MANOLO LOPEZ STEPS DOWN AS MERALCO CHAIRMAN!

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) chairman Manolo Lopez will step down from his post in the country’s largest power distributor today.

Meralco has set its annual stockholders’ meeting today.

In an interview yesterday, Lopez, 69, confirmed he will focus on his responsibilities as Philippine ambassador to Japan.

FACEBOOK TO BUY OPERA FOR A FB-CENTERED BROWSER?

Is social networking giant Facebook planning to buy Norwegian browser maker Opera Software to create a Facebook-centric browser?

A tech site cited sources who said this could be the case—where the resulting product will allow a user to keep his or her social life up to date.

Pocket-lint.com said one of its trusted sources indicated the social networking giant is looking to buy Opera Software, the company behind the Opera web browser.

"Opera already has a very good mobile browser, which has seen strong growth in the two years it has been available. And Facebook's buying the company would save it having to build a browser from scratch," it said.

AMERICAN IDOL PAYS JESSICA SANCHEZ LESS WITH AS RATINGS DWINDLE!

After becoming the first runner-up in Season 11 of "American Idol," Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez may get at least $30,000 in advances for recording singles, reportedly a much smaller amount compared to what the previous runners-up received.

According to a report of the news site NJ.com on Friday: "Coming in second on "American Idol" may still be a path to superstardom, but it no longer offers guaranteed paychecks worthy of the next pop idol or rock star."Apart from this, Sanchez will only receive at least $60,000 if she is asked to record four to 10 extended play songs.

CJ CORONA DENIES HAVING 82 DOLLAR ACCOUNTS! CLAIMS TRANSACTIONS WERE TIME DEPOSITS!

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona on Tuesday denied he has 82 dollar accounts with at least $10 million as alleged by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales last week.

In the second part of his lengthy opening statement, Corona said, “wala ako kilala na may 82 bank accounts. Ewan ko kay Ombudsman, baka sya meron.”

Corona also said he had a reason in pushing his defense team to present Carpio-Morales as a witness, even though some experts say it was a wrong move and damaging to his case.

LIVE STREAM: CHIEF JUSTICE CORNA IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

MICROSOFT RELEASES ITS OWN SOCIAL NETWORK!

Microsoft has quietly launched its own social networking project that it said seeks to combine social networking and search, while encouraging interaction and collaboration.

 

Dubbed So.cl (pronounced “social”), the new network developed by Microsoft’s FUSE Labs is an “experimental research project” that explores social search for the purpose of learning.

 

MVP NAMED AS PHL'S BEST CEO!

The chairman of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) emerged as the country’s leading CEO in the 12th annual poll of Asia's top companies by FinanceAsia.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, who is also the president and chief executive of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and chairman and chief executive of Philex Mining Corp. garnered majority of the tallied votes from investors and analysts across Asia to lead the survey in the Best CEO category among Philippine companies.

He also serves as chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and ABC Development Corp., which operates TV5. InterAksyon.com is the online news portal of TV5.

CHINA TO IMPOSE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON PHL?!

BEIJING – China should impose “sanctions” against the Philippines after it offered to allow more US troops on its soil, state media said Sunday, amid growing tensions over disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Manila said Friday it planned to hold more joint exercises and to let more US troops rotate through the Southeast Asian country — an offer welcomed by the United States as it seeks to expand its military power in Asia.

GMA NETWORK SUFFERS 27% IN PROFITS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2012!

Broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. on Wednesday announced that its net income reached P388 million in the first quarter of the year, a strong start on the heels of a lukewarm closing for 2011.

 

Although the first quarter figure of this year failed to match the P534-million net income posted in the same 2011 period, GMA chair and chief executive Felipe L. Gozon noted the company is targeting P2.8 billion in net income for 2012, higher than the P1.7 billion net income recorded last year.

 

ATTY. GOZON: WE WANT TO SELL GMA-7 BECAUSE THE MARKET HAS ALREADY MATURED!

MANILA, Philippines [UPDATED] - Amid talks of a possible deal between the 2nd and 3rd largest media groups in the country, an official of GMA Network Corp. said all major shareholder groups said have agreed to sell GMA-7 if the right price is offered.

He also stressed GMA-7 is an attractive buy and that other groups, aside from rival TV5 chair Manuel V. Pangilingan, have approached to acquire them before.

ATTY. GOZON CLAIMS GMA-7 WILL REMAIN NO.1 NATIONWIDE THIS 2012!

GMA Network Inc.’s chair and chief executive officer Felipe M. Gozon on Wednesday said the network will again top the “ratings game” this year after conquering the top spot last year.

“Twenty-eleven will be remembered as the year when GMA Channel 7 first became number one in nationwide TV ratings… As a result, I am proud to report that we have remained on top of the ratings game,” Gozon said during the company’s annual stockholder’s meeting in Quezon City.
 

MARIAN RIVERA'S TWEETS FOR MY SWEET DEBUTS VICTORIOUSLY IN MEGA MANILA!

Here are the comparative Rating Points of ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA-7 programs from May 13, 2012 based on the overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen Phils among Mega Manila households:

May 13, Sunday
Morning:
In Touch With Dr. Stanley (GMA-7) 0.5; The Healing Eucharist (ABS-CBN) 3.6%; Healing Grace Mass With Fr. Fernando Suarez (TV5) 2.7%

KAPUSO MO JESSICA SOJO & IMBESTIGADOR SAVES GMA'S SATURDAY PRIMETIME IN MEGA MANILA!

Here are the comparative Rating Points of ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA-7 programs from May 12, 2012 based on the overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen Phils among Mega Manila households:

May 12, Saturday
Morning:

Pinoy MD: Mga Doktor ng Bayan (GMA-7) 3%; Salamat Dok (ABS-CBN) 1.2%; Alagang Kapatid (TV5) 0.7%
Legion of Super Heroes (GMA-7) 4.2%; Kabuhayang Swak Na Swak (ABS-CBN) 2.7%; Handy Manny (TV5) 2.2%
Jewelpet (GMA-7) 6.2%; Honey Watch Out! (ABS-CBN) 1.2%; Jungle Junction (TV5) 3.9%
Tom and Jerry Kids (GMA-7) 9.7%; I Got It! (ABS-CBN) 1.8%; Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (TV5) 4.6%
My Chubby World big Adventure (GMA-7) 9.6%; Go Diego Go! (ABS-CBN) 4.6%; Batibot (TV5) 3.1%

ABS-CBN ACQUIRES THE MOST ADVANCE WEATHER FORCASTING SYSTEM!

ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, the country’s biggest and leading news organization, has begun using the most advanced weather forecasting system provided by Weather Central, a worldwide leader in providing weather data.

Through its various news programs on Channel 2 and ANC, ABS-CBN is now providing Filipinos with the most accurate and up-to-date weather information to keep them safe and informed anywhere in the Philippines.

TV5 CLAIMS 18% MARKET SHARE IN TV ADVERTISING MARKET!

Manuel V. Pangilinan-led television network Associated Broadcasting Corp. (ABC), operator of TV5, saw its market share grow substantially in 2011, establishing itself as a serious player in the broadcast sector.

From a negligible footprint of 2.3 percent in 2010, TV5 said it ended 2011 with an 18-percent share in television industry advertising revenues for Metro Manila.

ALICE BUNGISNGIS RECLAIMS TOP SPOT OVER ARYANA IN MEGA MANILA!

Here are the comparative Rating Points of ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA-7 programs from May 11 and 14, 2012 based on the overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen Phils among Mega Manila households:

May 11, Friday
Morning:

Unang Hirit (GMA-7) 3.6%; Umagang Kay Ganda (ABS-CBN) 2.9%; Good Morning Club (TV5) 1%; Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (TV5) 4.2%

CEBU PACIFIC POSTS 20% DROP IN Q1 PROFITS!

PROFITS of Cebu Air, Inc., the operator of budget carrier Cebu Pacific, fell by nearly a fifth in the first quarter due to higher expenses from flying operations, disclosure to the local bourse on Tuesday showed.The company booked P962.40 million in January to March, 19.8% down from P1.2 billion in the same period last year.

The decline in income comes even as consolidated revenues grew by almost a quarter to P9.34 billion from last year's P7.52 million.

CHIEF JUSTICE TO OMBUDSMAN: STEP DOWN AFTER I PROVE YOUR CLAIMS ARE A LANTERN OF LIES

MANILA, Philippine - Impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday dismissed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales' presentation before the Senate impeachment court as a "lantern of lies," saying he was ready to debunk all her claims.

Corona also urged the Ombudsman, his former colleague at the Supreme Court, to step down from her post after the chief justice proves that all her presentations are wrong.

PLDT TO INJECT AN ADDITIONAL P6 BILLION TO TV5 AND CIGNAL!

MANILA, Philippines - Telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) said yesterday its decision to raise its investment in MediaQuest Holdings Inc., owner of television network TV5 and direct-to-home satellite provider Cignal TV, highlights its stepped up efforts to diversify its business through new multi-media services.

PLDT, through wholly-owned subsidiary ePLDT, is investing P6 billion in the form of Philippine depositary receipts (PDRs) in MediaQuest to sustain the growth momentum of TV5 and Cignal TV. MediaQuest is owned and controlled by the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund.

KNOW HOW FACEBOOK'S IPO WILL AFFECT USERS!

WASHINGTON -- If you are one of the almost one billion people who use Facebook, you are unlikely to notice any major changes when you sign in this weekend.

Facebook's entry to the stock market -- expected Friday -- will be a timeline-shaking corporate event, but users may find nothing new to like or dislike.

SKY CABLE CORP TO BORROW P2 BILLION TO FINANCE PURCHASE OF DESTINY CABLE!

MANILA, Philippines - Sky Cable Corp. on Monday said it would borrow money to finance the acquisition of Destiny Cable Inc. and its two affiliates.To finance the P3.5 billion acquisition, Valdueza said Sky will try to raise P2 billion in debt and P1.5 billion from equity fund raising.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, ABS-CBN Corp., the parent company of Sky Cable, said it will use both equity and borrowed funds to finance the purchase of the assets of Destiny Cable, Solid Broadband Corp. and Uni-Cable TV Inc.  for P3.5 billion.

ABS-CBN'S Q1 PROFIT DROPS 69% TO P306 MILLION!

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp. said its net profit declined 69 percent in the first quarter this year to P306 million, from P976 million a year ago when it booked gains from the sale unit of Sky Cable’s Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs).

Stripping the one-time gain of P674 million in 2011, however, ABS-CBN’s net income would have been up one percent on a recurring basis, the company said.

TV5 WANTS TO KEEP T3 FOR ITS RATINGS!

MANILA, Philippines - It’s all about ratings, said controversial commentator Mon Tulfo to Rappler Wednesday, May 9, when asked if his brothers intended to apologize to the public after the 3 issued violent threats while on their TV5 show T3.

Tulfo’s 3 brothers, Erwin, Raffy and Ben, went on air Monday, May 7, and issued threats of physical harm against actors Claudine Baretto and Raymart Santiago. TV5 suspended the 3 younger Tulfos, and announced it will not “condone” such behavior by its anchors. Mon Tulfo announced Tuesday he will temporarily replace his brothers, but hoped to see them back on air.

SKY CABLE BUYS DESTINY CABLE AND MY DESTINY BROADBAND!

MANILA, Philippines - Three companies, including Destiny Cable, have to agreed sell their cable TV and broadband internet assets and subscribers to the Lopez-owned Sky Cable Corp. (SKY).Destiny Cable Inc. (DCI), Solid Broadband Corporation (SBC), and Uni-Cable TV Inc. (UNI) said they "have recently forged an agreement" with SKY "to further improve the services provided to their Destiny cable television and MyDestiny broadband internet subscribers."

BIRITERA AND PRINCESS AND I KEEPS NECK-TO-NECK BATTLE IN MEGA MANILA!

Here are the comparative Rating Points of ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA-7 programs from May 4, 2012 based on the overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen Phils among Mega Manila households:

TV5 EXPECTS TO BREAK EVEN IN 2013!

The country's 3rd largest media network will likely break even 4 years after the group led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan acquired it, officials of affiliate firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) said.

"We expect TV5 to finally break even in 2013," PLDT president Napoleon Nazareno said at a press briefing on Tuesday, May 8.

Previously, the group said they aim to break even and be in the black by 2014.

The PLDT group, through unit MediaQuest Corp, acquired ABC Development Corp, the operator of TV5 in 2009. Mediaquest spent around P5 billion to acquire the stakes of the Cojuangco group and its Malaysian partners then. Around P12 billion was budgeted for capital expenditures and programming.

GMA NETWORK MAINTAINS WIDE LEAD IN NUTAM LAST APRIL!

Leading multimedia company GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) continued to win in nationwide ratings for the month of April, based on data from broadcast industry’s recognized ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

GMA improved its total day household audience share this April relative to March across all areas. Audience share of its closest rival ABS-CBN, meanwhile, followed an opposite trend. Based on full April ratings data (April 1 to 21 data and April 22 to 30 overnight data), GMA posted an average total day household audience share of 35.5 points in National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), ahead of ABS-CBN’s 29.4 points by 6.1 points and of TV5’s 15 points by 20.5 points.

ABS-CBN PUBLISHING PROFITS FELL 6% TO P20.75 MILLION!

ABS-CBN Publishing reaped a profit of P20.75 million, down by 6.28% from P22.14 million in 2010.

The company earned a consolidated revenue of P378.04 million from P385.06 million. Advertising composed the bulk of the revenues of the firm, followed by circulation.

Meanwhile, expenses fell by 0.7% to P348.91 million from P351.36 million in the previous year.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting shares plunged by 5% to P38.00 apiece on Friday from its previous close.

SAMSUNG UNLEASHED THE NEW GALAXY S3!

LONDON, United Kingdom - South Korea's Samsung Electronics on Thursday (Friday, May 4, in Manila) unveiled its latest flagship smartphone at a London launch as it seeks to cement its position as the world's best-selling mobile phone maker.

The Galaxy S3 boasts a 4.8-inch screen (12.2cm), 22% larger than the Galaxy S2, the hugely popular predecessor that helped the company overhaul Nokia as the world leader.

Despite the larger screen, Samsung says the phone is not much larger than its predecessor due to its smaller frame.

TAIWAN ALSO CLAIMS SCARBOROUGH SHOUL!

MANILA, Philippines – Who says it's Philippine or Chinese territory?

The disputed Scarborough Shoal is theirs, Taiwan reasserted as the standoff between the Philippines and China in the area entered its 4th week.

Taiwan's Foreign Affairs Ministry is willing to jointly explore South China Sea's resources with other countries, according to a report by Taiwan's national news agency Tuesday, May 1.