TV5'S LABOR UNION FILES NOTICE OF STRIKE WITH DOLE!

TV5's rank-and-file union has filed a Notice of Strike with the Department of Labor and Employment, following the union's declaration of a deadlock in its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with TV5 management last month.

TV5 and the Associated Broadcasting Company Employees Union (ABCEU) could not come to terms on how (or whether) to tackle "non-economic" items on the third year of a prevailing 5-year CBA, both sides acknowledged.

NTC URGED OTHER TV STATIONS TO FOLLOW ABS-CBN AND START TO SHIFT TO DIGITAL!

MANILA – The country will soon use the digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast service after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered television stations to shift from the current analog to DTT using Japan's Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T).

But for now, the common TV sets in households can still work on the DTT system by using a digibox.

ABS-CBNMOBILE OPENS FIRST STORE IN QUEZON CITY!

MANILA - Multimedia giant ABS-CBN on Wednesday opened its first store in the country, cementing its entry into the telecommunications market.

Speaking at the launch, ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III likened the momentous event to the first-ever television broadcast in the country of a garden party at the residence of former Philippine president Elpidio Quirino.

"This opening of this ABS-CBN Mobile's first store is equivalent of that garden party coverage," Lopez said. "It is the beginning of a new age in Philippine media."

GMA NETWORK REVIVES BUYOUT TALKS WITH PLDT!

MANILA, Philippines - NOW with a better offer, GMA Network Inc. has entertained a fresh round of negotiations with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT).

According to a source, discussions for the company, led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP), to acquire GMA Network Inc. from its major shareholders commenced last month. “We can confirm that there are talks lately. It’s been more than two weeks since the talks started. But definitely talks are moving,” said the source.

ABS-CBN PULLS AWAY RATINGS LEAD IN NOVEMBER!

More Filipino households across urban and rural homes nationwide tuned in to the top-caliber programs produced by ABS-CBN Corporation this November, scoring an average audience share of 44%, or 11 points ahead of GMA’s audience share of 33%, based on recent data from Kantar Media.

Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,609 urban and rural homes that represent 100% of the total Philippine TV viewing population, while the other ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen reportedly has only 1,980 homes based solely in urban areas that represent only 57% of the Philippine TV viewing population.

AS RATINGS AND AD SALES FALL, GMA7 TO INTRODUCE MOVIES IN THE AFTERNOON BLOCK!

As GMA's usually strong afternoon block faces stiffer competition from ABS-CBN, the Kapuso Network brings back local movies in the afternoon viewing. GMA7 will introduce recycled movies in its afternoon block this month in a bid to regain strength as Kapamilya Programs Galema and Princess Hours outraced Kapuso counterparts in Mega Manila. ABS-CBN and TV5 also reserves a slot for movies in the afternoon via Kapamilya Blockbuster and Sine Singko. Will this gamble yield desirable results? Will GMA regain strong leadership in Mega Manila? watch out!

ATTY. GOZON RECEIVES RECOGNITION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY!

GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon was conferred on November 24 the Distinguished Achievement Award by the International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi University of the Philippines Chapter (045) for being “a topnotch lawyer and media executive” during the latter’s 80th Anniversary.

Gozon was recognized for “steering GMA Network to a leading force for national transformation” as well as “for his leadership in business as evidenced by numerous recognitions, as [a] CEO and Business Icon.”

ANNE CURTIS SPEAKS UP ABOUT THE SLAPPING INCIDENT!

Top Viva artist Anne Curtis has released her official statement regarding the slapping incident last week. The Kapamilya star claimed all the accusations and apologized to the involved persons. Below is her official statement: 

“Hey everyone. I will be making my official statement now & after this, I will not be giving any interviews about this issue anymore.“I choose to do this right away because I've always been an open book & I don't like to hide anything...

“For those who have read about the issue, yes, most of it is true.

"I admit to that & I have apologized to all parties included immediately...

ABS-CBN TO RAISE AT MOST P10 BILLION TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION OF WORLD CLASS SOUND STAGES!

MANILA - ABS-CBN Corp on Friday said it plans to raise money next year to finance the construction of a Hollywood-style studio in the northern part of Metro Manila. 

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Lopez-owned broadcasting company said its board approved the issuance of P5 billion worth of retail bonds with an option to raise an additional P5 billion.