Will TV5 be a major third force?

Filipino TV viewers should expect a major third force on the local small screen very soon (faster than you can click channels with your remote control).

For the past two decades, ABS-CBN and GMA 7 had been monopolizing the Philippine television industry and had been pounding on each other — just the two networks forever locked in a battle for supremacy.

TV5, however, is now hell-bent on joining the race once more and is determined not to lose this time. Actually an old station known for quality entertainment like Balintataw and once the best source of current affairs and information (the Big News with the late Jose Mari Velez), Channel 5 was also shut down by martial law on Sept. 23, 1972 (Marcos merely pre-dated that to Sept. 21 because he believed that seven was his lucky number: 7 x 3 = 21).

But unlike ABS-CBN, which was reopened by the Lopezes within months after Marcos was sent packing to Makiki Heights in 1986, TV5 did not become operational until Edward Tan gambled on it in 1992. A lot of other tycoons took over its reins, but lost.

This time, it is Manny Pangilinan who is calling the shots and prospects for TV5 seem brighter because this business genius always had this uncanny ability to turn anything he touches into gold.

To illustrate the impact Pangilinan’s entry is creating at the moment, stars from ABS-CBN and GMA 7 are in a state of happy confusion and for the first time are finally reading the fine prints of the contract they annually sign perfunctorily with their respective networks to check if they are legally free to join the exodus to Channel 5.

Pangilinan’s people — mostly young to give the network the much-needed energy and dynamism — are also busy addressing all the concerns of on-cam talents (and even those working behind the camera) who are tempted to take the risk of trying out a new home.

Trivial as this may sound (but should actually be taken into consideration seriously), the first question the talent asks is: Am I willing to report to work on a regular basis to a studio that is practically 10 minutes away from Baguio?

Situated in far, far San Bartolome in Novaliches, the problem of location had always been a major drawback for TV5 in its attempt to lure artists even from way back. (The pre-martial law studio was located in Pasong Tamo in Makati.) Channel 5, however, is now willing to acquire studios that are more accessible to its new talents.

Of utmost concern, of course, is talent fee. From what I’ve been told, the network is offering the sweetest deals ever in the history of Philippine TV. To those celebrities planning to sit down with Channel 5 executives on the bargaining table, don’t blame me if the offer doesn’t turn out as sweet as you expected — I merely heard and the deal may not apply to all.

Security of tenure? Even that area is said to be fully-covered — again, I was just told. Pangilinan obviously means business and local stars (at least, those who matter) had never been put in such delicious (but tricky) predicament where they need to play their cards right.

So far, TV5 under Pangilinan’s helm had already snagged some of the biggest stars in the country: Dolphy, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and Maricel Soriano. Other showbiz big-names are expected to come in within the coming months up to next year.

Channel 5, of course, is not keen on tampering with its already existing goldmines (except for a minor tweak or two): Ryan Agoncillo’s Talentadong Pinoy, a program so successful, it changed viewers’ tastes; Lucy Torres’ Shall We Dance? (to be turned into a reality dance show) and Oyo Sotto’s Midnight DJ, which will even add more young stars.

So far, this is what Channel 5 promises the Pinoy viewer: The return of sitcoms (Joey Reyes is coming in to train and supervise writers), a strong afternoon slot and a lot of honest-to-goodness drama anthologies. The rest of their plans, of course, they are not revealing yet, but the driving force behind the network are determined to provide Filipinos with premium entertainment on television.

But how far will Channel 5 succeed or even stay and is there enough advertising pie to go around? Nobody can really tell.

Now, I am not an expert at numerology (heck, I don’t even know basic arithmetic), but there are numbers playing in my mind now: 7 – 2 = 5.