TV5 cancels new shows, will reportedly air ABS-CBN’s ‘ASAP’ on Sundays
Change is looming yet again on TV network TV5 after it dropped a number of its programs in its weekend lineup.
This, amid reports that the Kapatid Network is set to announce a partnership with rival network ABS-CBN soon.
According to PEP.ph, ABS-CBN’s long-running Sunday program “ASAP Natin ‘To’ will be aired on TV5 starting Sunday, Jan. 24.
This is if things go according to plan, the report said.
In short: “ASAP Natin ‘To” will air simultaneously on ABS-CBN’s A2Z channel and TV5.
The report comes just days after TV5 revamped its Sunday program lineup.
Over the weekend, Brightlight Productions said in a statement sent to PEP.ph that it would air the finale episodes of its two Sunday programs on TV5—the noontime show Sunday Noontime Live and the gag show Sunday Kada—that same week.
“Sunday Noontime Live (SNL)’s delightful run is about to end and we await future endeavors from its outstanding stars and phenomenal newcomers,” Brightlight Productions Chief Executive Officer Albee Benitez said in the statement.
Brightlight is the blocktimer—a company that buys air time on TV to independently produce programs for the network—behind the two shows.
The news of Sunday Noontime Live’s cancellation shocked showbiz fans and followers. The show, which premiered October last year, featured a number of big name stars from ABS-CBN.
These celebrities—including marquee names such as Piolo Pascual and Maja Salvador—moved to TV5 following the shutdown of ABS-CBN’s free TV operations.
Sunday Noontime Live’s pedigree does not end there. It was directed by Johnny Manahan, the former head of ABS-CBN’s talent arm Star Magic.
TV5’s morning talk show Chika, BESH (Basta Everyday Super Happy), which premiered in August, aired its last episode last month. The show is produced by another blocktimer, Archangel Media.
Brightlight Productions’ Rated Korina (its show with Korina Sanchez), daily noontime show Lunch Out Loud, and weekly sitcom Oh My Dad! will continue to air on TV5.
Philstar.com reports that, according to their unnamed source, the shows were cancelled due to poor ratings.
Pilipino Star Ngayon showbiz editor Salve Asis wrote that Brightlight allegedly spent over P500 million for its TV5 programs. And while some of the programs have managed to gain social media traction, its online noise does not translate to viewers.
Reports and insiders say the cast and crew of Sunday Noontime Live were caught by surprise by the decision to end the show’s run.
All these reports coincided with Philippine Star editor Ricky Lo’s report on Monday, January 18 that TV5 and ABS-CBN are cooking up a partnership.
“Don’t blink now but the rumored partnership between Cignal-TV5 and ABS-CBN may be happening sooner than expected. If this pushes through, it will definitely be a big boost for the Kapamilya channel to extend its free-TV coverage all across the country via Cignal-Kapatid TV5’s nationwide reach,” Lo writes.
No details were given as to what the partnership entails, if it gets finalized, although Lo writes that a “big announcement” about it could be made at a press conference possibly this week.
Earlier today, TV5 also announced its newest show: “Wanted: The Serye,” a drama anthology program inspired by Raffy Tulfo’s popular radio show. It will premiere on Saturday, replacing Luchi Cruz-Valdez’s "Usapang Real Life."