In a surprising turn of events, a battle over the iconic title “Eat Bulaga!” might ignite a network war between TV5 and GMA Network.
Former senator and Filipino host Tito Sotto III recently announced that the title will be used for their upcoming show on TV5, despite the ongoing airing of “Eat Bulaga” on GMA Network by TAPE Inc. Determined not to let go of the beloved title, the TVJ trio (Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon) is said to continue to use it on TV5.
During an interview with CNN Philippines on June 5, Sotto III emphasized that the title belongs to TVJ and will remain with their show on TV5. The official launch of their new program is scheduled for the first week of July, as announced by Sotto III during an interview on the program ‘Cristy Ferminute’ with Cristy Fermin and Romel Chika.
Following their departure from GMA network, TAPE Inc. has carried on with the noontime show, introducing new hosts Paolo Contis, Buboy Villar, and Betong Sumaya. However, Sotto III firmly stands by the ownership of the title, responding to Joey De Leon’s claim that he originally thought of it while dining in Sotto III’s kitchen during an interview with Julius Babao and Cheryl Cosim.
Sotto III emphasized that, following international rules, the creators of the show own the title, and they are prepared to fight for it.
“The title was created by Joey, so we will fight for it… The writers own that,” Sotto III stated.
On June 8, De Leon reiterated his claim to the “Eat Bulaga” title in an interview on OnePh’s YouTube channel. He expressed his emotional attachment to the title and his belief that it truly originated from him.
“Dun sa frontline, naiyak ako kasi ako nakaisip ng title na ‘yon eh… pero naiyak din ako dahil sa tuwa dahil kung sino rin pala talaga nakaisip ng isang title o ‘wordmark’ sabi ng wife ko, eh sakanya talaga ‘yon.” De leon said.
However, on June 9, Jaloslos stated in an interview with Nelson Canlas on GMA that TAPE Inc. is prepared to present documents and evidence demonstrating their ownership of the trademark and the show.
With this, while the ownership dispute remains unresolved, the battle for the title continues between the two sides.
Nonetheless, fans and viewers can anticipate the simultaneous airing of the two shows on different channels during the noontime slot. While the question of who rightfully deserves the title remains unanswered, audiences might soon witness the clash of the Bulagas, bringing a unique and intriguing competition to the noontime TV landscape.
