CNN Philippines

CNN Philippines
Type Broadcast commercial television network
Country Philippines
Slogan We Tell the Story of the Filipino.
Broadcast area
 Nationwide
Owner Radio Philippines Network
Nine Media Corporation
Turner Broadcasting System (under a brand licensing agreement)
Key people
 Pal Marquez (Vice President for News and Current Affairs)
Armie Jarin–Bennett (EVP and Managing Editor)
19 (UHF) (Digital test broadcast)
9 (VHF)
Picture format
 NTSC 480i (SDTV)
Affiliation Radio Philippines Network
Official website
 cnnphilippines.com
Language English (main)
Filipino
Headquarters Studios: Upper Ground Floor Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Office/Transmitter: No. 97 Panay Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City
Availability
Terrestrial
Radio Philippines Network Channel 9 (Metro Manila)
Channel 12 (Baguio)
Channel 26 (Tarlac)
Channel 10 (Iriga)
Channel 8 (Bacolod)
Channel 9 (Cebu)
Channel 5 (Cagayan de Oro)
Channel 9 (Davao)
Channel 5 (Zamboanga)
Digital Channel 19 (Digital test broadcast)
Satellite
Cignal Channel 10
Sky Direct Channel 9
G Sat Channel 3
Dream Satellite TV Channel 13
Cable
SkyCable (Metro Manila) Channel 14
SkyCable (Baguio, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao) Channel 6
Destiny Cable Channel 14
Cablelink Channel 14
Pioneer Cable Vision Inc. (PCVI) (Baybay City, Leyte Channel 9
Streaming media
CNNPhilippines.com CNN PH live streaming

CNN Philippines (abbreviated CNN PH) is an all-news and current affairs channel in the Philippines. It is owned and operated by Nine Media Corporation together with Radio Philippines Network (RPN) as the main content provider under the license of US-based media company Turner Broadcasting System (a division of Time Warner). Replacing 9TV,[1] CNN Philippines is the local franchise of the Cable News Network (CNN). It is also the fifth local franchise of CNN in Asia, after CNN Indonesia, CNN Türk, CNN Arabic and CNN-IBN (India).[2] CNN Philippines' local live programming is produced from the Upper Ground Floor of the Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Mandaluyong City with the free TV transmitter located at the RPN Compound, #97 Panay Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City.[3][4] On October 14, 2014, Turner Broadcasting System with Nine Media signed a five-year brand licensing agreement, until 2020, that will build the alliance between the two news agencies on television and online.[5] CNN PH was launched on March 16, 2015, 6:00 am (PST) and is seen on RPN's flagship station DZKB-TV, channel 9 in Mega Manila and among all regional stations in the Philippines. It operates 18 hours daily from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM on free TV while its programming broadcasts 24 hours daily on cable, satellite and live streaming providers.[4]

Background

Under the brand licensing agreement between Turner Broadcasting System and Nine Media, the latter will pay CNN an undisclosed amount of monthly fee for programs and expertise from CNN International and CNN/U.S. that will air in the CNN Philippines in exchange of locally produced news, current affairs and lifestyle programs and rolling news coverage from 9News, all based on the standards of CNN. Also, 9News will be trained by CNN staff at the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia to enhance their reporting that will also help them to contribute reports for CNN International along with its news bureaus scattered worldwide; as consultants from the latter will help Nine Media/RPN for further development and expansion of CNN Philippines. The official news website, 9news.ph will be redesigned and changed into CNNPhilippines.com.[6]

On the day of the soft launching of CNN Philippines held last October 14, 2014, at the Solaire Resort & Casino, CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker released a statement that said:

The global news gathering power of CNN combined with the local perspective Nine Media Corporation brings enables us to provide first-class news and information to millions of Filipinos in a way that we have not been able to previously. I couldn't be happier to welcome CNN Philippines to the CNN family.[3][7]

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Sonny Coloma was the guest of honor at the trade launch of CNNPH at the Philippine International Convention Center the following day. RPN, the broadcaster of CNNPH, was under the portfolio of PCOO, also known as Media Ng Bayan, from 1986 (sequestration from the Benedicto family, the original owner of RPN) until 2011 (when Solar Entertainment Corporation privatized the station); although PCOO still owns 20% minority share on RPN.[8]

History

Talk TV (2011–2012)

The channel was known as Talk TV from March 2, 2011 to October 29, 2012 on SBN Channel 21. Talk TV is formed by the Solar Television Network, by-then owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation after the latter lead the privatization of former state-sequestered Radio Philippines Network (RPN) in 2011. The first programs that aired on the channel are Dateline NBC, Today Show, Today's Talk, NBC Nightly News, Inside Edition, Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman.[9]

Solar News, known for its back-to-basics and unbiased journalism was formed in January 2012 during the coverage of the Impeachment Trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. Post-EDSA revolution ABS-CBN newsmen Pal Marquez, Jing Magsaysay and Pia Hontiveros together with former ANC anchors Claire Celdran, Mai Rodriguez and Nancy Irlanda known as the pillars of Solar News. Reportorial team then was composed by former reporters of RPN NewsWatch, the sole and longest running English newscast of Radio Philippines Network, which was stopped airing in 2012 as an effect of RPN's privatization.[9]

The 15-minute news bulletin Solar News Update (now Headlines) first aired in March 2012, followed by the primetime newscast Solar Network News and Solar Nightly News started airing in June 18 and July 16 of the same year and Daybreak and Newsday in October 1, 2012. Last October 30, 2012 at 05:30 am (UTC +8:00), TalkTV had finally signed-off to make way for the launching of the first 24-hour English news channel on both cable TV and free-to-air TV, Solar News Channel.[9]

Solar News Channel (2012–2014)

Main article: Solar News Channel

Dubbed then as the "First 24/7 All-English News Channel on Free TV", Solar News Channel (SNC) replaces TalkTV. SNC was launched at 5:45am of October 30, 2012 on Channel 21.[10]

During the first months of the operations, the channel was producing major local newscasts including a native language newscast Solar News Cebuano, a sports newscast Solar Sports Desk and public affairs programs Legal HD, Medtalk, News.PH, Opposing Views, Elections 2013 and News Cafe. 60 Minutes, Top Gear, Undercover Boss and the "Stories" Documentaries block was also launched during the SNC's time. SNC launched its own mobile application for smartphone users. Its consists of features such as live streaming, catch-up episodes (newscasts and Stories) and latest news from the network's website, solarnews.ph.[11]

In November 2013, San Miguel Corp. President and COO Ramon S. Ang personally acquired the minority stake of STVNI. Brothers Wilson and William Tieng were the majority stockholders then of STVNI.[12] In December 1, 2013, SNC moved to RPN Channel 9 for the improvements of the signal and to cater a wider audience, after RPN's former occupant and Solar Entertainment-owned ETC returned to SBN Channel 21 (ETC was aired in SBN-21 from 2008–2011 then at RPN-9 from 2011–2013). Solar News Channel then began to phase out its "Solar" branding on its newscast as it leaned away from the Tiengs. It also launched the Kapampangan national newscast Kapampangan News, along with the public service program Serbisyo All Access, which is shown in Filipino language. Solar News Channel was closed down before midnight of August 22, 2014.[13]

9TV (2014–2015)

Main article: 9TV

SNC was relaunched as 9TV on August 23, 2014. The Solar brand on Channel 9 was retired after the ALC Group of Companies thru Aliw Broadcasting Corporation bought out the 34% stake of the Tiengs' group with Solar TV and RPN 9. The Tiengs were losing money after they invested in RPN 9 and the group focused on the cable channels of the Solar Entertainment Corporation. Solar News was then rebranded as 9News, with the programming and personnel retained. Kids Weekend, Home Shopping Network, TV Mass for the Homebound and local informative shows including Something to Chew On, Boys' Ride Out, Drive, Good Company, Two Stops Over and Bogart Case Files became part of the 9TV's programming line-up.[14]

Controversies also hounded 9TV as one of the motorpool drivers of the news division allegedly violated traffic rules after the news crewcab was entered a no-left/no-entry road (counterflow) while on hazard in the Balara area last September 14, 2014. 9News management then imposed a disciplinary actions and penalties against the driver and his designated reporter and cameraman.[15]

Transition to CNN Philippines

On October 14, 2014, Cabangon-Chua announced their partnership with the Cable News Network.[16]

As a part of transition to CNN Philippines, 9TV temporarily used green screen as its news studio in December 2014, along with the renovations of the newsroom and the strategic hiring of the personnel, and its newscasts began adopting the CNN graphic package more than a week later (January 15, 2015), in time for 9TV's coverage of Pope Francis's visit to the country. Foreign non-CNN produced programs (NBC and CBS programs) were also dropped in February, including NBC Nightly News (which was, in any way, unrelated to the suspension, and the eventual axing of its news anchor Brian Williams on February 10, 2015, a few weeks before being pulled out of the 9TV programming, due to controversies regarding to the Iraq War helicopter incident).

Launch and first eight months

CNN Philippines was launched after a few weeks of preparation on March 16, 2015. In its initial broadcast, picture format remained in full 4:3 standard definition while testing the 14:9 broadcast format overnight. Since the Holy Week of 2015, CNN Philippines started full-time broadcasts on 14:9 widescreen format, aligning with several CNN worldwide channels. However, the output is shown as a letterboxed widescreen (both on free-to-air and cable/satellite). It is the first Philippine free-to-air and TV channel to use the 14:9 aspect ratio to match the latter format.

Magsaysay out, Jarin-Bennett in

In September 2015, Nine Media Corporation President Reggie Galura and CNN Philippines SVP for News and Current Affairs Jing Magsaysay left the network, following the "right-sizing" retrenchment of 70 junior staffers and contractual employees, who worked in the company for Programming and Technical Engineering divisions.

Effective November 2, 2015, CNN International's Armie Jarin-Bennett took over as Managing Editor of CNN Philippines, replacing Magsaysay. Bennett had been the head of CNN Content Sales and Partnerships in Asia Pacific after 17 years of working as writer and producer on various programs for CNN and CNN International. Her production expertise gave her an 2012 Emmy Award for the coverage of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and a nomination for Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) coverage in 2013. Born and raised in Manila, Jarin-Bennett began her career as radio newscaster before moving as an intern in the CNN Center in 1996.[17]

Expansion of news operation and first year anniversary

On February 15, 2016, CNN Philippines updated its station bumpers and intros for their newscasts, similar to some CNN International programs like CNN Newsroom, CNN Today, International Desk, CNN Money and CNN Money View, with exceptions to their lifestyle programming, while newer bumpers for general segments and current affairs shows followed suit. The channel also changed their theme music for their newscasts and bumpers and added new programs, led by the Philippine edition of New Day. Nightly News was axed in favor of an expanded Newsroom, making CNN Philippines Network News as the sole lineal brand holdover from its Solar tenure. Personalities from other networks, such as Pinky Webb joined CNN Philippines, where she is the main anchor of Balitaan, its first ever newscast in Filipino, which was first used in Serbisyo All Access and in the Post Debate Analysis of PiliPinas Debates 2016.[18][19]

Since February 2016, CNN PH also started to phase out current affairs shows that debuted under Solar News Channel (Legal Help Desk), former CNN shows (Eco-Solutions) and HLN produced shows (Nancy Grace and Dr. Drew On Call) that were aired as filler programming in favor of newer staple programming such as Smerconish and more room for news programming.

Digital television

On January 28, 2016, CNN Philippines is conducting a DTT testing using ISDB-T on UHF Channel 19 (503.143 MHz) [20] in preparation of digital television in the Philippines, which is expected to be fully implemented in 2020.

Programming

Affiliate

References

  1. ↑ Abadilla, Emmie (15 October 2014). "RPN rebranded as CNN Philippines". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Frater, Patrick (October 13, 2014). "CNN to Launch Local Service in Philippines from 2015". Variety. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  3. 1 2 9News Online (2014). "Turner, Nine Media to launch CNN Philippines". 9news.ph. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "First on MNP: 9TV to rebrand as CNN Philippines". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "9TV is CNN Philippines". Rappler. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  6. ↑ CNN Philippines to start airing 1st quarter 2015 retrieved October 15, 2014.
  7. ↑ GAME CHANGER | CNN international news soon on Philippine free-to-air TV retrieved October 14, 2014
  8. ↑ rappler.com (October 2, 2012). "RPN-9 to cut 200 jobs, may stop airing 'Newswatch'". rappler.com. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 Agustin, Victor C. (February 25, 2011). "Tiengs move into news". Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Solar News on free TV, moves to channel 9". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "CNN Philippines". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "MVP-Ang rivalry set to spill over into television with San Miguel acquisition of Solar stake". November 9, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ Solar News Online (August 13, 2014). "Solar News Channel turns into 9TV". 9news.ph. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Solar News Channel now 9TV". philstar.com. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "EXCL: Video of Counterflowing ‘Media Man from 9NEWS’ Stirs Controversy". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "9TV forges partnership with CNN". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Armie Jarin-Benett Named EVP and Managing Editor of CNN Philippines". Media Newser Philippines. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  18. ↑ http://www.medianewser.com/2016/03/breaking-pinky-webb-officially-joins.html?m=1
  19. ↑ http://www.medianewser.com/2016/03/first-on-mnp-pinky-webb-to-anchor-cnn.html
  20. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/DTVPilipinas/posts/1325540677471473

External links

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