STAR, ABS-CBN team up for biggest poll coverage

This is what The Philippine STAR and broadcast giant ABS-CBN promise to deliver as they embark on a multimedia coverage of tomorrow’s elections dubbed "Halalan 2001."

The coverage is described as the biggest and most trustworthy in the country’s history, combining the expertise in news gathering and the resources of The Philippine STAR and ABS-CBN.

"I think The STAR will reinforce the coverage of ABS-CBN," STAR chairman and publisher Max Soliven said during the recent contract signing that made official the formidable partnership between the two media titans.

"As everyone knows, ABS-CBN’s coverage is the best in the country, so we’re proud and happy to be together. I do hope this relationship will blossom into something deeper and more lasting," Soliven added.

STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte echoed Soliven’s sentiments, describing ABS-CBN as "the perfect partner" for The STAR considering the long-standing friendship and business relationship between the two.

ABS-CBN and The STAR also jointly covered the 1998 presidential elections, which catapulted actor Joseph Estrada to the presidency.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN head honcho Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III acknowledged that The Philippine STAR was an excellent reinforcement for ABS-CBN’s coverage of tomorrow’s elections.

As part of the "Halalan 2001" reportage, a mini-studio has been put up in The STAR newsroom that will serve as one of 50 satellite live points of ABS-CBN nationwide, making the joint coverage one of the most extensive in history.

The mini-studio will be manned by an ABS-CBN anchor and top opinion-makers of the newspaper, some of whom will be at The STAR’s Port Area office as early as 5:30 a.m. on election day.

Slated to join panel discussions to give their insights on the elections are STAR publisher Max Soliven, editor-in-chief Isaac Belmonte, Jarius Bondoc, Felipe Miranda, Boo Chanco, Domini Torrevillas, Art Borjal, Rudy Romero, Josie Lichauco, Ricky Lo, Joanne Rae Ramirez and Argee Guevarra.

In addition to these columnists, The Philippine STAR is also dispatching 15 of its best reporters to provide ABS-CBN with updates on the election beat.

Meanwhile, a total of 10,000 volunteers in 474 schools in 42 provinces have been tapped to gather and count votes every 30 minutes for Halalan 2001’s "Quick Count" project. ABS-CBN’s expertise in this area of election coverage is undisputed, as it has put out credible and widely-viewed election reports since 1987.

The "Quick Count" results will be published on the front page of The Philippine STAR in the next few days after the elections opposite the official tally of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"Halalan 2001" will be aired over Channel 2 and ABS-CBN’s TV and cable stations, including Studio 23, ANC and The Filipino Channel (TFC). Also joining the fray are ABS-CBN’s regional network group, dzMM and ABS-CBN Interactive.

Using resources from ABS-CBN’s 47 radio-TV stations and broadcast centers, "Halalan 2001" will utilize the network’s renowned technical might – ENG vans, helicopters, OB vans, several portable satellites and 200 broadcast-engineers – to create the most modern news-gathering team ever employed for an election coverage.

Prior to the coverage proper, ABS-CBN and The Philippine STAR separately undertook voter advocacy campaigns to contribute their part in the education of Filipino voters. ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs embarked on its "Vote for Me" campaign, while The Philippine STAR aired its "Panahon na ng Pagbabago" TV commercials, which were supported by related print ads.

The STAR also published a five-part "Halalan 2001" series starting May 7 to help voters make intelligent choices in tomorrow’s national elections.