Another year is about to end. But before the calendar flips to 2014, here is a look back at the year that was in television and radio. This article will focus on ABS-CBN, who dominated television ratings all year.
The Positives
Everything went right for ABS-CBN. And it showed in its weekday offerings. Primetime Bida teleseryes dominated the Kantar ratings, led by the year’s top-rated series ‘Juan dela Cruz’. ‘TV Patrol’ remains the most preferred evening newscast, while ‘Showtime’ introduced the most talked-about ‘That’s My Tomboy’ and ‘Kalokalike’ segments that propelled them atop the noontime pyramid. And thanks to the highly-anticipated November wedding between Maya (Jodi Sta. Maria) and Richard ‘Ser Chief’ (Richard Yap), ‘Be Careful with My Heart’ continued to lord over the late morning slot.
The Kapamilya network continued to rack up ratings victories on weekends, aided by its reality competition shows ‘The Voice of the Philippines’, ‘Masterchef Pinoy Edition’, and ‘Pilipinas Got Talent’. Also helping their cause were the long-running anthology ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ and game shows such as ‘Bet on Your Baby’ and ‘Kapamilya Deal or No Deal‘. ‘Gandang Gabi Vice‘ and ‘ASAP’ remain the most talked-about shows on social media.
Even its sports offerings beat the competition. The Miami-San Antonio NBA Finals and the La Salle-UST UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals scored big in the ratings and in the hearts of netizens. The network also continued to showcase top-notch boxing matches such as the ‘Pinoy Pride’ series and fights featuring Nonito Donaire.
The Negatives
While they were able to enjoy high ratings on primetime, there were still some shows that ended up lasting less than half a year. Examples include ‘Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin‘, ‘Apoy sa Dagat‘ and ‘Muling Buksan ang Puso’, whose storylines required only at least four months of airing. Also getting the ax were the sitcom ‘Toda Max’, after lead star Robin Padilla reportedly left, and ‘The Buzz’, which was reformatted as ‘Buzz ng Bayan’. ABS-CBN’s programs were likewise not spared from MTRCB’s iron hands, as ‘ASAP’ was reprimanded in February for Anne Curtis’ sensual outfit and performance.
ABS-CBN personalities were also involved in various controversies. ‘Kris TV‘ was nearly cancelled when its host Kris Aquino announced her resignation after getting embroiled in a custody case with then-husband James Yap for their son Bimby. However, a month later, Aquino announced that she would only take a ‘leave of absence’ in June. As of now, ‘Kris TV’ continues to air in the morning slot.
And last November, Korina Sanchez criticized CNN’s Anderson Cooper regarding the latter’s report about the slow delivery of goods to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). As a result of the negative reaction she received from netizens, Sanchez took a ‘leave of absence’ before returning to duty a month later.
Outlook
ABS-CBN capped off the year by showcasing the love team of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla on ‘Got to Believe’, young child star Raikko Mateo on ‘Honesto’, and budding star Jessy Mendiola on ‘Maria Mercedes’. For 2014, they are expected to introduce another potential star in Julia Barretto on ‘Mirabella’. Going forward, ABS-CBN is poised for another banner year, and as long as their products continue to entice audiences, ABS-CBN will remain the country’s top network.
From the Tube 
ralphierce, what is your opinion on ABS-CBN airing Star Cinema movies on Sunday primetime?
Apparently I don’t like it. Sunday’s Best deserves to air at an earlier time than its currently scheduled 11:00 p.m. or later timeslot. They already have Kapamilya Blockbusters on weekday afternoons, so what’s the point?
The Star Cinema movies are being aired as a filler while ABS-CBN is still in the process of finalizing its new reality show to kick off 2014. At least, it’s better than other networks airing movies dubbed in Tagalog.
By January 5, the new sitcom Home Sweetie Home with John Lloyd Cruz and Toni Gonzaga will be aired on Sundays after Goin Bulilit.
So the new Sunday sked of ABS will be as follows:
6 pm TV PATROL
6:30 GOIN BULILIT
7 pm HOME SWEETIE HOME
7:30 RATED K
8:30 STAR CINEMA ORIGINALS
10:30 GANDANG GABI VICE
11:15 SUNDAY’S BEST
Home Sweetie Home: ABS answering ‘Pepito Manaloto’. With that move ‘Rated K’ can now air opposite ‘Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’, which I have been clamoring for months.
I’m looking forward to that too. By the way, do you have the sked of GMA’s movies tomorrow other than Miss Congeniality on SNBO? Now that Dormitoryo is gone, GMA will air two movies after Sunday All-Stars.
There’s none. GMA’s program skeds only post the title of the movie block, and not the movie. Philippine TV Ratings’ recent posts are not usually reliable, and they posted only the Sunday sked after SAS.
As for ‘Dormitoryo”s replacement, GMA actually replaced the show with ‘True Horror Stories’. Again it’s a bad move for them. And ‘Miss Congeniality’ on SNBO won’t air tomorrow. Instead a Wow Mali-like special hosted by Betong Sumaya (I don’t remember the title) will air instead.
Last week kasi, you mentioned here that the Mr. Bean movies were aired on KMF and GMA Blockbusters.
The reason why I wrote it was because when that teaser aired a few days earlier, I thought that the Mr. Bean series will be a better fit for GMA. ABS-CBN, for the most part, has been airing the series rather awfully, often with two or three skits from different episodes. Take note of the bottom paragraphs, and you see why I wanted the Mr. Bean live and animated series to air on GMA.
The contents of my blog are meant to describe, explain and criticize what is going on in the world of TV and radio. The blog is not for writing press releases, which is the job of the main networks. Right now there are no programming updates for the week since I concentrated on the year in review posts, and the recent opening of the TV5 Media Center.
The year in review posts will be my last for 2013. The next posts will come after the New Year.
Prankista is the title of the Betong Sumaya special tomorrow on SNBO. Miss Congeniality will be aired on KMF while Andre starring Tina Majorino (of Waterworld) will be aired on GMA Blockbusters after True Horror Stories.
correction: boy2 quizon is the host of prankista
Oh, I thought it was Betong, because when I watched teaser I thought the face was Betong’s. However, to be sure, just watch tomorrow to see who was the host.
this is a really nice site. just saying. i love how you talk TV without really sounding showbiz 🙂
I think it’s a replay of the last Prankista aired last November. GMA is known to make last-minute changes on its Sunday shows.
I think it’s a replay of the last Prankista aired last November. GMA is known to make last-minute changes on its Sunday shows.
I just called GMA. It’s a replay of Prankista 1.
So it’s not a new episode. How cheap?
And my first post of 2014 will also be interesting, on how GMA Telebabad apparently waved the white flag. Tomorrow they’ll start airing the ‘Kapuso Primetime Cinema’ upon the conclusion of ‘Genesis’ and ‘Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas’. I can sense that their upcoming teleseryes will not be a factor in the ratings upon their debut.
I find that cheap too. Imagine a replay of Prankista vs Kabayan’s yearender?
Other movies today on GMA: KMF will have Miss Congeniality while GMA Blockbusters will have Andre starring Tina Majorino (of Waterworld).
Kabayan is miles better than Imbestigador himself. Maybe GMA wanted to get a headstart by placing their yearender at an earlier timeslot just to not compete with ABS.
Here is the new ABS-CBN Sunday sked starting next Sunday:
9 am — Blade: The Animated Series
9:30 am — Matanglawin
10 am — FPJ Da King
12 nn — ASAP 18
3 pm — Luv U
4 pm — Buzz ng Bayan
5:30 pm — TV Patrol
6 pm — Rated K
7 pm — Goin’ Bulilit
7:30 pm — HOME SWEETIE HOME
8:30 pm — Star Cinema Originals
10:30 pm — Gandang Gabi Vice
11:15 pm — Sunday’s Best
What’s your take on this? HSH will be up against KMJS while Rated K will be up against Kap’s Amazing Stories.
I think the reason Korina Sanchez’s show was moved is to avoid competing against Jessica Soho’s show. Soho’s show has more meaningful and relevant discussions than that of Korina’s; Rated K is more on individual stories rather than socially conscious topics.
And Home Sweetie Home? Well they want to avoid competing against Pepito Manaloto for the same reasons; Pepito has always been a favorite of netizens.
In short, kung iiwas ang GMA, sasagot ang ABS.
I watched the ABS-CBN Yearender last night and I admit, it’s better presented than that of GMA’s. Ryzza Mae looked awkward in her voice-overs.
And true to what was posted, GMA aired Prankista against the yearender of ABS. Prankista had little or no commercial spots at all because it was a replay.
I wish GMA does Prankista regularly. But their gags don’t measure to what TV5’s Wow Mali has done.
I agree that Prankista should be done regularly. Make it compete with GGV or Wow Mali.
Yes, so that Boy 2 has another program to take care of. Boy 2’s only program is Bubble Gang, so another program should help his cause.
ralphierce, did you watch True Horror Stories yesterday? If you did, what is your opinion of that show?
I didn’t watch it though. However, based on the trailers it was obvious that it is not based on the Filipino point of view, but rather a Japanese one. Had they made it similar to Wag Kukurap it would have been better.
Julia Barreto: another bitch in the making!