It seems that ABS-CBN’s flagship news program, TV Patrol, will be seen by a much wider audience as two of the country’s biggest media networks are said to be in advance talks for a 50/50 partnership.
In an exclusive article by MediaNewser Philippines, media giants ABS-CBN and Manny Pangilinan-controlled MediaQuest Inc are forging a new partnership that will allow the two networks to combine resources, including production news gathering and operation.
According to MediaNewser’s anonymous sources, the original agreement will entail a 50/50 partnership between the two companies which would mean that they will have to say on “business and editorial decisions, future programming, and acquisition.”
The sources added that as early as now, the ABS-CBN team is proposing a possible airing of ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol to TV5’s primetime line-up. There’s just one hiccup as TV5 already has its primetime newscast Frontline Pilipinas co-anchored by former Kapamilya broadcast journalist and also former TV Patrol anchor Julius Babao.
Meanwhile, talks about an expanded partnership between ABS-CBN and MediaQuest have been floating for quite some time.
However, it is said that the two companies have started serious direct talks following Villar’s AMBS (Advanced Media Broadcasting System) acquisition of ABS-CBN’s old frequency.
ABS-CBN and TV5 started their partnership in January 2021 when TV5 started airing Kapamilya noontime musical variety show ASAP Natin To and the movie block FPJ Da King.
The partnership was further expanded in March 2021 as ABS-CBN’s primetime teleserye line-up was also aired on TV5, giving it a big boost in its ratings.
Currently, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, 2 Good 2 Be True, The Broken Marriage Vow, and Love in 40 Days all air simultaneously on TV5 and A2Z Channel 11.
