#BanatReview: One News

 

Caution to the reader: You may notice deviations from the topic indicated in the title and unnecessary side notes. This is done to present a narrative.

This blog site of mine has become stagnant in its activity as I have become busy with the real world (that is completing my requirements for my subjects, I’m now in 4th year and I was completing my internship over at EBC which I pretty enjoyed) and the lack of subjects to discuss.

With this very boring Sunday, I suddenly thought of making this review of Cignal Digital TV’s One News.

Let me share this, two weeks ago representatives from Cignal came over at our house and my mom told me they are there to install our connection. It took me by surprise as it was against my wishes as I was already content with our RCA Digital TV box with a Baron BRL Antenna as I’m able to enjoy our local channels in high definition (PTV 4, Net 25, and INC TV; more on this on my previous post if you have time to check it out), but somehow excited because I missed watching programs on pay TV since we had disconnected from our SKYcable connection in 2017 and decided to settle with digital free TV. At siyempre, ‘di na ako makakapalag kasi nanay ko na nag-desisyon at di naman ako ang magbabayad para doon, ‘di ba?

Oh, where was I? So, eto na. Naikabit na nila yung Cignal namin. As I was exploring the channel offerings (all channels are unlocked for a long time before they activate your plan, as in our case, Plan 490), I came across One News.

One News was launched last May 28 to replace Bloomberg TV Philippines (which has been relegated into a program block on the channel). This was launched to combine the resources of Bloomberg TV Philippines, News5, The Philippine Star, and BusinessWorld, all of which are owned by Mediaquest. I was familiar with it but only saw snippets of the channel through Jove Francisco’s IG stories, Facebook videos, and this SID, which makes the channel all the more promising.

And it indeed was. What I saw was a potential strong competitor to ANC which has been the leader for two decades. Although I disliked the datacast interface which I felt unpleasant as it obstructs the slick production value of the programs, its offerings are compelling.

Say anything you want against Shawn Yao but I must say Rush Hour is a pretty decent morning news program. I can also say that Agenda and The Chiefs are reminiscent of those pundit-hosted news shows seen on CNN and Fox News, and The Big Story makes a strong news program.

Although the channel’s programming is still dominated by taped programs and replays of its live programs, I believe over time the amount of live programming will increase due to demand, and I believe it will make a strong competitor to ANC, as long as MVP takes it seriously in pours in much resources. It must learn from the lessons of News5 which failed to seize on the momentum when given all the opportunities.

That said, I must say watching One News somehow made me appreciate our Cignal connection. Peace out, and have a safe week ahead.

High definition broadcast on digital free TV

We are five years shy of meeting the analog shutdown deadline, which means by that time a majority of the Philippine TV market would have migrated to digital terrestrial TV. While we’re at it (that is the transition stage), we will see how our television networks are faring in terms of delivering content.

As most of us know (at least the very basic knowledge, the more technical aspects we’ll leave to the professionals), our system ISDB-T adopted from Japan has the capacity to either deliver 8 standard definition multiplexes or 2 (in the case of state-owned PTV, three) high definition multiplexes.

Our television networks has already switched to HD-ready equipment? But in terms of broadcasting in the resolution? To put it mildly, we’re getting there.

Those broadcasting in full high definition at present are minor networks and religious broadcasters: CNN Philippines, PTV (PTV HD1 airs the main Channel 4, PTV HD2 airs reels from RTVM and the PCOO, PTV HD3 broadcasts Salaam TV and Lumad TV dedicated to the Moro and Lumad communities), Pastor Quiboloy’s SMNI News Channel, UNTV-BMPI’s Social TV and the MCGI-affiliated Truth Channel, Adventist-owned Hope Channel Philippines and GNN (which leases space on Hope Channel’s multipex), JIL’s Light TV (albeit upscaled), and the secular and religious-oriented channels of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC TV and NET25).

As for the major networks, ABS-CBN at present exclusively offers the HD versions of their main terrestrial channels (Channel 2 and S+A) and monetizes DTT through exclusive channels (that should change). TV5 meanwhile has HD channels through Colours, Hyper, PBA Rush, and One News, and that should mean they have the funds to fully switch to HD (most of their programs are now in the said format). As for GMA, much of their programs are now produced in full HD but insists on stretching them to 4:3 to benefit those still in CRT and disappoints some of the viewing public. But times are changing, and they haven’t much utilized their bandwidth yet, which gives them space to air in HD.

You might mistake this as an angalysta rant just like the others, but merely voicing out frustrations. But we may never know, as we’re still in the process of transition and there are more surprises in store for us.

ABS-CBN updates its digital lineup, adds new channels

Come July 30, ABS-CBN will unveil new digital channels.

Movie Central, Asianovela Channel, Jeepney TV, Myx, and O Shopping will be available via UHF 16 in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and parts of Pampanga and UHF 36 in Metro Cebu.

This is seen as a response to Solar’s recent moves to make a profit off of DTT via their exclusive, subscription-only service through their Easy TV box and to respond to viewer requests to expand their offerings.

It was initally speculated ABS would use UHF 35 in partnership with El Shaddai’s DBS, but eventually decided to go their own way.

Unless our regulators take a firm stand on conditional access, expect DTT to be a new battleground in the ever-escalating feud between Solar and ABS-CBN at the expense of us, the viewing public.

In my own words: SONA 2018

It’s the time of the year again where the chief executive will face the joint session of congress to address the nation on what achievements the government has accomplished.

While the other blog will just rant like a crybaby he truly is (and how he keeps parroting that “I told you so” line just to prove how right he was and how highly he thinks of himself, he’s getting on my nerves lately, I don’t know why, maybe because he’s taking his arrogance up a notch? Akala ko ba titigil mo na yang blog mo? Your Tagalog sucks by the way but your high-flown English doesn’t make you sound smart, it just proves how much of a know-it-all asshole you are, ciao!), I will provide insights that will be as balanced as possible.

This blog has rarely been active nowadays due to real life commitments, I’m a graduating student, and has lost interest in blogging because of a variety of reasons, and some potential backlash.

Two years ago, I was a staunch supporter of the administration, two years later, kung hindi naman tuluyang nawala, nabawasan ang suporta ko because of many factors. As a matter of fact, I even got on the nerves of some real life friends dahil paiba-iba na daw ang isip ko. In my defense, I’m putting my own principles first and I’m not thinking in purely black and white, that is critical thinking. Wala na ako dyan kung di ko man kayo makumbinsi, at least I made a point.

Another reason why I’m losing interest is that they’re not just that delivering on whatever they promised. I keep telling myself I’d rather talk about foreign politics because I can talk about it in depth without pissing people off. At natututo tayo. Federalism is trial and error with the method of government and the pacing of reforms, Chinese encroachment is overlooked, inflation and tax reform, you name it. But I don’t want to piss myself off and piss others off, all I care is that they build more trains. Sabi nga ng nanay ko, di ko naman hawak ang mga bagay na yan.

Need I say more? Di na siguro. Basta nababanas lang ako kay Timo, ay este sa isa dyan na saksakan ng yabang. Unlike that crybaby na di raw manonood pero ang lakas magmonitor sa coverage, I will watch but won’t pay that much of an attention, unless something urgent is brought up. Collective guilt mo mukha mo, Mr. Know-It-All. Someone must slap you with reality so you won’t have to pretend to be woke, di ka lang talaga mahal ng nanay mo. Umuwi ka na sa Cebu, ikaw yata long-lost child ng mga Chiong na napadpad sa Pampanga.

That’s enough for me, hanggang sa susunod kung gaganahan pa ako magsulat dito. Toxic na nga ang diskurso dito, dagdagdag pa ba ako?

GMA finally catching up on digital presence

As of today, we have received information that GMA Network has finally expanded its digital terrestrial television (DTT) presence in the regions, with GMA Dagupan now seen over DTT Channel 38 (617.143 mhz, overlapping with UNTV 37’s Manila frequency).

 

Here is the post from DTV Pilipinas confirming the news.

GMA Dagupan’s digital feed can also be seen in Pangasinan, Tarlac, Benguet, Nueva Ecija, which is also covered by analog channel 10.

As opposed to ABS-CBN’s Luzon relays, it also has the advantage of simulcasting regional programming, such as Balitang Amianan. ABS-CBN should be able to simulcast their regional programs over their DTT relays in Luzon as they have better regional infrastructure.

We also expect in the weeks or months to come for GMA to activate their DTT towers in Cebu and Davao, as they have planned it for the year. This can also be seen as a preparation for their upcoming DTT product.

What if: Sampaguita and LVN during the early days of Pinoy TV

With the growth of Philippine TV impacted by the early decisions of the proponents of Philippine TV and the imposition of martial law, one couldn’t help think of what the possibilities could have been.

For those familiar with DZAQ-TV’s beginnings, in that they went to such extreme debt because of high costs of importation of equipment, because of a lack of content as they relied on borrowed embassy material and interspersed live programming, and the short-term thinking of Tony Quirino (in putting up the station in such a hurry so it would become an achievement of his brother’s administration, October 23 was close to the November 1953 elections), what if they considered to employ the help of the country’s two biggest movie outfit?

Taking into account how television in the United States got to where it is today, that is tying up with the biggest film outfits (Paramount, 20th Century Fox, MGM, Disney), what if the proponents of the first TV station in the country had the same thoughts, and maybe the dynamic of Philippine TV was somehow different from what it is now?

We may never know, but we can’t help think of the possibilities.

Leave your comments here if you somehow agree with this possibility.

Computer Programming to graders

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to include teaching computer programming, in the K-12 program in grade school.

Pimentel said “Coding is now an essential skill due to the prevalence of computers in our daily lives. It should be treated like reading, writing, and arithmetic, not just as a career option,”

“By teaching code, we can take advantage of children’s fascination with technology to help them learn mathematical concepts in a manner they find entertaining,” he said.

The Senate chief added that the subject  to learn of the grade schoolers “life skills” such as perseverance and problem-solving.

Pimentel said it would also improve the performance of the schools in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM.

Source: Manila Bulletin

LTO Campaign produces different outcome

Filipino commuters and drivers reacted to the campaign of Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) “Oplan tanggal bulok, tanggal usok” for public utility vehicles (PUV) which started last January 8, 2018.

This campaign was made by the government as part of modernization program and to help restraint air pollution in Metro Manila. This was also intended to keep the safety of the commuters from those dilapidated jeepneys that have bald tires, and have problems in headlight, signal light, hand break and sphere that can cause an accident.

On the day it was implemented it brought problem to the passengers because they didn’t receive a notice that the government will conduct this kind of activity.

   “Dapat nag advice muna sila, para ganito aware kami, kasa may pasok kami, male-late na kami eh” one commuter said.

However, commuters are not against to this campaign because this is for their safety but they should provide an alternative vehicle for them not to experience interruption. Though they know that this is for the sake of the nation.

     “Sobrang hirap eh, kasi hinuhuli po nila yung old na jeepney nakaka apat po na sakay ako, dati isang way lang.” Ruben Quibral, commute.

The most affected of this campaign was the jeepney drivers. This was their only way to have an income and they had no extra money to fix the jeep that they use because other drivers didn’t have their own jeepney they also pay their boundary to their operators.

   “Ipapaayos ko naman itong jeep na ito eh, kaya lang kapos pa sa pera, sabi ng operator kotagotago lang.” Fernandi Tungol, jeepney driver.

Cutting their trip was the only hope of the Jeepney drivers to avoid I-ACT and LTO personnel, aside from that jeepney operators encounter unfairness because they need to pay the fine and pay on their own for the repair of their jeepneys.

       “Wala po kaming pakundangan, gagawin ho namin ito. Sana maintindihan ng lahat, hindi ito dahil sa modernization lang para ito sa kaligtasan ng ating pasahero.” Department of Transportation (DOTr) undersecretary for roads Jim Orbos said.

The campaign is for the orderliness of everyone and for the sake of the people who are involved in this new implementation of the government.

Last quarter of 2017 Agriculture Performance

Philippine Agriculture production increase a  2.20% in growth for the last quarter of 2017 between October to December. These includes the growth in the production of crops, livestock and poultry subsectors.

In contrast to this, fisheries subsectors recorded a 1.18% reduction in the production for the same quarter of 2017.

Lower production levels were noted for tiger prawns, roundscad and skipjack yet subsector’s gross earnings at current prices amounted to Php66.3  billion, up by 7.80% from last year’s record which is Php61.8 billion.

While the crop subsector recorded an increase in production by 2.66% which contributes the 51.20% to the total agricultural output for the year. 4.37% was the recorded increase in the Palay production while that of corn weaken by 5.73%.

Increments were noted in the production of coconut, sugarcane, banana, pineapple, peanut, cassava, sweet potato, eggplant and rubber. In total of the whole year of 2017, 6.69% was the recorded increase growth in production of crops.

In the livestock subsector, a total of 1.84% of output was gained in the fourth quarter of 2017. It is because of the increased 2.75% growth in the Hog production which was the major source of subsector’s growth.

The subsector grossed a total of Php 85.5 billion for the year representing a 14.39% of increase over last year’s record.

Production of poultry had expanded by 4.73% that accounted for about 15.40% of the total agricultural output for the last quarter of 2017.

The poultry subsector’s gross output went up by 4.62%, earning a Php59.3 billion or 15.22% more than the previous year.

On an annual basis, farmgate prices went up by an average of 4.97% in 2017.

 

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Are dengue vaccine considered as a mess?

All the news that spreading around about the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia could do more harm to those have not been infected previously with the mosquito borne dengue virus.

And it is really understandable to be bothered for the parents of those among the estimated 700,000 students who were administered with the vaccine even without being tested first if they had previously been infected with dengue.

According to Sanofi, the French Pharmaceutical company that developed Dengvaxia, said that “analysis confirmed that Dengvaxia provides persistent protective benefit against dengue fever in those who had prior infection for those not previously infected by dengue virus, however, the analysis found that in the longer term, more cases of severe disease could occur following vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection.”

The alarm has been raised and has caused many parents of children now at risk to fear the worst, the lack of information on what exactly is the severe disease that is to come has ignited more speculation.

It is essential to intensity exerting at getting rid of breeding places of dengue mosquitoes and seeing to whereas our surroundings are kept clean and orderly. It should go a long way in to achieve the lasting protection against the ultimate enemy that has caused so much misery to about 200,000 Filipinos each year.