Gabby Lopez Speaks

ERRATUM: I forgot to tell you that the Ozine fest in April has been cancelled for November or December. hehe. sorry for the mistake last post.


In a recent interview with Ms. Doreen Yu in the Starweek last Sunday, ABS-CBN Chair, CEO and President Gabby Lopez aired all of his thoughts,, From The Wowowee Stampede down to the ratings slump.. Thanks to Kuya Jami for the Article

Network in the news
By Doreen G. Yu
The Philippine Star 03/12/2006

The first time he appeared in front of the television cameras was a defining moment for Eugenio Lopez III–known as Gabby, from his middle name Gabriel, or EL3 to colleagues and staff–as well as for the television network he heads, ABS-CBN.

In a brief seven-sentence statement, Lopez unequivocally took responsibility for the tragedy that has come to be known as the Wowowee stampede. Seventy-one people died and hundreds were injured among the thousands that lined up outside the Ultra stadium in Pasig that Sunday in February, hoping to be among the fortunate few to gain entry to and participate in the first anniversary extravaganza of the noontime game show Wowowee. The preliminary report of a government task force that investigated the stampede had put the blame squarely on the network, and accused it of "treating people like animals." Lopez also reacted unequivocally to that assessment, prompting the task force head to apologize to the network the next day.

Lopez’s televised statement put ABS-CBN on higher ground, salvaging a situation that could have dealt the network serious long-term damage, including a dip in share prices. Lopez later says that his decision to make the statement was "strictly instinctive," against the advise of his lawyers. In a lighter mood over dinner recently with The STAR editors, he jests that he was "trained by my wife... In any crisis it’s always kasalanan ko, so it was easy for me to say it’s my responsibility."

That decision, and his actions right after the stampede and in the days following, earned him respect and admiration all around, but most especially from the ABS-CBN staff. "Lumabas ang pagka-Geny niya," one said, referring to his late father, the legendary Geny Lopez who, with brothers Oscar and Manolo, rebuilt the Lopez empire and restored ABS-CBN to its former glory. One executive admits to some surprise that Gabby "could step up in this crisis," so now "people are rallying behind him... proud of him as their leader."

His "I am responsible" statement, delivered with conviction and sincerity, automatically drew comparison with the other famous televised "I am sorry" statement, but Lopez immediately steers away from such comparisons. He laments that the tragedy has been "turned into a political game" and he wants no part of it.

The network’s reaction to the tragedy was swift and decisive. Lopez was at the Ultra within the hour, followed by other ABS-CBN officials. The decision not to continue with the show that day was reached after serious discussion, amid fears that the remaining throng, who refused to leave, would get unruly if the show was cancelled.

Lopez says there are valuable lessons to be learned from the unfortunate episode, which will guide the network in the conduct of future big crowd events, including consulting risk management and other security experts here and abroad.

Network officials did not flinch either in the face of threats of class action suits, and spent the days after the tragedy visiting victims’ families, attending to funeral and hospital needs. This personal involvement with victims’ families gave them some surprising insights: many families expressed support for the show and host Willie Revillame, practically absolving them, some even asking if Willie would be coming to the funeral. They also wanted to know when the show would resume.

The big come back was held yesterday, still with host Willie Revillame and still under the same name, despite some suggestions that the show now be called by another name, like "Wowowin" for example.

The return of Wowowee, network executive Charo Santos explains, had to be carefully studied. There would have to be changes in the conduct of the show, especially in procedures for admitting studio audience and the manner of selection of participants in the games. New segments would also be added, such as the much touted "71 Dreams", in memory of the 71 stampede fatalities. Winners would also be counselled on how to set up businesses and manage their money, so as not to squander their winnings–a reaction, Santos admits, to charges that the show merely gave dole outs and encouraged mendicancy.

In the week prior to Wowowee’s return, the network aired feel-good "where are they now" episodes showing how past winners’ lives had changed, how dreams had in fact come true for those on whom the fates of Wowowee had smiled.

Gabby Lopez has been at the helm of ABS-CBN as chairman and CEO since 1997–"seems like forever," he sighs. Last week, he assumed the presidency as well, following the resignation of Cito Alejandro, who Lopez had brought in to the network as part of an infusion of "new blood", to return to NutriAsia, which recently acquired controlling interest in Del Monte.

Lopez is quick to dispel the notion that ABS-CBN has fallen to the number two spot nationwide. The slide, he clarifies, is only in Metro Manila, particularly in the suburbs; nationwide, he insists, "we’re still number one." The problem in Metro Manila is "partly a signal problem... the result of being a low-band channel" against rival GMA-7 being a mid-band channel.

He admits that content-wise, GMA has improved "dramatically" over the last two years. But ABS-CBN has scored a number of winners as well, including the Kris Aquino hosted "Game Ka Na Ba?" and the hugely popular reality show "Pinoy Big Brother", now on its second season featuring celebrities cloistered in a specially constructed house next to the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.

Charo Santos shares some programming plans, including acquiring other shows from the Dutch firm Endemol, which owns the Big Brother series, as well as co-production ventures with regional networks, like a 20-part series with a Malaysian network starring Piolo Pascual and Kristine Hermosa, who have a big following in Malaysia. "We also have to improve on our comedies," she says.

Wowowee was their latest attempt at competing with the 25-year runaway success "Eat Bulaga", aired on GMA-7. "We’ve tried everything to beat ‘Eat Bulaga’," admits Lopez. "We (finally) decided to try counter-programming, to put a game show against a variety show...and Wowowee is our strongest brand so far... In the last six months, we’ve done caravans in Davao, Iloilo...all over the country, and we’ve drawn hundreds of thousands."

"Even in America," adds Santos. "In fact, balikbayans make ‘Wowowee’ part of their tour."

"It’s obviously touched a nerve," says Lopez, "but even we are not sure what that nerve is. (The show) cuts across all classes, from A to E..."

With the an-nouncement of key appointments in network management last week, Lopez says the "infusion of new blood" that he has been undertaking–someone said it looks more like a "blood transfusion", which drew non-committal laughter from both Lopez and Santos–is complete.

The restructuring of ABS-CBN’s news team–notably "importing" Maria Ressa from CNN (Lopez reveals that he had been talking to Ressa for three years before she agreed to come on board in January 2005)–has shown some significant initial success, particularly drawing praise for its coverage of the Wowowee stampede. "Parang hindi sila ang involved," observed one media practitioner, noting that their coverage did not show any favor, treating it like it was a news story involving someone else.

And although Lopez jokes that his role is merely "taga-pirma lang ng tseke," a network insider notes that Lopez has begun to "take a more active interest in the news department."

In a speech recently before the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, Lopez posed the question of whether media was "contributing toward resolving conflicts or, in Tagalog, nakakadagdag lang sa gulo (adding to the confusion)."

"Over the last 20 years, every time there’s been a major crisis we’ve been there," Lopez says, adding that "people still, for the most part, believe what they read and hear," with a majority of Filipinos still dependent on radio and television for information.

While admitting that "the business side of it still drives the whole process," Lopez believes that "at the end of the day, excellent organizations are driven by certain values, and these values help them decide what they will do in specific situations. And that’s what differentiates good organizations from organizations that are simply commercial, driven by the bottom line... Value driven organizations will occasionally make the right decision, driven by what is right."

Mr Lopez is right, after all this, the company is driven by values, and these values help them in making decisions that could make or break a company, and that's what ABS-CBN is.

I would like to quote something from their 2003 Stockholders report as a parting shot..

We can talk about the new programs. We can talk about them ratings. We can talk about new acquisitions and breakthrough technology. These are, after all, the typical ways that companies
claim their leadership, and yes, we certainly lead on those fronts.
But ABS-CBN believes that programs can be copied, technology can be bought, and ratings are a volatile, day-to-day race that hardly provide a consistent measure of success.

-HeAdIn'-OuT!-