Philippine Idol on GMA is a done deal

"There is no hard feeling between FremantleMedia and ABC 5," according to Ms. Terra Dafon, ABC-5's Corporate Affairs Head sa pagkakalipat ng Philippine Idol sa GMA. From ABC-5 side, kinumpirma ni Ms. Daffon na wala na nga ang Idol franchise sa kanilang station. Naibigay na ang rights ng second season nito sa GMA-7. Tinawagan ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang ABC-5 to get their side in the matter and what happened between the first season and the hiatus of Philippine Idol. "First of all, Fremantle commended us for putting up a world-class show during the first season," paumpisa ni Ms. Daffon. "Year to year basis ang pagbili ng rights. For the second season, we started negotiating by giving our side of the offer, some suggestions and modifications for the next season like sa voting procedure, some format changes. "Now, ang mga US suppliers of show, madalas ang offer by package. With a backing of a prime show [like the Idol franchise], they try to package other not so fast-selling products [programs]. "I really have no idea who offered what," patuloy ni Ms. Daffon. "Maybe Fremantle offered a package sa GMA and the station bought the whole package including some shows, or maybe GMA gave a better offer. So the next thing we knew, we don't have the right of the second season anymore. "Ang package sa amin noon together with the franchise was the American Idol show itself which we broadcast. Maybe GMA also bought this one plus other shows. No, there is no hard feeling between us and Fremantle and we have nothing against GMA. It's business after all. "Kaya lang, may naalala ako noon na sinabi ng GMA pati ang ABS, that they don't buy franchise, only homegrown shows. Kami, it has been part of our programming to buy canned shows and franchise so we started it. Now, ABS has Endemol and GMA will have the Idol franchise," saad pa ng ABC-5 Corporate Affairs Head. Hindi naman alam ni Ms. Daffon kung magagamit ng GMA-7 ang titulong Philippine Idol dahil ang ABC-5 daw ang may-ari nito. "I have to get back to you on this, I want to talk to our lawyers first about the usage of the title. You cannot copyright Philippines naman. Ewan ko, that is something that hasn't cross my mind—about the title," pahayag pa ni Ms. Daffon sa PEP. Wala raw sa position si Ms. Daffon to say yes or no kung puwedeng ibigay ang titulo sa GMA-7. Hindi niya rin alam kung pati nga ang American Idol ay nabili na rin ng Kapuso network as part of the package, pero wala ito sa list of programs nila for next year. ARIEL & MAVERICK. Sa presscon ng Zaido kagabi, September 17, tumawag sa amin sa telepono si Ms. Daffon after our text about this at nagkataong nandoon din ang team nina Ariel and Maverick na kilala bilang stars ng ABC-5. "Ah talaga, nandiyan sila? Say hi for me, sabihin mo from Tita Terra," sabi ng TV executive kina Ariel and Maverick. Naitanong agad namin sila kung ano ang estado nina Ariel and Maverick sa ABC-5 ngayong may game show na ang dynamic duo sa GMA-7, ang Send Or Save. ‘Ang pagkakalaam ko, we have two shows pa with them as stars, ang Mommy Elvie and Totoo TV. Ewan ko, baka GMA is also getting them but no, it's not part of the Idol deal," saka tumawa si Ms. Daffon. GMA-7's SIDE. Samantala, kinumpirma rin ng SVP for Entertainment TV ng GMA-7 na si Ms. Wilma Galvante ang paglipat ng Philippine Idol sa Kapuso Network. Tinanong siya ng ilang entertainment press sa presscon ng Zaido kung totoo nga ang balita na sa GMA-7 na mapapanood ang second season ng Philippine Idol at umamin siya agad. Ayon pa kay Ms. Galvante, package deal ang pagkuha nila ng Philippine franchise ng Idol, kasama ang iba pang shows ng Fremantle Media, kasama na ang Celebrity Duets na napapanood na ngayon sa GMA-7 hosted by Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid. Ang American Idol judge na si Simon Cowell ang producer ng U.S. version ng Celebrity Duets. Samantala, nabalitaan din ng PEP na kasabay ng paglipat ng Philippine Idol sa GMA-7 ay ang posibilidad na pumirma na rin ng exclusive contract ang first winner na si Mau Marcelo at ang finalist na si Jan Nieto sa Kapuso network. Ang isa pang finalist na si Gian Magdangal ay nasa GMA-7 bilang isa sa regular performers ng SOP. Ang Idol franchise ay nagsimula sa Great Britain, na may titulong Pop Idol. Nagkaroon ito ng spin-offs sa mahigit tatlumpung bansa, kabilang na ang US (with American Idol) at ang Pilipinas. The first season of Philippine Idol was hosted by Ryan Agoncillo, with Ryan Cayabyab, Pilita Corrales, and Francis M. acting as judges. Wala pang balita kung sino ang maghu-host ng second season sa GMA-7 at kung sinu-sino ang magiging hurado. Sa pamamagitan ng website ng Fremantle ay napag-alaman ng PEP na ang iba pang sikat na programa ng naturang TV company worldwide ay Poker Face, Distraction, The Price Is Right, The X Factor, Family Feud, at Got Talent. Nagkaroon ng Philippine franchise ang The Price Is Right at Family Feud na ipinalabas noon sa ABC-5. - Philippine Entertainment Portal