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| (Image Source: Random Republika/Cornerstone Entertainment Inc.) |
It was in late 2020 when TV5 Network Inc. began refocusing on providing general entertainment content to Filipino viewing audiences through Cignal Entertainment and opening its doors on collaborations and partnerships with local content producers in order to build the network's new programming slate and among its key partners is CS Studios, the entertainment content production unit of premiere talent management powerhouse Cornerstone Entertainment because of its expertise in developing quality programs and access to creative talents such as Rod Marmol, Thop Nazareno and Dan Villegas and big-name celebrities including K Brosas, Jessa Zaragosa, Arron Villaflor and Ian Pangilinan among others. One year later, the partnership between TV5's entertainment content provider Cignal Entertainment and CS Studios remains consistently strong in full force, thanks to the continued success of Sing Galing and Niña Niño.
The newly-rebooted original videoke singing competition Sing Galing garnered a new generation of viewers upon its return after more than a decade and eventually spawned Sing Galing: Celebrity Edition while the dramedy series Niña Niño became a household favorite and has reached a wider national audience since it premiered on April after Holy Week despite strong competition from other primetime programs. Both programs are recognized and hailed as National Winners at the Asian Creative Academy Awards (Niña Niño for Best Drama Series, Maja Salvador for Best Actress In A Leading Role, and Sing Galing for Best Non-Scripted Entertainment). Sing Galing has been recently nominated for Best Adaptation of an Existing Format in the 2021 Asian Television Awards. These programs including other upcoming projects in the coming months will continue to reach new heights which is made possible by the network's growing nationwide audience on free TV.
In an interview on PEP.ph via e-mail, TV5 Network Inc. and Cignal TV Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Robert P. Galang explained the continuing partnership between the network and CS Studios. "This partnership allows us to combine the expertise and resources of our organizations to come up with original and quality content that Filipino audiences want and enjoy and to ensure they are easily accessible to viewers through widespread distribution across multiple platforms. Rather than building an in-house production team that’s likely to contain just a handful of experts, our collaboration allows us to tap more creative talents, experts, and stars from CS Studios. While Cignal Entertainment focuses on programming, strategy, and business development, TV5 takes care of transmission and technical manpower, and CS handles content production. This has led to more efficiency in the utilization of resources and has generated positive results for Cignal Entertainment and TV5. Ultimately, our mutual goal is to provide relevant and high-quality content that will reach more Filipino households, and we are happy that this combination works."
On the other hand, Cornerstone Entertainment vice president and CS Studios head Jeff Vadillo believes that the concepts of Sing Galing and Niña Niño are able to capture the hearts and minds of viewing audiences, more particularly in the provinces. In a separate interview on PEP.ph, Jeff shared, "Nakikita namin na yung mga tao, talagang kinakapitan yung shows, mas lalong tumaba yung puso namin kasi alam namin na yung purpose namin, nagagawa. Maraming natutuwa at nagmamahal sa show, at kahit saan kami pumunta, sa mga probinsya, may mga nagme-mention kapag may mga kasama kaming artist ng mga shows namin. Nakakatuwa kasi nakikita mo yung suporta sa shows ng TV5 at Cignal, talagang hindi lang sa Metro Manila kung hindi pati na rin sa mga probinsya. Naging part siya ng viewing habit ng pamilyang Pilipino. Sobrang happy ako for them kasi unti-unting nagiging powerhouse ang TV5 and also Cignal. Nagiging isa sila sa mga aabangan na content ng mga Pilipino. Doon ako masaya sa Cignal kasi nagiging powerhouse din sila in terms of content creation. Marami silang pino-produce na shows ngayon na talaga namang inaabangan at pumapatok. Nagsisimula pa lang kami, we just started last year pero alam namin na we are on the right direction. Habang tumatagal pa, excited kami sa mga maaari pang pwedeng gawin ng CS Studios at ng Cignal."
Catch Sing Galing and Niña Niño every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 6:20 pm and 7:05 pm, respectively, and Sing Galing: Celebrity Edition every Saturday at 6:00 pm on TV5 on analog free TV channel 5, digital TV boxes in Mega Manila and various provinces (including Batangas), SKYcable channel 10 and Cignal channel 5. TV5 is also available via live streaming for free on Cignal Play via cignalplay.com and the app available on Google Play and Apple App Store.
