TV5 Dismisses About 100 Employees as Part of Restructuring Efforts

TV5’s termination of around 100 employees is the latest in a series of problems that surround the network. (Photo credit: TV5)

TV5’s housecleaning under Chot Reyes continues.

This past week, reliable sources reported that about 100 employees of the network were dismissed as part of a major restructuring effort. These include some of TV5’s producers, cameramen, engineering crew, reporters and other talents.

They were, according to sources, fired via a text message, and were given pink slips by the human resources team. Furthermore, a second wave of layoffs awaits more employees starting this week.

TV5 President and CEO Chot Reyes addressed the news in a memo obtained by MediaNewser.com:

“Despite operating at a financial loss for the past years, the company has exerted all efforts to minimize the effects of the organizational restructuring on our people. As a result of an extensive study, it has become evident that some jobs and skills will no longer be required by the company, while some other positions are deemed overmanned.“

In response to Chot Reyes’ address, the TV5 Employees Union posted their own statement regarding the network’s latest move:

TV5’s termination of around 100 employees is the latest in the ongoing saga surrounding the Kapatid network. Within the last half-year, TV5 made some cost-cutting moves in hopes of fulfilling MVP’s ‘break even by 2017’ promise, such as the controversial decision to allocate more hours to TV shopping blocks, and the dissolution of the entertainment department.

Despite these changes in strategy, it is clear that TV5 is going nowhere with the product they are promoting at this point. As much as the network wants to promise something new to their viewers each and every time, they can no longer afford to do so due to the irreversible damage that they are enduring.

That said, Manny V. Pangilinan’s promise of ‘breaking even’ this year appears to be in vain. And to make matters worse, he has no choice but to settle the matter with the terminated employees, who demand compensation to make up for their unjust dismissal.

The year 2017 is off to a so-so start for TV5. While they are trying their best to once again rebuild their overall operations, this latest issue only shows that they are once again making fools out of themselves.

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.