(L-R): Piolo Pascual, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez and Erik Santos return to the ASAP stage — with social distancing. Image: screengrab via YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment
MANILA, Philippines — Viewers can soon expect to watch ABS-CBN’s much-beloved shows on TV5.
This is because ABS-CBN announced on Wednesday that its Sunday “ASAP Natin ‘To” and “FPJ: Da King” will now be simulcast on the Kapatid network.
In a statement, ABS-CBN said that “ASAP Natin ‘To” will start airing on TV5 this Jan. 24 at 12 noon.
Meanwhile, “FPJ: Da King”, which showcases the movies of the late Fernando Poe Jr., will also air on Jan. 24, and can be watched every Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“This collaboration between Cignal, TV5, Brightlight Productions and ABS-CBN marks the start of greater cooperation among our various industry players and begins a new era of partnership,” Cignal and TV5 president Robert Galang said.
“The future of entertainment media is rapidly converging around a dynamic mix of traditional and digital platforms, with Cignal and TV5 launching new content and synergies that will disrupt conventional broadcast methods,” he added.
Before “ASAP Natin ‘To”, TV5 aired its own Sunday variety show “Sunday Noontime Live (SNL),” produced by Brightlight Productions and premiered in October 2020. “SNL,” however, was canceled after a three-month run due to poor ratings, the Philippine Entertainment Portal reported.
ABS-CBN has been off the air since May 5, 2020, after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered the network shut after the network’s franchise lapsed.
Two months later, during a House Committee on Legislative Franchises hearing, 70 lawmakers voted to reject ABS-CBN’s bid for a fresh franchise.