My Take on Local TV

I am absolutely appalled by the quality of the local television being shown here in the Philippines.  There are 2 major local stations; ABS-CBN and GMA, each of them mirror what the other is doing.  There is no diversity whatsoever in the local television stations.  Ho hum is how I perceive the local TV shows.  No wonder I rarely watch local TV and rely on the internet to catch up with news and shows.

This must be the only country in the world where ‘local’ news does not cover a more in-depth, international news or feature news which truly are headliners; where brainless variety shows with shimmying, dancing girls in provocative outfits dominate the TV; PG rated shows air during prime time; where the stations ‘shut down’ on religious holidays; and I can keep going on.

While the local shows are popular with the general public, has the industry scrutinized the quality?  Media is such a powerful promoter of everything from news to lifestyle endorsements.  Is the content being shown on television having a negative or positive effect on the population? 

Below is the schedule for 12 May, 2011 for the local stations alone (no cable or satellite TV channels included) from http://www.pinoyexamresults.info/2011/05/philippine-tv-schedules-may-12-2011.html :

Time TV Station TV Program Duration

05:00AM DZMM TeleRadyo Todo Balita 02:00
05:00AM TV5 Sapul 02:00
05:00AM ABS-CBN Umagang Kay Ganda 03:30
05:00AM UNTV 37 Pilipinas, Gising Ka Na Ba? 04:00
05:15AM ANC Umagang Kay Ganda 03:15
05:15AM GMA Unang Hirit 03:45
06:00AM GMA Iloilo Arangkada 01:00
06:00AM MYX Myx Live! (replay) 01:00
06:00AM Q Jesus the Healer 01:00
06:00AM Solar Sports Aerobics Oz Style 01:00
06:00AM IBC 13 Tipong Pinoy 02:00
06:00AM Lifestyle Network The Early Show (replay) 02:00
06:00AM GMA News TV Dobol B sa News TV 03:00
06:00AM MYX Myx Daily Top 10 (replay) 01:00
06:30AM GMA Cebu Buena Mano 00:30
07:00AM DZMM TeleRadyo Radyo Patrol Balita 00:30
07:00AM TV5 Hi-5 00:30
07:00AM Q News on Q (replay) 00:45
08:15AM ABS-CBN Dora the Explorer 00:30
08:15AM Q SpongeBob Square Pants 00:30
08:30AM MYX Pop Myx 00:30
08:30AM SOLARtv NBC Nightly News (replay) 00:30
08:30AM TV5 SpongeBob Square Pants 00:30
08:30AM DZMM TeleRadyo Tambalang Failon At Sanchez 02:00
08:45AM ABS-CBN SpongeBob Square Pants 00:30
09:00AM GMA Dragon Ball GT 00:30
09:00AM MYX Take 5 00:30
09:00AM TV5 Cat Dog 00:30
09:00AM GMA News TV News to Go 01:00
09:00AM SOLARtv The Price is Right 01:00
09:10AM ABS-CBN Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 00:20

The ONLY show which even captures my interest is ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.

Umagang kay Ganda is entertaining enough with its group of hip and young presenters.  But I believe the show can step it up a few notches to make it an even better early morning show.  I would like to see the headline news touching on more diverse topics.  

Currently the news reportage is focused on motor vehicle accidents and crimes and local politics.  What happened to a more in-depth on environmental issues like the cargo vessel, MV Prosperity, which ran aground at the Sarangani Reef just a day ago?  Do people realize the effects this will have on their environment?  The food chain has been disrupted- a marine habitat has been destroyed- what will happen to the fish life?  The local news team should realize that these issues are as important (if not more) as Lola’s house being broken into by local misfits. 

Another piece of “local” news which didn’t make it to the “local” news is the two Swedish men who got arrested for running a cyber-sex den with minors in Kauswagan, Mindanao back in April 2009.  The local court has found them guilty of trafficking charges and both have been sentenced to life imprisonment.  Now I find it rather disheartening to learn about news such as this from BBC!  Is this not an important topic to Filipinos?  Or are we in denial that such businesses are still very lucrative in our country?  Wake up Philippines!  We do not want busted television shows.