy a few years back. With his good looks, pleasing demeanor, sculptured german physique, I knew he was going to make it big in the local showbiz industry. He's done countless shows, even lorded the Wattpad series in the same station. The happy network seemed to have gone his liking and since his Wattpad stories and shows have had remarkable viewing, TV5 must have thought of using this guy fully by making him star on his own show. Baker King is also his dream.

Mark will play the role of Takgu, a guy who's lived a very colorful life. He's the son of a mogul and his mother basically was poor and abused because the original wife of his Father basically made head way in making their lives miserable. They also tried to kidnap, hurt her, keep her in the sidelines most of the time and keep tons of secrets in between. The first few weeks tells us the story as they were just kids and it basically explains why Tagku, his brother, his mother and everyone else involved in their lives are how they are now, now that they've all grown up.

They'll also be romantically involved with some of the characters and they would end up with the ones they love, so in a nutshell Shaira Mae will be with Mark Neumann in the story. Akihiro Blanco will also be a little busy in this drama because his role is pivotal. There will be a lot of situations where their characters will have a lot of conflicts, much like what I've seen in the original Korean series because as TV5 puts it, they'll be making this story very similar to the original one. They deem not to change it because the concept is very nice already that it would be catastrophic to not show that in the Philippines.

In my neighborhood, Kamuning Bakery basically is the oldest bake shop because they've been there since 1939. They bake tons of stuff that I grew up with and they went here to basically have Mark try and show us a few things he learned in baking workshops. He did it for this role but he told us that he fell in love with it and maybe even plan to pursue a business like it in the future. When he teased some of the press members about showing them his pandesals, they thought of something else but seeing how much effort went in to making this in front of us that day, it made us feel how Mark would definitely give Takgu's role justice. Landing this was even made with stern hard work, it was just something he hoped for in the past and TV5 trusted him with this part. We felt he was very thankful for the opportunity and hopes he doesn't disappoint the same people who has helped him land this role.

He got his hands dirty and made dough from Flour, Water, Yeast and a little salt. They also had butter, Sugar, creamed and mixed it up to form it in a ball. They let it rest and cut it into little pieces. Et voila! You have Mark Neumann's Pan De Sal!

He was also very happy while doing it. He says that in order to make good bread, you must have passion, you must feel happy while doing it because once you bite into something that you make while you're sad, the customer will also feel that way too. You'll see them cry because it wasn't made for a good reason. This is something that you'll learn from the master bakers of Baker King.

Oh and if you see weird stuff like how much the Korean culture is a bit respectful of the matriarchs, please understand that this is how it is in Korea.

You'll see him bake, you'll see him fight, you'll see him love and be a responsible man in the end. Today would be a good time you follow his story as we watch Baker King Mondays to Fridays at 9:30 PM on the happiest network in the Philippines, TV5!

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TV5 Renews Contract Of Derek Ramsay

Here's more happy news from the happy network! Your favorite hunky and sexy guy Derek Ramsay from TV5 just signed another contract with them for another three years. This means you're definitely going to see him again in top rating programs and reality shows from the Kapatid network. 

Present in the contract signing were TV5's Head of Programming Atty. Dan Padua, JLD Management's Jojie Dingcong, TV5's Chief Entertainment Content Officer Wilma Galvante and TV5's President and CEO Noel C. Lorenzana.

Derek Ramsay says "I am so happy to have renewed my contract with TV5. I'm still working with them in top "Mac N Chiz", Extreme Series "Kaya Mo Ba To?!" and tons of other things in the pipeline. I have no complaints, it's hard, it's something new for the viewers. I had to give back to the network for it to grow. There were rumors in the past of me going to other networks but I immediately quashed rumors because it would be disrespectful to the network. TV5 allows their artists to grow, my priority is with the network and I'll work around it. I have to work hard to make the network bigger and better. The series, we'll be sitting down on that. The Mac N Chiz program is such a happy set, I look forward to always be with John and Empoy in the show. In the Extreme Series, I will do everything except rats. I can do anything but not that. I'd like to also see Kidlat be back on TV, that project is hard but when you see the kids even those from far flung areas without electricity and they call you that hero, the happiness is insurmountable. I'd like to see that be back on TV. TV5 looked me up, this is my home and I'm very very happy here and what we could concentrate more is perhaps movies in these next three years. I'd rather sing than dance, but I'm not too keen on that. I'd rather jump a building than dance. I don't want to injure my self doing that. We're going to get bigger and better and I'll help the channel, thank you for te trust, it's mixed feelings, I'm definitely enjoying my stay in TV5."

TV5 ran a cute throwback video and how his journey with them went like in Amazing Race, Kidlat, Sa Bawat Sandali, and the three years was fun as they say. He's got adoring fans all throughout the Philippines especially the kids who's faces light up when they see him in costume was just priceless. Ms. Wilma Galvante also divulged afternoon shows, movies and another sitcom for him, he didn't know that was going to happen so he was very emotional about it. He has gotten a lot of complements from a lot of people and he's ready to make more good scenes so that even more people would see it. The new one is in the works and they're still in the planning stage. 

No talent fee increase he says and only stayed the same as the one he had 3 years ago. Mr. Lorenzana even said "He's the biggest male star there is in Philippine TV and aside from his good looks, it's who he is that personifies TV5. During the Amazing Race he could have been in the VIP section but he chose to be with the rest contestants, I mean who does that at all!? Every person in the board were unanimous, we didn't hesitate to renew him in TV5."

You have to watch out what would happen with Derek as he's definitely up for a challenge. 

For more information about their network:

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TV5 Launches "Call Me Papa Jack" and "Rising Stars Philippines!"

Have you seen the lineup of shows that TV5 is coming out this 2015? If not, then this is your lucky day. We attended the launch a few days ago and got first hand information about the new programs they're planning to show this first quarter. It's epic because there are tons of artists and superstars that have gone to the Kapatid network, ultimately to bring you even better lineups this year as they challenge GMA, I think I heard from them a clear message that they are going to claim the second spot this year, and why not, they've been third place for quite a while and it's not bad to claim a goal right? Haha. Anyway, here's what transpired during that evening.

Oh yes! It's Papa Jack!

On the video screen I saw a familiar face (he wasn't there, apparently he was on a team building trip in Boracay!). Papa Jack apparently jumped ship from that defunct program he had in GMA and will now be part of TV5. The radio show is now on TV and he's still not going to hold back on giving love advise as he's pretty much known for that. He's also going to interview a ton of TV5's artists so you better watch out for the first few episodes that will include a tell all on their love problems, yes, all on air! I can't wait to see how he's going to put these guys and gals on the spot once it shows on the Kapatid channel. It's going to be entitled "Call Me Papa Jack!" every Saturday night. Now isn't that something to look forward to? Well that's not all of it, there's more!

If you love singing in the confines of your bathroom, your room, or just about anywhere that there's Videoke, then this new show from TV5 is for you. It's called Rising Stars Philippines and it's going to be hosted by Ogie Alcasid, Venus Raj and Mico Aytona. It's going to show on February but will hold auditions nationwide, even in the smallest barangays. I have seen the one in Trinoma lately and they're still open. If you don't want to audition there, download the app on Google Play store or visit RisingStars.ph and enter the competition from there. One entry per contestant and you don't have to lineup like other shows. Who knows, you might just win something big if you get to be the ultimate Rising Star! It's going to be on February 28 and run until May so you've got to get your vocal chords ready and read my other article here for the gist. Who knows, your dream to stardom might just come true! Again, there's more!

For more information about their network:

TV5 Manila

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Official Statements on TV5-GMA Merger

People are speculating if the news behind TV5 and GMA's merger is true or not since it has been on the Ricky Lo column already. This morning Mr. Cojuanco apparently sent a message to Arnell Ignacio on Twitter) which indicates there's no truth to this claim. Although on the last part of his message, there seems to be an existence of a "talk" but nothing is final. Read this!

See the part where he said "I can now say we're under discussion but nothing finalized at this time" which means they are already talking about it!

On the other hand, below is GMA's reaction to an article published today on the Philippine Star supposing that TV5 and GMA-7 are going to merge this November:

"GMA Network is not in a position to comment on the article that came out in the Philippine Star today, June 4, 2012, regarding the reported merger of GMA Network and TV5 since we are not the source of the information.  The said article attributed the information to Mr. Manny Pangilinan (MVP).  To our knowledge, MVP has clarified that he was misquoted.  We therefore suggest that anyone who wishes to verify may do so with MVP."

Which means "Don't talk to us, talk to the guy that told your sources!" haha... this story is just starting but I bet you when these guys eventually merge, would ABSCBN be afraid of the competition? What do you think? :)