TV5 may file complaint vs Sky

AN ESTIMATED 100,000 Cebuanos flocked to the South Road Project to join the game show.

CEBU CITY – TV5 executive vice president and chief operating officer Bobby Barreiro says unexplained bad signal of its programs in the provinces has forced the network to consider filing a complaint to SkyCable, one of the companies that carry TV5 shows in the regions.

“We received information that our free-to-air signal is very strong, but when viewed through [SkyCable], the reception is poor,” Barreiro said during a media gathering at the Radisson Blu Hotel here. “Maybe there are technical issues. We don’t want to put malice in it just yet.”

SkyCable, the largest cable outfit in the country, was founded by the Lopez group of companies, which also owns ABS-CBN.

Meanwhile, Barreiro also reported that TV5 recently bought a new transmitter that is now fully operating from its property in Barangay Busay in this province. “Ours is as powerful, if not better, than the signals of the other stations,” he said. “If your reception is not good, you may be on cable.”

CHERYL Cosim and Darlanne Sino Cruz

Flagship program

“WIL Time Bigtime” girls (from left) Baby Saya, Shalani Soledad and Sugar Mercado

TV5 is launching its local news program “Akyson Bisaya” on July 18, with Cebu’s top radio man Ruphil Bañoc coanchoring with Darlanne Sino Cruz. “There will be local entertainment programs as well,” Barreiro said. “We’re serious about [wanting] to reach out in a better way to the Cebuano audience.”

Last week, TV5 brought its flagship program “Wil Time Bigtime” here. An estimated 100,000 people flocked to the South Coastal Road Project on the South Reclamation Area to watch the show hosted by Willie Revillame and Shalani Soledad live. A day-long medical mission was also conducted at the Elizabeth Mall.

WILLIE Revillame

At the media gathering, Barreiro also talked about the success of TV5’s all-news station on the FM radio, RadyoSingko 92.3. “Cell phones today don’t have the AM band so we thought, let’s launch a news station on FM radio,” he said. “After only four months, it now ranks No. 4 (in Mega Manila). This is good news, considering how hard it is to break radio habits of Pinoys.”

News team

Present at the gathering were members of TV5’s news and public affairs team –anchors Martin Andanar, Erwin Tulfo, Paolo Bediones, Cheryl Cosim and radio show hosts Raffy Tulfo and Amelyn Veloso.

Barreiro said these personalities, as well reporters and cameramen, underwent training with the Philippine National Red Cross on survival and rescue methods. They also attended a four-week lesson on swimming and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

“This way, they don’t simply report the news,” he said. “People can also count on them for help.”

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