With Rainy Season Underway, TV5 Still Needs Improvement and Continuity

Tagalized American shows such as ‘Smallville’ will take over TV5’s weeknight programming for now, as they prepare for the 2016 Rio Olympics coverage. (Publicity photo courtesy of TV5)

It’s back to zero for TV5.

As May turned into June, the Kapatid network management decided to make a lot of changes in their programming lineup. Unfortunately, those alterations turned a once-promising network into a troublesome one, full of questionable decisions that are not worthy of its status as a ‘Big Three’ network.

Just imagine this. Would anyone accept a network that airs TV shopping in the morning, cartoons and/or sporting events in the afternoon, and Tagalized American series or movies at night?

Obviously, no one. In essence, this is still TV5 a.k.a. the Kapatid Network, yet its programming is now similar to ABC 5 in its final few years.

The entry of Vic del Rosario’s VIVA group was supposed to rejuvenate TV5’s flagging entertainment group, but it didn’t happen. The first wave of programs came and went, with no replacements whatsoever.

VIVA’s problems were aplenty, such as the presence of the PBA and other sporting events, and TV5’s lack of reach in other areas. Clearly, there is still a lot of work to do, but for the moment, they are no longer involved in the programming.

So what did TV5 do? Click the link to the network’s official website, and one will be very surprised on what the schedules look like now.

But for those not in the mood, here are the lowlights:

• EZ Shop and Shop Japan replaces Boomerang on TV5 block, with the latter now airing on weekday afternoons
• Tagalized American series (e.g. ‘Arrow’, ‘Supernatural’) dominate weeknights
• Tagalized foreign movies remain a constant presence, but on weekends, they now extend to primetime
• ‘Outcast’, a American suspense series, replaces ‘MTV Top 20 Pilipinas’ and will be dubbed in Filipino
• ‘Sports360’ is shelved for now

For many, these moves are not smart, but TV5’s intention is clear. With the 2016 Summer Olympics only two months away, there is little time for VIVA’s programming to make their presence felt, and thus, TV5 needs to air some temporary fill-ins while waiting for their Olympic coverage to begin.

Still, the lack of improvement and continuity remains a problem for TV5. It’s been six years since Manny V. Pangilinan took over, yet the story remains the same.

When will they finally learn? No one knows, but one thing’s for sure: expect the unexpected from TV5.

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Kano Luvs Pinay To Fill Void Left By Misterless Misis

TV5 didn’t waste any time creating a new sitcom after ‘Misterless Misis’ was shelved.

Enter ‘Kano Luvs Pinay’, a new concept which focuses on the complex, colorful and exciting world of intercultural relationships. As the title suggests, it will be a story of a Filipina who fell in love with an American man via a dating website.

The sitcom will star Filipina comedienne Tuesday Vargas and American actor Lee O’Brian. O’Brian is no stranger to real-life interracial romance, having fell in love with ABS-CBN’s resident comedienne Pokwang, his co-star in the movie ‘EDSA Woolworth’.

Joining Tuesday and Lee on the sitcom are Wilma Doesnt, Kiki Baento, Martin Escudero, Eula Caballero, Boboy Garovillo, Ces Quesada, and Cho Chok Venida. ‘Kano Luvs Pinay’ is based on a 2013 Cine Filipino entry ‘Ang Turkey Man ay Pabo Rin’, whose director, Randolf Longjas, will also be at the helm of the new sitcom.

The entry of ‘Kano Luvs Pinay’ comes at a period of change for TV5, which underwent employee retrenchment and realignment of programming, among other reasons. The series is also created to fill the void left by ‘Misterless Misis’, which was shelved after only two episodes just for the said realignment.

It will be interesting to see how the recent changes on TV5 will affect ‘Kano Luvs Pinay’. One can only hope that the new sitcom will not suffer the same fate as ‘Misterless Misis’.

Produced by TV5 and Unitel Productions, ‘Kano Luvs Pinay’ airs starting this Saturday at 9:00 p.m. on TV5.

In 100 Words: Sweeping Changes on TV5

According to a PEP report, TV5 will undergo a major retrenchment and a realignment to their programming. (Logo courtesy of TV5)

Expect major changes on TV5.

According to a report from Pep.ph, TV5 is set to dissolve a few of their departments, notably the entertainment department. The employees that will be affected by the move may be given voluntary separation packages from the network.

The report also stated that a realignment of TV5’s programming grid will be in order. This led to their decision to defer the broadcast of the newly-released sitcom ‘Misterless Misis’ until further notice.

The supposed third episode of ‘Misterless Misis’ did not air last Sunday due to a two-hour ‘Nike Rise’ basketball exhibition match, fueling rumors of a quick cancellation. Instead, it was temporarily shelved.

For more on this development, click on this link.