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Date Posted: 12:21:00 07/13/05 Wed
Author Host/IP: 203.213.207.47
Battle of the giant networks in the US won’t push through
http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR2005071439358.html
The expected battle of the two biggest networks in the country, ABS-CBN and GMA-7, in Los Angeles, California, on July 16 won’t push through. ABS-CBN will be there but GMA has reset its GMA Pinoy TV launch in LA to later this year, most probably in December, according to Ms. Wilma Galvante, VP for entertainment, and Joseph Jerome T. Francia, OIC & head of operations, GMA International. GMA Pinoy TV is the network’s international channel.
The LA launch of GMA Pinoy TV had to be reset due to technical problems with their cable operators. These problems will have to be resolved first and maybe by December, they’ll be ready to launch GMA Pinoy TV in LA.
In the meantime, the launch of GMA Pinoy TV in San Francisco is all set for July 23. Both Wilma and Joseph were very proud to announce that the launch will be through a star-studded show via the noontime musical program "SOP" at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, a 7,000-seater venue which has hosted famous guests like Celine Dion, Bette Midler, the Rolling Stones and Madonna among others.
The main hosts and stars of "SOP" led by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs and Jaya will be there of course, along with Jay-R, Dingdong Dantes, Karylle, Malik, KC Montero, Gabby Eigenmann and Jolina Magdangal. Other featured artists joining this entertainment powerhouse are the young stars from "SOP Gigsters: Richard and Raymond Gutierrez, Chynna Ortaleza, Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras. German "Kuya Germs" Moreno will also be there.
The concert, slated at 7:30 p.m., is free to the public, unlike before when initially they had a co-producer in the US and so tickets had to be sold. But now its for free and so far they’ve received countless requests for tickets. "This is just too encouraging and we’re so happy because this is an opportunity for our kababayans there to see and enjoy our concert for free. The continuous demand for tickets is proof that there’s real interest there on us new kid on the block..."
Preceding the concert is a fiesta-like event which the Kapuso Network, in partnership with Starmedia Entertainment and other entities, is presenting from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the same venue. Billed as "Fiesta GMA," it will have booths offering unique merchandises, food and service. There will be booths for clothing, car dealers, Asian products and many more that would be of interest to the Filipino community. The "Fiesta GMA" aims to be a family affair and there will be suprises for everyone. Entertainers will also be part of the fiesta and among those participating as hosts are Mel Tiangco, Joey de Leon, German Moreno, Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres.
This will be the first time that "SOP" will have a show abroad, although in the past they’ve received offers Wilma said. "But we waited for an occasion of this scoop and magnitude to do it. We wanted to maximize the launch of GMA Pinoy TV through a concert." But she added the San Francisco episode of "SOP" won’t be aired live; it will be aired a week after the concert.
While they are in San Francisco, three episodes of "Magpakailanman" will also be taped, so Mel Tiangco has to be there. They’ve chosen the stories to be featured, Wilma said, and Mel will just have to interview the people whose life stories will be dramatized in the toprating drama anthology.
If anything, July 23 will be a historic day for GMA Network. It’s noted that The Filipino Channel (TFC) has been in the US and other parts of the world for the last 10 years, a long lead indeed. But GMA isn’t taking this as a disadvantage. In fact, it could work to their favor. Joseph said that through TFC, there is already a high awareness among Pinoys abroad for Filipino programming and their subscribers will most possibly subscribe to GMA Pinoy TV too if only for them to get a picture of the other channel, especially so because they know that GMA 7 has been leading in the ratings-game in the Philippines. "They have the power of choice, and they must feel that without GMA programs in their TV sets, parang may kulang. So it makes sense that they’d like to round off their viewing experience. Of course, they wouldn’t want to miss out on the most popular programs in the Philippines."
The GMA Pinoy TV launch in San Francisco will have 20 cable operators and they are targetting at least 90,000 households in the Bay Area alone, Joseph added. They’ll be looking for more carriers for their next launch in LA.
* * *
Read about the Music Inside Buzz report on the local TV
network battle being a cover for the continuing abuses
of a high-profiled media practitioner who is a talent
publicist, TV talk-show host and even a media consultant
to some of our national politicians. An exclusive story
that also is related to some of the media attacks on the
Song Bird.
" Read, learn, understand and comprehend, then contribute.. "
Philippines Music Inside Buzz
http://insidebuzz.tripod.com
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