Less titillating dance numbers

If GMA Network Inc. chairman cum president and chief executive officer Felipe Gozon has his way, he will be the CEO of the country’s two highest rating and, ultimately, most profitable TV stations within the next decade or so. Here’s how.

There’s Channel 7, of course, which currently has more programs in the 10 most-watched list than any other station in Mega Manila and which is expanding its reach to Cebu and Davao.

Based on the AC Nielsen study, Mega Manila, which stretches as far north as the hometown of President Macapagal-Arroyo, accounts for 87 percent of the country’s households with TV sets. Cebu and Davao each account for six percent of the country’s households with TV sets while Dagupan in Pangasinan accounts for one percent.

And then, there’s Channel 11, which is owned by Zoe Broadcasting Corp., a subsidiary of Jesus is Lord movement headed by May 2004 presidential candidate Eduardo Villanueva. Under a fixed lease agreement, GMA Network will provide Channel 11’s content, starting this September or October.

Basically, Channel 11’s content will be more wholesome than Channel 7, given the JIL religious bias. That means, among other things, no jokes with double meanings and less titillating dance numbers.

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Did you know 1: Philippine National Bank’s new chairman Florencia Tarriela may just bring one or two pieces of her extensive art collection to brighten up her office.

Flor Tarriela has been buying the works of Filipino artists since her days at Citibank. Her major criterion? Return on investment rather than personal taste.

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Did you know 2: Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. president Teresita Ngan Tian has been receiving investor inquiries from Asia-Pacific countries as far as Australia on AFFI’s annual franchise fair which will be held this year on the first weekend of July.

It seems the country is getting a reputation for having creative business concepts that can easily go regional.

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Did you know 3: Unlike his predecessor, Development Bank of the Philippines president and chief executive officer Reynaldo David does not play basketball with the rank-and-file but he still comes across as one of the boys – a jeproks, a cowboy – who has been visiting as many branches as his schedule permits so he can personally explain to employees where the bank is going.

That easy-going stance is, however, deceptive. You see, Rey David doesn’t suffer fools even if they carry fancy titles. Why, he is known to pick up the phone and talk to high-level friends in various industries during management meetings to confirm the findings of his officers.