Kira’s World 15 (15 April 2007) What is ABS-CBN doing with TMNT?

In the light of the recent programming coup of ABS-CBN particularly in the daytime schedule, one change made anime fans almost angry to the respected network.

Thursday, 7 March, ABS-CBN aired commercials for their newest offering on the HeroZone block.

No, it’s not anime, it’s an American animation and, yeah, tagalized.

ABS called it the “resurrection” of a legend. It dubbed in their commercial cues that the series “returned”. It really is, in fact, ABS-CBN’s precious “Freddie Garcia Gem” that lorded Friday night blocks in the 90’s

It is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT)

The anime fans went irate when at first; they thought TMNT is going to cancel Naruto over the 1730 slot. Zen Otaku Honbu was quick to analyze the impending cancellation because

1. ABS-CBN has 2 Kristine Hermosa Shows airing, one is the ongoing rerun of Pangako Sa Iyo, the Other, the Sineserye remake of “Palimos ng Pag-Ibig”
2. There were no impending cancellations over Inocente De Ti, Kapamilya Cinema and, yeah, Pangako Sa Iyo
3. Naruto was (feeling) quite lonely when Beet ended and replaced by Pangako Sa Iyo and that made the ratings suffer than the usual.
4. No words of replacement from the Network Management.

As quick as they drew fire over their “Hapontastic” block, they immediately showed a related ad of the block clarifying that Naruto won’t be cancelled and instead, moved it in an earlier slot of 1730 (was it early enough?)

KW Take on This

Now we go to our Take on This segment

As a loyal kapamilya viewer, I sense that ABS-CBN is in such, in a hurry to use the afternoon block as ballyhoo for the Manila Analog and Digital station. The ballyhoo is to mix up and destroy the Manila Block so that the Provincial linkup will be bombarded with damning local programs, countless early timeslots of ABS-CBN shows from Manila and other countless reasons to destroy Anime in the lineup. Which is why, ABS-CBN was keen on moving GSD on the 10 am slot on weekends so that it won’t be shown on Sundays in which ABS-CBN has a boxing bout to cover from the US.

I don’t see the “reform” ABS is doing to effectively capture the Market, Even with the best minds there is to shape up what is now called Hero TV, still, ABS-CBN is not keen on pursuing the market they thought was just a kid’s market. ABS-CBN is not doing every step it can to effectively capture and target the Otaku market which they think is for premium subscribers only.

The good thing that ABS aired GSD before the Bleach deadline only turned bad because GSD is a prime program. It should be placed in a prime spot because of the content and the market it can reach. Although this is already the nth time I’ve been doing this, still, I ask to ABS-CBN, it is not too late to air GSD on the said prime spot.

For the return and “tagalization” of TMNT, I say, It is not bad to give back the blessings that the show gave to you in your heyday, but please, come think of the recent situation wherein Anime now leads over American Animation. It will only make your ratings suffer more than what you are experiencing right now.

As for the almost close cancellation, ABS should make their decisions wise not only for the otakus but for the viewing public in general. Picture Naruto as an afternoon pastime not by Otakus but by the public who supports it and I’m sure. This USTv winner sure is one for the win, not only in ratings but in the hearts of Filipinos.

This is Kira’s World 15

Until the next KW 15 next month

-HeAdIn’-OuT!-