FTT Year 2013 in Review: ABS-CBN

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.

Korina Sanchez Out of ABS-CBN For Now

Korina Sanchez’s ‘absence’ from her ABS-CBN programs following her remarks on Anderson Cooper has left viewers abuzz.

While relief efforts continue in areas ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), the news community was in shock as Korina Sanchez and Anderson Cooper raged a word war about the latter’s comment on the lack of government response to the victims. And netizens took notice of the situation.

During her DZMM radio program ‘Rated Korina’ last November 13, Sanchez reacted to Anderson’s comment regarding the lack of government presence in Tacloban, saying that the CNN anchor ‘doesn’t know what he is saying’. Her comments drew a negative reaction from social media users, and even CNN picked up the story. At the same time Cooper’s on-site reporting in Tacloban was being praised by local celebrities.

Two days later, Cooper responded by telling Sanchez that she was welcome to go to Tacloban, though Sanchez was at Ormoc at the time of his comments. In closing, he denied saying that there was no government presence, and instead commented on the strength and positivity of the survivors.

Following the comments, Sanchez disappeared from the media for unexplained reasons. Initially it was reported that Sanchez was suspended, but according to a Pep.ph report, Sanchez was presumed to have taken a ‘leave of absence’ from her duties at ABS-CBN. No official statement was provided by ABS-CBN regarding her no-show.

For now viewers will not see Korina Sanchez on air in both ‘TV Patrol‘ and ‘Rated Korina’. However, her general interest program ‘Rated K‘ will continue to air despite her absence.

UPDATE: Korina Sanchez has made a statement regarding her absence, denying that she was either ‘suspended’ or under a ‘leave of absence’. Instead she spoke on the phone during ‘Rated Korina’ today and told the listeners that she was taping episodes of ‘Rated K’ in typhoon-stricken Leyte as part of her work.