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>GMA 7: ‘US-based Pinoys are clamoring for our shows >7/13/2005 2:02:00 AM >Source : The Manila Times > >THE global network war is officially upon us! Exactly >a week ago today, ‘Life & Times’ reported that ABS-CBN >2’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) is unfazed by the >impending launch of GMA 7’s Pinoy TV in the United >States. While TFC rightly pointed out that they have >the advantage of a 10-year presence in the global >market, Pinoy TV said on Monday they are confident in >matching the rival’s achievement in no time, despite >TFC’s valuable head start. > >Ask Joseph Francia, OIC and head of operations of GMA >International and he will respond in the negative: >“Based on our research, US-based Filipinos are eager >for the arrival of GMA Pinoy TV because they feel they >are missing out on the shows they hear are big in the >Philippines.” > >Francia was, of course, referring to GMA 7’s >top-rating programs like Darna, Encantadia, Sugo and >SOP, which have kept the network firmly in the No. 1 >slot locally, since toppling the long-reigning TV >champ, ABS-CBN 2 in 2004. > >“Figures from the same research in the Bay Area assure >Pinoy TV cable subscriptions of up to 90,000 >households for an initial launch,” he added. >Presently, TFC enjoys the patronage of 160,000 >households in California. > >Francia clarified, however, that the statement does >not aim to belittle TFC’s accomplishments in the US >market. “We recognize that along with Mabuhay (another >Filipino cable channel), TFC has contributed to a very >high awareness of Filipino programs abroad.” Which is >certainly a plus for the arrival Pinoy TV, or any >other future player in the battle for that matter. > >Indeed, TFC has paved the way for competitors who can >base strategies on the cable channel’s experience. >Case in point is GMA 7’s recent acquisition of an >independent play out system, which allows viewers in >different time zones to watch the network’s shows at >the proper timeslots. TFC started out fielding the >same broadcast schedule of ABS-CBN 2 to other >countries, learning along the way that viewing >pleasure can be heightened by making the appropriate >schedule adjustments. > >Nevertheless, Pinoy TV’s recognition of TFC success in >the United States is by no means a white flag signal. >In fact, GMA 7 is raring to battle it out with ABS-CBN >2, judging from the ensuing “war of the words” between >the two. > >Last week, TFC claimed that Pinoy TV has repeatedly >disappointed Filipinos in Los Angeles in “previous >failed attempts” to establish a presence in the city, >the latest of, which is the cancellation of its July >16 launch. (TFC is set to stage ASAP and The Buzz in >Los Angeles on the said date). > >“It is not a cancellation but a mere postponement,” >countered Francia. “The Filipino community understood >that the temporary setback was not in our control >since the problem was with a pay-TV carrier (ComCast), >which also happens to carry TFC. There have been talks >that ABS-CBN 2 may have something to do with this >problem but we would like to think otherwise. What is >important is that we are in the process of ironing it >out with ComCast, and that we are set to launch in LA >sometime in October. ” > >As earlier reported, Pinoy TV will push through with >the July 23 San Francisco launch, which will take >place at the 7,000-seater Bill Graham Civic Auditorium >via a day-long event dubbed, “Fiesta GMA.” SOP’s >Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs and Jaya, >and GMA 7 stalwarts Joey de Leon, German Moreno and >Mel Tiangco will lead the pack of 22 artists in >staging the noontime variety show and an episode of >Mel & Joey on that day. Furthermore, Magpakailanman >will also film three different true-to-life stories of >US-based Filipinos, while the artists are there. > >TFC, of course, will not be beaten, for they will also >hold the “San Francisco Kapamilya Caravan” at the >Monster Park Fairgrounds on July 23, featuring the >cast of ASAP and The Buzz, with US-based Filipino >artists as guests, namely Lea Salonga, Jasmine Trias, >and the controversial Nora Aunor. > >GMA 7’s shot at the word war is the claim that ABS-CBN >only scheduled the “US Kapamilya Caravan” in Los >Angeles and San Francisco when the latter found out >the exact dates and plans for the “GMA Fiestas.” > >Life & Times sought ABS-CBN’s side on this matter, >which categorically denied the allegation in the >following e-mailed statement: “For the past 11 years, >ABS-CBN has been bringing the biggest names in >Philippine show business to key cities all over the >world to bring our homesick overseas kapamilyas closer >to home. > >“This year, the decade-long, global caravan of stars >has become more than just an ordinary trip with the >launch of ABS-CBN Global’s ‘TFC World Tours: Beyond >TV.’ The Kapamilya Summer Caravan in the US West Coast >is part of the said tour, which kicked off in Dubai, >and has gone to Europe and Asian countries like >Singapore and Hong Kong. > >“‘TFC World Tours’ will present more shows for our >kababayan in other parts of the globe in September and >October, 2005.” The exchanges only signal the early >days of this escalating global network war. It should >get hotter, which is, in fact, for the best. For >unlike the current political war that is doing nothing >but damage the Filipino’s life in his own country, the >war between ABS-CBN 2 and GMA 7 will simply make life >away from home more bearable for the overseas >Filipino.’

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