Schedule Suggestions: The new lunchtime combo: LOL x Showtime on three channels

Nearly two years into the new normal noontime game, (ex-)rivals Lunch Out Loud and It’s Showtime will finally be shown back-to-back on three TV channels.

In a report last week, TV5 has confirmed the addition of ABS-CBN Entertainment’s long-running noontime variety show ‘It’s Showtime’ to its line-up of programs this July. To accommodate the move, channel 5’s current noontime program ‘Lunch Out Loud’ will be moved to a different timeslot.

A few days later, reports surfaced on showbiz news portal PEP where members of LOL’s cast and crew spoke up about the details of this newfound synergy. According to LOL host Bayani Agbayani, his program, apart from switching to an earlier slot, will be shown simultaneously on both Kapamilya Channel and A2Z starting July 16 and will be retitled ‘Tropang LOL’. Meanwhile, in a follow-up article, PEP reported that (at least on the first day), LOL will air at 11:00am, while Showtime will air much later than usual at 12:45pm.

As of posting time, ABS-CBN is yet to reveal details about the TV5 airing of Showtime during the program’s episode on Monday, July 11.

But here at Schedule Suggestions, we’ll go first to discuss how both programs should air on the three channels and how much of these station’s current line-up would have to be changed just to make room for IS and LOL.

TV5

Weekdays

• 5:30am – Word of God Network
• 6:00am – Frontline Sa Umaga
• 7:00am – Ted and Chacha sa Radyo5
• 7:30am – TV5 Kids block
• 10:15am (or 10:30am) – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:00nn (or 12:15pm) – It’s Showtime
• 3:00pm – Lakwatsika
• 3:45pm – Maria La del Barrio
• 4:30pm – La Suerte de Loli
• 5:15pm – Frontline Pilipinas
• 6:30pm – Sing Galing

For TV5, the station’s morning programming is mainly composed of the kids block and news programs. It is in this regard that Frontline sa Umaga, which airs currently at 10:00am, must be pushed back to its original time at 6. Not only will it free up timeslots, but will also help TV5 gain momentum into the early morning hour. Also, by doing that, LOL can be brought to forward to 10:30am or 10:15am, with Showtime gaining either the 12:15 or the significant 12:00nn slot.

5’s current travel-talk show Lakwatsika can also be moved to afternoons, given that the channel has no existing original productions for the said block. After that, their existing telenovela offerings can be made back-to-back and replace the regular airing of movie block Cine Cinco. However, the drawback of being in those slots is that the three shows will have to give way to the PBA every Wednesday and Friday.

Finally for this one, Frontline Pilipinas can be transferred anew to 5:15pm, and extended to 75 minutes during regular days. Speaking of which, here’s how the network’s grid could look like during non-regular (aka PBA game days).

• 5:30am – Word of God Network
• 6:00am – Frontline Sa Umaga
• 7:00am – Ted and Chacha sa Radyo5
• 7:30am – TV5 Kids block
• 10:15am (or 10:30am) – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:00nn (or 12:15pm) – It’s Showtime
• 3:00pm – PBA / Cine Cinco (during PBA off-season)
• 5:15pm – Frontline Pilipinas
• 5:45pm – PBA / Cine Cinco (during PBA off-season)

Given that the recent trend of Showtime, where it begins at 5 minutes before 12 and ends approximately at 3, there is a reduced risk of it going overtime during the playdates of the PBA. As for Showtime, it must stick to airing at its usual length, to prevent incidents like the program being rushed to end or abruptly cut short to give way to the broadcasts of the basketball matches.

Saturdays

• 5:30am – Word of God Network
• 6:30am – TV5 Kids block
• 8:30am – Sine Todo (during NBA off-season)
• 10:15am (or 10:00am) – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:00nn – It’s Showtime
• 3:00pm – Sari-Sari presents Viva Cinema
• 5:00pm – Top Class

During NBA season

• 5:30am – Word of God Network
• 6:30am – TV5 Kids block
• 9:00am – NBA
• 11:00am – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:30pm (or 12:45pm) – It’s Showtime
• 3:30pm – Sari-Sari presents Viva Cinema
• 5:00pm – Top Class

There are two scenarios for the Saturday schedule: one is during the off-season of the NBA, while the other is when the league is on.

First up, on regular Saturdays, LOL can also be aired at 10:15, with Showtime proceeding to air at 12:00 high noon. But, when the NBA games are aired live or tape-delayed on 5, the 11:00 start time for LOL and 12:30 for Showtime is encouraged, as this would be the only solution for both programs to air back-to-back despite the broadcast of the games. However, the delayed start must also be reflected over at the other platforms where LOL and IS will air. That will be discussed later at suggested weekend schedules for KapCha and A2Z. But for now, let’s head over to Kapamilya Channel.

Kapamilya Channel

Weekdays

• 5:30am – Kapamilya Daily Mass
• 6:00am – Sakto
• 7:30am – TeleRadyo Balita
• 8:00am – Kabayan
• 9:00am – Magandang Buhay
• 10:15am (or 10:30am) – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:00nn (or 12:15pm) – It’s Showtime
• 3:00pm – Init sa Magdamag
• 3:40pm – Be My Lady
• 4:20pm – Codename Terrius
• 5:00pm – Kapamilya Blockbusters
• 6:30pm – TV Patrol
• 8:00pm – FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano
• 8:45pm – 2 Good 2 Be True
• 9:30pm – A Family Affair
• 10:15pm – Love in 40 Days
• 11:00pm – The World Tonight
• 11:30pm – Flower Crew Dating Agency
• 12:00mn – Movie Central Presents

Like TV5, Kapamilya Channel’s morning line-up will have to be tweaked. Firstly, Magandang Buhay can be extended to 10:15am and serve as the direct lead-in to both LOL and IS. Secondly, Kapamilya Gold Hits (as a movie block name, at least) must be axed. In its place, the long-running Kapamilya Blockbusters must be installed. Finally, their existing 10:00am Korean drama rerun belt should be moved (back) to the post-TWT slot, which is currently occupied by the longer Movie Central Presents block.

Saturdays

• 5:30am – Kapamilya Daily Mass
• 6:00am – Yey Weekend sa Kapamilya Channel
• 7:40am – Team FitFil
• 8:00am – Doc Ricky, Pedia
• 8:30am – KB Family Weekend
• 10:15am (or 10:00am) – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:00nn – It’s Showtime

During NBA season

• 5:30am – Kapamilya Daily Mass
• 6:00am – Yey Weekend sa Kapamilya Channel
• 8:00am – Team FitFil
• 8:30am – Doc Ricky, Pedia
• 9:00am – KB Family Weekend
• 11:00am – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:30pm (or 12:45pm) – It’s Showtime
• 3:30pm – Kapamilya Action Sabado
• 5:00pm – Rated Korina

For the Saturday grid, accommodating LOL will be quite easy for KapCha, for they can easily axe the second KB Family Weekend movie that is aired at 10:15.

But for the instance that the NBA is aired on TV5 anew, KapCha could also stretch its programming to facilitate the simultaneous broadcast of the noontime shows on the three TV channels. As seen above, Yey Weekend could be expanded to two hours, while, the two succeeding shows air until 9:00. By then, a two-hour KB movie can be slotted in until LOL is ready to air.

A2Z

Weekdays

• 6:00am – Bro. Eddie Classics
• 7:00am – School at Home
• 8:00am – KidZ Toontime
• 9:00am – Magandang Buhay
• 10:15am (or 10:30am) – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:00nn (or 12:15pm) – It’s Showtime
• 3:00pm – Init sa Magdamag
• 3:40pm – Be My Lady
• 4:20pm – Codename Terrius
• 5:00pm – Afternoon Zinema
• 6:30pm – TV Patrol

Saturdays

• 6:20am – Asenso Pinoy
• 7:00am – Jesus The Healer
• 8:00am – KidZ Weekend
• 10:15am (or 10:00am) – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:00nn – It’s Showtime
• 3:00pm – Zine Aksyon
• 5:00pm – Rated Korina
• 6:00pm – TV Patrol Weekend

For the Monday to Saturday line-up of A2Z, there would only be minimal change, should LOL be aired at 10:15am as Zinema sa Umaga would be the only affected offering of the station.

But, during the broadcast of NBA games on 5, A2Z’s Saturday schedule could be changed a little bit by extending KidZ Weekend to 11:00am or simply adding a Zinema sa Umaga movie block before LOL.

• 6:20am – Asenso Pinoy
• 7:00am – Jesus The Healer
• 8:00am – KidZ Weekend
• 9:30am – Zinema sa Umaga (can be swapped for an extended KidZ Weekend block)
• 11:00am – Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL)
• 12:30pm (or 12:45pm) – It’s Showtime
• 3:30pm – Zine Aksyon
• 5:00pm – Rated Korina
• 6:00pm – TV Patrol Weekend

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The addition of It’s Showtime on TV5 and LOL on A2Z and Kapamilya Channel is a sign of what’s to come in the reported bigger ‘partnership’ between ABS-CBN and MediaQuest. Business aside, the back-to-back airing of both shows could be a win for both their loyal viewers, as they no longer need to switch channels just to get a glimpse of one or the other.

The official announcement for the upcoming big change on noontime TV is expected to take place later today (July 11) on ‘It’s Showtime’ and within the week on ‘Lunch Out Loud’.