(CMFR/IFEX) – Two television news programmes that were critical of the Arroyo administration have been taken off the air by their home station, rival network ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol” news programme reported on 18 January 2007. “Dokyu” and “Frontlines”, two public affairs programs of network ABC 5 known for their critical commentaries on the Arroyo administration, […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – Two television news programmes that were critical of the Arroyo administration have been taken off the air by their home station, rival network ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol” news programme reported on 18 January 2007.
“Dokyu” and “Frontlines”, two public affairs programs of network ABC 5 known for their critical commentaries on the Arroyo administration, were allegedly cancelled by network owner Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco.
ABC 5 said in a statement that the cancellation was due to the shows’ low ratings.
“The cancellation of certain shows is merely part of management’s overall business strategy to discontinue programs that are not achieving their ratings targets,” the statement said.
In a report by http://www.abs-cbnnews.com , Philippine Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez was quoted as saying that the government was not involved in the incident.
“Frankly, I have not sat in on any discussion where this particular thing has been talked about,” Gonzalez said.
But Gonzalez said that a video of Gen. Danilo Lim, former chief of the Philippine Army’s Scout Rangers, calling on soldiers to withdraw support for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was made using ABC 5 facilities.
“Mr. Cojuangco is involved in all destabilization attempts, especially in the 24 to 25 February (2006 coup attempt). (He had) direct connections with Gen. Lim. (and ABC 5 made) the video on the supposed withdrawal of support (by soldiers),” Gonzalez said.
ABC 5 senior reporter Jove Francisco said in his blog that though he was “saddened” by the incident, he believes that the network’s new “business strategy” will work out well in time.
“We can’t pre-empt our bosses and say anything about it yet, but once this new direction’s launched and revealed, everything will make sense and will be logical,” he wrote.
Shortly before the shows’ cancellation, “Newsbreak”, a monthly investigative news magazine that also carried exposés against the administration, announced that it was about to close its print edition.
Cojuangco had been one of the major financers of “Newsbreak”, which will now publish their reports online.
“This is our second-to-last hard copy edition. It hasn’t been easy competing in the harsh marketplace where glossies dominate. One of the lessons that have left an indelible imprint on us is this: The applause of the market is hard to win,” “Newsbreak” editor-in-chief Maritess Vitug wrote in the magazine’s 29 January issue.
“But we will continue our work online, the platform that is transforming journalism by opening the doors of our profession to citizens all over the world and, at the same time, forming tightly knit communities and audiences in cyberspace,” Vitug also wrote.
The http://www.abs-cbnnews.com report also quoted Vitug as saying in a text message that “Cojuangco might have been forced to stop financing the magazine.”
