PHILIPPINES, FEBRUARY 20, 2011 – The television news battle heats up as two dedicated channels launch this month on free TV. TV5’s news and sports channel Aksyon TV starts airing on February 21 while GMA News TV goes live on February 28. The new channels pose a genuine threat to ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), which is available only through SkyCable, because of their reach.
Aksyon TV, named after TV5’s flagship news program, will broadcast on UHF channel 41 in Metro Manila (channel 29 in Cebu and Davao), formerly occupied by NBC’s MTV Philippines. The 24-hour news channel promises to deliver news every half-hour, from studios in Novaliches, Quezon City and The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Among the program hosts announced at the trade launch at The Tent on February 18 are Paolo Bediones, Carlos Celdran, Cheryl Cosim, Lourd de Veyra, Dick Gordon, Teddyboy Locsin, Cheri Mercado, Dong Puno, Joey Reyes and the Tulfo brothers. Martin Andanar takes the lead as Aksyon TV’s head newscaster.
On the sports side, 10-ball, boxing, football, tennis and mixed martial arts are among the featured sports. TV5 CEO Atty. Ray Espinosa revealed that the network will bid for professional and collegiate basketball leagues PBA and NCAA.
Espinosa told reporters that the network expects to get 10% of total TV ad spend this year and about a third of ad spend by 2015. TV5 tripled its ad revenues in 2010.
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Ana Julaton and TV5 Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan
Among its first specials is the live telecast of the WBO World Super-Bantamweight title bout between Fil-Am boxer Ana Julaton and challenger Francesca Alcanter on February 26.
Aside from Aksyon TV, the trade launch also highlighted TV5’s radio station Radyo Singko News FM 92.3 and the upcoming InterAksyon website, which will carry MMDA traffic updates and Metra weather forecasts.
GMA Network reformats its women’s channel QTV 11 to GMA News TV. QTV airs locally produced home and lifestyle programs as well as children’s animated shows, Asian dramas and American Idol.
GMA News TV was previewed in the trade launch at A.Venue on February 7. Its line-up of anchors includes Arnold Clavio, Mike Enriquez, Vicky Morales, Howie Severino, Jessica Soho and Mel Tiangco. Also hosting are Drew Arellano, Ramon Bautista, Susan Enriquez, RJ Ledesma, Winnie Monsod, Rhian Ramos and Chino Trinidad.
The news channel, which will also be seen on UHF channel 27, will have hourly news, initially for 19 hours daily. It will also be offered as GMA Network’s third international channel after GMA Life TV and GMA Pinoy TV.
The network’s news website gmanews.tv has been rebranded as GMA News Online.
