Schedule Suggestions: How would ‘TVJ on TV5’ affect ‘Showtime’

It’s D-day for the TVJ announcement that could possibly shake-up the Philippine noontime television game.

Since their controversial departure from TAPE, Inc. last week, the loyal viewers and the general public alike have been very curious about where the Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and the rest of the gang will move forward in the coming months.

In his several interviews over the past few days, Tito Sotto told that TV5, NET25, and RPN-9 (CNN Philippines) have contacted them within hours after their departure from TAPE. Meanwhile, PTV, and IBC have reached out to them via public pronouncements declaring their interests to get the ‘Dabarkads’ under their roof. But out of the five options, only one network have consistently ranked higher than the rest, in terms of probability and feasibility — and that is TV5.

However, the major hurdle in their way is their rival noontime show ‘It’s Showtime,’ which had been airing on the Kapatid network since July last year. First as a component to the four-hour-long noontime block, airing right after ‘Tropang LOL.’ But after the demise of ‘LOL’ on April 29, ‘Showtime’ regained its three-hour-long runtime on May 1, and now airs from 12 noon to 3:00 pm.

With the ‘TVJ on TV5’ situation becoming much more apparent, what happens now to ‘It’s Showtime’ on the Kapatid network? Here are four scenarios that could transpire.

Scenario 1

• Weekdays
• 11:00 am – Face 2 Face
• 12:00 nn – TVJ on TV5
• 2:30 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 3:15 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 4:00 pm – It’s Showtime (delayed telecast)
• 6:30 pm – Frontline Pilipinas

• Saturdays
• 12:00 nn – TVJ on TV5
• 2:30 pm – Kurdapya
• 3:30 pm – Team A
• 4:30 pm – It’s Showtime (delayed telecast)
• 7:00 pm – Everybody, Sing!
• 8:30 pm – I Can See Your Voice
• 9:30 pm – Rated Korina

In the first scenario above, ‘It’s Showtime’ might end up being aired on a delayed basis on TV5. Other programs will not be affected, except for the afternoon movie block. As for ‘Showtime’ itself, they would keep their current 12 noon slot on the ABS-CBN platforms and A2Z.

This move is sensible for TV5, as they could still air ‘TVJ’ on the noon slot, while also keeping ‘solid Showtimers’ tuned into the channel. But the biggest drawback in such a move, should this happen, is how would TV5 be able to convince ‘solid Showtimers’ to still watch ‘IS’ on the channel, especially if that day’s episode is ready for catch-up anytime after its broadcast via YouTube.

Scenario 2

• Weekdays
• 9:00 am – Magandang Buhay
• 10:00 am – It’s Showtime
• 12:00 nn – TVJ on TV5
• 2:30 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 3:15 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 4:00 pm – Cine Cinco
• 5:30 pm – Face 2 Face
• 6:30 pm – Frontline Pilipinas

• Saturdays
• 7:30 am – NBA on TV5 (during the season)
• 10:00 am – It’s Showtime
• 12:00 nn – TVJ on TV5
• 2:30 pm – Maine Goals
• 3:30 pm – Cine Cinco
• 5:00 pm – Kurdapya
• 6:00 pm – Team A

Like in the first example, ‘It’s Showtime’ and ‘TVJ’ will air back-to-back. But with due consideration to TVJ’s plan to air still on noontime, ‘Showtime’ will adjust back to the morning slot.

Immediately, a relocation back to mornings is highly improbable and nonsensical for ‘Showtime’ to do. As a return to its orignal slot would leave a huge hole in the respective schedules of ABS-CBN platforms and A2Z on noontime.

But for TV5, they would be able to rejuvenate their morning lineup, and would be able to slot in programs lf their choice in the vital afternoon to pre-primetime slots. Such as airing programs from their sister Cignal TV channels.

Scenario 3

• Weekdays
• 11:00 am – Face 2 Face
• 12:00 nn – TVJ on TV5
• 2:30 pm – It’s Showtime (delayed telecast)
• 5:00 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 5:45 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 6:30 pm – Frontline Pilipinas

• Saturdays
• 12:00 nn – TVJ on TV5
• 2:30 pm – It’s Showtime (delayed telecast)
• 5:00 pm – Kurdapya
• 6:00 pm – Team A
• 7:00 pm – Everybody, Sing!

In exhibit number 3, ‘It’s Showtime’ will air on a delayed telecast basis, similar to scenario 1. But in this case, they will serve as a lead-out to the ‘TVJ’ program and expand TV5’s lunchtime offering to an enormous five-hour-long block.

From the get-go, this is reminiscent of the ‘LOL-Showtime’ combo of the past. But as it has been seen in those days, such practice is ineffective, and only resulted to a weaker performance for both ‘LOL’ and ‘Showtime,’ as far as TV ratings go. Hence, while it is enticing to place them back-to-back, it should be done only with extreme prudence and confidence.

Scenario 4

• Weekdays
• 11:00 am – Face 2 Face
• 12:00 nn – TVJ on TV5
• 2:30 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 3:15 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 4:00 pm – Drama rerun
• 4:45 pm – Cine Cinco
• 6:30 pm – Frontline Pilipinas

Another probability that remains high at the moment is for ‘It’s Showtime’ to stop its TV5 simulcast altogether. This means that ‘It’s Showtime’ would revert to its pre-July 2022 reach, with only A2Z as its free-to-air outlet, on top of its other platforms on TV and online.

For TV5’s part, losing ‘Showtime’ altogether could affect its overall programming strategy. With the noontime program being regarded as an anchor program of ABS-CBN, there could be a sense of imbalance, especially with channel 5’s carriage of all major Kapamilya entertainment programs.

Meanwhile, for ‘Showtime,’ that would also cut them off from the audience that they’ve built on the channel, and importantly from those whose only way to access the program on TV is through TV5. So, leaving TV5 altogether could be an unwise tactic for both parties.

Scenario 5

• Weekdays
• 11:00 am – Face 2 Face
• 12:00 nn – It’s Showtime
• 2:30 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 3:15 pm – Drama rerun / ABS-CBN × TV5 collab afternoon drama
• 4:00 pm – TVJ on TV5
• 6:30 pm – Frontline Pilipinas

• Saturdays
• 12:00 nn – It’s Showtime
• 2:30 pm – Cine Cinco
• 4:00 pm – TVJ on TV5
• 6:30 pm – Frontline Pilipinas (weekend)
• 7:00 pm – Everybody, Sing!

Less likely as it seems, chiefly because of the keenness of the TVJ group to continue airing on noontime, but a pre-primetime slot for them would save TV5 from a lot of possible issues and backlash that might arise. Apart from that, the network will also be able to conveniently slot in the new program without affecting other shows in its programming grid.

As for the TVJ group, they will be able to ‘test the waters’ first, and see if most of their loyal followers would jump the ship with them. Then, perhaps, after a few months, reconvene and check the figures if they are convincing enough to move back to noontime. But this practice could be regarded as too risky for them, as their base and following over the years have been built on the perennial 12 noon slot of ‘Eat Bulaga.’

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• ‘Isang libo’t isang tuwa sa ibang programa?’: Could a new ‘Dabarkads’ show be formed elsewhere?

• Schedule Suggestions: How could TV5 accommodate a possible (more) overloaded noontime line-up

• ‘Where will ‘Dabarkads’ go?’: Where can we (possibly) find their new home?

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After months of speculations, it seems that it will all boil down to the reunion of sorts between Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and TV5. And this time, they will be joined by Tito Sotto and the rest of ‘Dabarkads.’ A possible addition that could improve the fortunes of the network in the ratings game.

On the other end of it, TV5 is also risking to alienate its current set of viewers by possibly bumping ‘It’s Showtime’ off its slot on the network. A move that could be interpreted by the program’s solid followers as giving ‘Showtime’ the shorter end of the stick. A possibility that was already raised and warned in the April 2023 Schedule Suggestions article.

The TVJ group is due to announce their next move today, June 7, 2023.

DISCLAIMER: THE HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIOS PRESENTED IN THIS ARTICLE MUST NOT BE TAKEN AS FACTS ON THEIR OWN. DESPITE THAT, TRENDROD WISHES TO REMIND READERS THAT IT STILL TOOK INTO ACCOUNT REAL-WORLD FACTS TO COME UP WITH THE ANALYSES IT HAD PRESENTED.