Reports suggested that the partnership will see both media companies combining their resources to form a more formidable media entity.
Something’s baking in the oven. Nope, it’s not the PIE Channel, ABS-CBN’s collaborative venture with BEAM Inc and other creative partners, but an expanded, much bigger partnership with media giant, MediaQuest Inc and its ree TV network, TV5.
News website, Media Newser Philippines cited in their article, that some sources claimed that a 50/50 agreement is about to get sealed by the two companies.
The said agreement will have both media giants equal power to decide on business and editorial matters in the new partnership. ABS-CBN first struck a collaborative deal with MediaQuest Inc’s TV5, last year, which allowed the free TV network to air some of ABS-CBN’s flagship drama contents. The Kapatid Network has since massively improved in TV viewership, AGB Nielsen data show.
The said Media Newser report also hinted at a possible buyout of ABS-CBN’s Skycable by MediaQuest Inc’s own Cignal Entertainment. Previous reports suggest a merger would happen, but recent developments imply there may be some modifications.
The Manny V. Pangilinan media conglomerate is seen to be the bigger boss once this partnership gets ironed out, but it is worth noting that TV5 has received a massive boost in its viewership through ABS-CBN’s creative direction. It won’t surprise if ABS-CBN will have the bigger say when it comes to deciding what content the new partnership will provide.
As this deal also aims to combine the creative and news gathering forces of both networks, complications may arise once the final and official program lineup is decided for the big merger. The report also cited that ABS-CBN is proposing to get its flagship newscast, TV Patrol, on TV5’s primetime lineup. It can be noted, however, that the Kapatid Network, already has its primetime newscast, Frontline Pilipinas, which is anchored by Cheryl Cosim and former TV Patrol anchor, Julius Babao.
An exciting angle of this incoming partnership is TV5’s potential expansion in nationwide coverage, as this may also allow the franchise-bearing Kapatid Network to lease ABS-CBN’s old transmitters, which have been idle since the TV network shutdown. A2Z has been reportedly using ABS-CBN’s transmitters in Cebu and Davao to carry the network’s limited services in Visayas and Mindanao.
The public is looking forward to an official announcement about this exciting partnership in the coming weeks.
