Annette Gozon-Valdes explains GMA management’s decision to air It’s Showtime on GTV
Like a plot twist to a teleserye: That’s how some fans online described the announcement of ABS-CBN on Tuesday that its noontime show, the Vice Ganda-led It’s Showtime, was moving to GMA Network’s GTV channel.
It’s Showtime used to occupy the noontime timeslot of TV5. Starting July 1, it will take over GTV’s noontime slot.
In an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR yesterday, lawyer Annette Gozon-Valdes, GMA Network’s senior vice president, disclosed the reason they decided to have It’s Showtime airing on the GMA-owned channel, a scenario seen as “unimaginable” pre-pandemic times.
“With regard to It’s Showtime on GTV, it is really a business decision for us,” the television executive said.
Gozon-Valdes confirmed talk that ABS-CBN reached out to GMA first. “Yes, it is true that ABS-CBN reached out to us first. We already have collaborations with ABS-CBN,” she said, referring to the ongoing primetime drama Unbreak My Heart, their joint collaboration together with the international streaming platform Viu.
Asked if it was a long and difficult negotiation and decision to air It’s Showtime on GTV, Gozon-Valdes said, “The negotiations took only a little over two weeks. The first concern was whether the noontime slot was available on GTV.”
In terms of how long viewers can expect to watch It’s Showtime on GTV, she said that the Kapuso Network has a “contract that is renewable by mutual agreement.”
With the ABS-CBN noontime program now with GTV, Kapuso fans can expect Sparkle artists to appear on the show. “Yes, it is a possibility for GMA stars to guest on Showtime,” said Gozon-Valdes.
With the entry of It’s Showtime, GMA Network now has two blocktime noontime shows in its fold, including the country’s longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga.
Gozon-Valdes said, “We think that the more good shows there are on noontime, the better it is for the Filipino viewers.”
It’s Showtime made the big move reveal last Tuesday, on the same day that TV5 officially welcomed the original hosts of Eat Bulaga — Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (TVJ) — along with other Dabarkads to their new home.
Under an “investment agreement deal” with MediaQuest, TV5 is now the new home of TVJ as well as other hosts of Eat Bulaga after they severed ties with blocktimer producer Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. and left GMA after 28 years last May 31.
Some deemed the timing of the announcement as a revival of sorts of the network war during pre-pandemic times.
“The timing of the announcement was decided by ABS-CBN,” stressed Gozon-Valdes. “I think they needed to announce to give ample time for the viewers to be informed that the show will air on GTV beginning July 1. We don’t see this as a network war.”
Prior to Tuesday’s “rigodon” of shows, as showbiz pundits put it, there were media speculations of a back-to-back airing of TVJ’s show and It’s Showtime.
But in a statement, ABS-CBN said It’s Showtime was offered a 4:50 p.m. time slot, but that they “respectfully declined” as they “value the meaningful relationship we have built and nurtured with our audience in the noontime slot.”
During the media day with TVJ and with the “legit Dabarkads” on Tuesday, Tito Sotto begged to differ from speculations that It’s Showtime was “bumped off” from TV5, citing that their blocktime contract with TV5 was due to expire by the end of the month.
“With due respect to TV5, I don’t think the phrase ‘bumped off’ should be used,” the former Senate president said.
“‘Di naman sila na-bump off. Natapos na yung kontrata nila. So, in fairness to TV5, no one was bumped off. Matatapos yung kontrata, yun ang pagkakaalam namin,” he added.
TV5 executives also reacted to It’s Showtime’s transfer to GTV. The Kapatid network’s president and CEO Guido Zaballero said that they respect the decision of ABS-CBN.
“First of all, they continue to be our partners and we respect their decision. And the most important thing is, at the end of the day, the Filipino viewers are the winners, right?” Zaballero said.
MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. president and CEO Jane Jimenez-Basas admitted that they had to prioritize the still-unnamed show of TVJ. This is because they are now co-producers of the program being part-owners of the production company that the veteran hosts had set up, TVJ Productions, Inc. It’s Showtime was a blocktimer.
Basas said, “We basically bought equity. We invested money, so we own part of the company (TVJ Productions). It’s actually 51-49 percent ownership in our favor.”
She also confirmed that they offered It’s Showtime a late-afternoon slot, which she said was fitting for the show’s young demographics.
“We did offer an alternative timeslot. In our humble opinion, that timeslot which is the 4:30 to 6:30, it is best for it because it has a younger viewership. Bata ang mga nanonood ng It’s Showtime. Sabi nga ni Boss MVP (Manny Pangilinan, MediaQuest and TV5 chairman), ultimately, it is their decision. And I believe, as of this (Tuesday) morning, that decision is to move that show out of TV5,” she said.
Nevertheless, Basas stressed that they would continue to support It’s Showtime through existing partnerships with the Kapamilya network.
“We will continue to support It’s Showtime. Why? Because we carry the Kapamilya Channel. CignalTV (under MediaQuest) is actually the biggest distributor of Kapamilya Channel nationwide. That relationship with ABS-CBN will continue to exist. In fact, our primetime blocks are currently with ABS-CBN. And we’re very thankful for that partnership,” Basas said.
Meanwhile, Vice personally addressed the turn of events in an emotional message to the It’s Showtime family on Tuesday.
“Alam kong nagulat kayo. Naguguluhan. Natatakot. Nalulungkot. Naiiyak. Haaaaay! Hingang malalim. May kaguluhan at kabilisan ang mga ganap. Ganunpaman, kalma lang (at least try),” read part of the TV host-comedian’s message that was shared on Instagram.
“Madami mang walang kasiguruhan, pero sigurado akong mahal tayo ng minamahal nating Madlang People. Ang pagmamahal na yun ang bumuhay sa’tin sa bawat paghihingalong naranasan noon. Ang puso ng Madlang People ang TOTOONG TAHANAN natin.”
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