**Manila, Philippines** – A surprising and controversial development in the Philippine television industry has seen **80% of the sponsors of Eat Bulaga** – the legendary program on GMA Network – leave the show and **flock to TVJ on TV5**. This information is said to have made Mr. **Manny V. Pangilinan**, the owner of TV5, **angry and reacting strongly** to the power shift in the media industry.
Eat Bulaga, known as the Philippines’ longest-running variety show, was the **trump card of GMA Network** for many years. However, after the legendary trio **Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (TVJ)** left the show due to internal conflicts, a deep division has taken place in the television industry.
Insiders revealed that **80% of Eat Bulaga’s longtime sponsors have decided to leave the show** and go to TVJ, who are currently hosting **E.A.T on TV5**. This means that Eat Bulaga is facing a **serious financial crisis**, while E.A.T on TV5 is **on the rise**.
An advertising industry source said:
*”Big brands feel that Eat Bulaga is not as attractive as it was before TVJ left. They trust the TVJ brand more than the current Eat Bulaga name.”*
Media mogul Manny V. Pangilinan is said to have **expressed his anger over the development** and **discussed strategies to strengthen TV5’s position**. Some reports say that Pangilinan is looking to make the most of TVJ’s return to make TV5 a formidable rival to GMA and ABS-CBN.
A senior TV executive commented:
“This is not just a battle between TV shows, but also a power struggle between two media empires. TVJ has a huge influence, and clearly, Manny V. Pangilinan does not want to miss the opportunity to exploit that.”*
Eat Bulaga is still airing on GMA Network with a new MC lineup, but is **struggling with declining viewership**. Many of the show’s loyal viewers still tune in to TVJ, making E.A.T on TV5 a formidable competitor.
Amid the increasingly fierce competition, the question is: **Can Eat Bulaga survive without TVJ? What strategies will GMA have to retain its viewers and sponsors?**
Welcome brothers! MVP looks forward to a ‘productive, long partnership’ with Tito, Vic, Joey and Legit Dabarkads
The iconic comedy trio of former Sen. Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon are now official members of the Kapatid network.
The popular trio, representing TVJ Productions, sealed an investment partnership with TV5 network led by business magnate Manny V. Pangilinan on Tuesday. The investment deal involves the co-production of the still untitled variety show on TV5 network starting July 1.
The signing of the investment deal was sealed almost three weeks after TVJ parted ways with TAPE Inc., production firm behind the country’s longest running variety program “Eat Bulaga” over a bitter feud.
At the Media Day held on Tuesday, Pangilinan welcomed TVJ to the Kapatid network.
“I would like to extend a warm welcome to Tito Sen, to Vic Sotto, to Joey and of course to Dabarkads, a warm welcome from all of us, from TV5 and Cignal,” he said.
“This afternoon we signed an investment agreement with TVJ Productions and we are indeed grateful to all of you, to all TVJ Productions and the staff and of course the talents of TVJ,” he said.
Pangilinan acknowledged that the entry of TVJ to TV5 would certainly enhance the entertainment portfolio of the network.
“This is a consequential event for TV 5 in our 10-year journey as a free-to-air broadcast station. I think this is a significant addition to the increasing entertainment portfolio of TV5,” he said.
“We are indeed grateful to all of you for being part of the Kapatid family and we look forward to a productive and long partnership with TVJ and with all of you,” he said.
Excited about the transfer of TVJ, Pangilinan likewise assured the trio of the full support of TV5 network, Cignal TV, PLDT and Smart Communications.
“We’re very excited and we just want to assure them of the full support not only of TV5 but also of Cignal TV, the full complement of the media assets of the group, and indeed the entire group. PLDT is here, Smart. I represent the group as well. So we assure you of our support in the many years with them,” he said.
