A major overhaul is coming to the network’s primetime block.
On Friday, February 20, Coco Martin himself confirmed on ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol that his long-running, top-rating series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, will be concluding its more than three-year run on March 13.
The show, which has been running since February 13, 2023, is an integral part of the current primetime lineup of the Kapamilya network, raking in the highest rating on its time slot, as well as the content powerhouse for the entire day, every single weekday since its premiere.
In fact, recent viewership figures show that Batang Quiapo remains the top program of ABS-CBN, despite facing stiff competition from GMA’s Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre.
Last February 19, BQ registered 8.8% comibined People ratings in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) of Nielsen Philippines. That is 0.4% points higher than the 8.4% recorded by ECS in the said timeslot, and a whopping 8.0% points up than TV5’s Totoy Bato.
Online, it also still does get around 500,000 to 600,000 peak live concurrent views on Kapamilya Online Live, making it the consistent top-rating show of the platform.
Hence, with the continued success of Coco Martin in the flagship 8:00 pm drama slot, the network is keeping him there for his next project.
Enter Sigabo, a new comedy-drama series starring him with his longtime, real-life partner Julia Montes.
As per the actor-director-producer himself, the series will mark a departure from his prior shows, which include the longest-running primetime teleserye FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, as it will be a light drama with comedians also taking centerstage this time.
While not much information has been revealed yet regarding this show, Coco assured that he will not be away for long. In fact, it is just going to be the usual weekend break that will cause viewers to miss him.
As immediately after the finale of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo on March 13, Sigabo will take over the 8:00 pm time slot starting March 16.
OTHER SHOWS AFFECTED BY THE MAJOR MARCH OVERHAUL
But the end of Batang Quiapo comes at a crucial point for the Primetime Bida block.
Just over two months since the launch of Kapamilya Channel sa ALLTV2 last January 2 through a licensing agreement, ABS-CBN is completely refreshing its line-up post-TV Patrol.
First confirmed movement is regarding the second slot at 8:45 pm. The end is also in the horizon for the action series Roja, which is top-billed by Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri.
Having started airing last November, the show is already due to end on the same night as Batang Quiapo on March 13 after running for a total of 80 episodes.
While no direct announcements have been made just yet, ABS-CBN has dropped the word that the TV version of the highly-viewed series on Prime Video, The Alibi, is coming soon.
Officially titled The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan, the show stars Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino in their roles as Stella and Vincent.
Given the circumstances of its promotion having begun almost concurrent to the trailers of Roja’s last few weeks, it is inferred that The Alibi will take over the 8:45 pm time slot beginning March 16.
If it is indeed placed back-to-back with Sigabo, it form a powerful programming for ABS-CBN last seen with Batang Quiapo and Linlang: The Teleserye Version in early 2024, which produced double-digit figures.
But, not to be forgotten is the third slot at 9:30 pm. This, as What Lies Beneath is already down to its last full month on the air.
According to RCD Narratives, the unit that produces the program, the mystery-thriller will be ending its run on March 20 for a total of 110 episodes.
The series starring Kaila Estrada, Janella Salvador, Sue Ramirez, Charlie Dizon, Jake Cuenca, and JM De Guzman is already entering the final arc as more secrets come to light and the revenge plot of Cuenca’s character against the four ladies in full swing.
At present, ABS-CBN has not yet revealed any information regarding a replacement show for What Lies Beneath.
But they have previously confirmed that the upcoming action series of Richard Gutierrez, Gerald Anderson, Bela Padilla, Baron Geisler, and Barbie Imperial will be airing in the first quarter of this year.
Entitled Blood Vs. Duty, the JRB Creative Production Unit-produced drama has already begun filming, reportedly in Zamboanga City, and might make its premiere on March 23.
Although, it should be noted that with Holy Week starting the week after—with networks in the country switching to alternative programming mode for the Paschal Triduum (Mandy Thursday to Black Saturday)—it is possible for its premiere to be moved to after Easter.
Thus, a high probability for the network is to slot in a temporarily program to fill in the 9:30 pm slot, with the case also strong for the Korean drama Love Scout, which stars Lee Jun-hyuk and Han Ji-min.
Originally scheduled to make its Philippine TV premiere last February 9, the show was pulled the last minute due to unexplained reasons. As a result, was replaced by the rerun of Chinese drama The Forbidden Flower of Jerry Yan and Xu Ruohan.
When it first broadcast on weekday evening block back in 2023, the series aired from July 31 to September 29 for a total of 45 episodes. With its rerun, however, it is probable that it will be cut down to just 43 episodes and air its finale on April 10.
Hence, the second option for Blood Vs. Duty is to make its launch in the early part of the second quarter of the year, with a date no later than April 13.
POSSIBLE ABS-CBN TV SCHEDULE IN THE COMING WEEKS
Noting these possible changes, we take a look now at the possible TV line-ups of ABS-CBN after TV Patrol on Kapamilya Channel, ALLTV2, and A2Z.
- MARCH 16-20
- 8:00 pm – Sigabo
- 8:45 pm – The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan
- 9:30 pm – What Lies Beneath
- 10:15 pm – The Forbidden Flower
- MARCH 23-27, 30-31, APRIL 1, 6-10
- 8:00 pm – Sigabo
- 8:45 pm – The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan
- 9:30 pm – Love Scout
- 10:15 pm – The Forbidden Flower
- APRIL 13
- 8:00 pm – Sigabo
- 8:45 pm – The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan
- 9:30 pm – Blood Vs. Duty
- 10:15 pm – Love Scout