Kapamilya star Vice Ganda recently revealed that he will be launching his own digital network called the ‘Vice Ganda Network’ that will hit the internet this coming July 24.
It will be available online via ViceGanda.com.ph starting with the premiere show, Gabing Gabi na Vice.
The digital network will feature Vice News and Vice Beauty tips. Subscribers will also get a chance to win some Vice giveaways through joining the fun Vice Games. Vice hoped that with the launch of his new network, he would be able to provide employment to people especially those who lost their jobs due to ABS-CBN shutdown.
With the franchise denial of the ABS-CBN network, a lot of the network’s shows were canceled or dropped. However, this does not stop Kapamilya artists from bringing entertainment to the Filipino people as they try to reach their audience through different digital platforms. Even if the network lost its freedom to air freely in television and radio programming, the artists said that they can use social media and cable to continue to be in service to all Kapamilyas.
The 44-year-old comedian said that when he launched his network, he did not think about competing with other networks. Vice said that he doesn’t want to put his focus on competing and also stated that he can’t compete in the first place because they are not on-air.
Vice mentioned that he wants to prioritize on how he can help the people in this COVID-19 pandemic instead of thinking about competition.
“Hindi mo siya maiisip ngayon,” he said.
“At saka, anong competition? Wala nga kami sa ere. Kanino kami makikipag-compete?” he added.
The comedian-host also said that now that he is having his own network to air his online shows, he will have fewer restrictions, unlike his television shows.
“Binigay din sa aming directive sa ABS (CBN), sabi niya, ‘ngayong naka-lockdown at lahat kayo nasa bahay,’ sabi ni Tita Cory (Vidanes) at saka ni LMD (Laurenti M. Dyogi), ‘you still have to find a way to reach out to your audience. Hindi kayo pwedeng mawala sa kamalayan nila at hindi pwedeng hindi n’yo ma-serve ‘yung purpose na sine-serve n’yo sa kanila,” he said.
Vice also aimed to give jobs to stand-up comedians affected by the closure of comedy bars. Vice himself started as a stand-up comedian in a bar. He wanted to help his fellow comedians who were struggling to make a living in this pandemic and said that he was encouraged to push through with his digital network when he did an initial broadcast with his friends and reached a million-strong audience.
In his upcoming online shows, Vice said that he will not only have guests from the Kapamilya network but also he is looking forward to inviting guests from the GMA network as well.
The names of Heart Evangelista, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, and many more were among the GMA artists that Vice wanted to have in his show. Through this opportunity, Vice said that his audience will be able to see his first-time banter with GMA artists.
Vice said that with the launching of his digital network, he would still have a way to bring joy to the people who are going through something with their lives and make them forget their problems even for a while. He hoped to bring ‘good vibes’ to the people and put a smile on their faces.
“Para naaaliw ko pa rin ang audience ko. Kasi, walang way, eh. Hinahanap nila ako sa TV, naghahanap sila ng good vibes na pwede kong ibigay sa kanila, but there was no way. So, sabi ko, ito ‘yung paraan,” he said.
Vice Ganda’s much-talked-about digital network was also backed by his management and marketing team at Viva Entertainment. He stated that he asked for the blessing and support of ABS-CBN and his sponsors and was glad that they did. He expressed his gratitude to ABS-CBN and Viva who gave him the opportunity to work with them.
“Hiningi ko ito ng basbas sa ABS-CBN kaya nagpapasalamat ako, pati sa mga endorsers ko,” Vice said.
“I am so blessed that I was given the opportunity to work with the best people at ABS-CBN and Viva who shared their wisdom with me. Napapaligiran ako ng magagaling na tao.” he added.
Vice also mentioned that ABS-CBN bosses Carlo Katigbak and Cory Vidanes, among others, challenged him and other artists to go digital. Vice said that he was encouraged by his bosses to reach out to his audience and look for platforms other than television to bring entertainment to the people.
Vice is a regular host of It’s Showtime. He has starred in several films, eight of which are considered to be the highest-grossing in Philippine cinema. He is best known for his stand-up routines, in which he uses observational comedy, situational irony, and sarcasm in pertaining to Filipino culture and human sexuality.
