Spurred by the list we made a few weeks ago, some people genuinely started asking me if there was a way for AllTV to salvage itself after its initial stumble.

Again, we’re not interested in kicking AllTV while it’s down. This is not what it’s about. But as a thought exercise for someone who is not an expert on television programming, it’s a question worth considering. So without any further ado, and with the proper disclaimer that this is purely one person’s opinion, let’s look at possible ways that AllTV can change the formula and offer something people might want to actually watch.

8. They need to have people compete for something huge and life-changing

Considering that AllTV’s initial lineup of programs is straight from the ABS-CBN and GMA playbook for the most part, what obvious thing was missing from their lineup?

Huge competition for all the marbles, that’s what. 

Imagine having a show that you can tout as having the biggest cash prize on Philippine television ever, and using that as a hook to get people to tune in as they support their individual bets. The buzz for that would be unprecedented, and the only thing AllTV has to do is not screw it up. Which leads us to…

7. Start throwing more money at their problems

Is it wrong of people to feel that despite being owned by one of the richest people in the entire country, the production values of AllTV have not been invested in enough? There is no easy way to say it: if you want to make money in the TV business, you have to spend money — especially if you want to stand out from the current juggernauts in your industry.

As it stands, they’re already losing money as they underinvest in this, yet they’re still hella rich. Maybe try something different and invest as much as you realistically can? You might just be surprised at the results.

6. Drop the political divide

You really want it to be ALL TV, right? Not just SOME, not just HALF, but ALL TV? Then start reaching across the aisle without making a big deal of it. Get quality talent regardless of political affiliation, shut up about it, and let the quality talent bounce off each other. The sooner you can rid yourself of the stigma that this is a politically colored TV network, the sooner you can start actually attracting audiences on your own merits.

5. Do syndicated programming

It’s one thing that local TV networks have all but stopped doing: if it’s cheaper to get high-end TV programs from other countries than it currently is to produce your own shows, then as a stopgap measure, look into that, see what sticks, then pattern your local programs after what works. It’s definitely a more cost-effective way to experiment than to create your own shows only to bomb immediately afterward.

4. Do away with the poverty porn

Let’s admit it: Willie Revillame’s schtick of giving hope and joy to the masses by way of vague exploitation is way past its prime. I may not like the guy, but we can’t deny the man is still one of the most charismatic figures in Philippine television, so if he’s willing to play ball and freshen up his formula a bit, maybe he can offer some variety show programming that neither Showtime nor Eat Bulaga currently do. And we all know the first thing he has to change: it’s right there in the heading.

Again, if Kuya Wil is willing to play ball. That’s really the operative word here.

3. Appeal to kids

If kids had a ready option to watch cartoons on free TV, would it still work in this day and age? Heck, yeah! There’s a reason why all that anime and all those cartoons get a lot of mileage among Netflix subscribers. Considering how successful the Slam Dunk movie was here, then it stands to reason that there is a void to be filled here, and it’s currently one that neither GMA nor ABS-CBN is doing well with.

Obviously, this tactic doesn’t align with some of the other tips we’ve given, but hey, nobody said you had to follow all 8 for AllTV to be a success, right?

2. Invest in making and breaking new firsts in Philippine TV

If you have decent quality programming, personnel, and ideas, the next step to creating buzz is to do a bunch of firsts in Philippine TV. This is pretty much #8 on steroids, but if you can push for your branding to be world-class television all the way, with the biggest prizes, groundbreaking ideas, and the willingness to give these things time instead of pulling the plug at the first sign of trouble, then maybe AllTV can establish itself as a niche worth paying attention to.

Look at it this way: yes, masa stations on radio have large followings, but advertisers are more likely to invest only in the top 3 stations in that arena than pick the top stations in other genres. That way, stations like WAVE, Magic, RX, Easy Rock, et al can get their share of the pie because they target a market that your Love Radio and YES FM don’t.  Despite that, you can’t possibly tell me that any of those other stations are investing less in their production values than Love or YES are, so it’s clear that you can’t cut corners even when you’re actively targeting a niche.

1. If all else fails, merge with JACK TV

For the longest time, JACK TV was a cable station that stood out for its strong comedy and action slant. It was really different from other cable channels during its time and was in operation until just 2020. Imagine if ALLTV and JACK TV came together and formed:

This.

Let’s be honest: if this started airing on free television today, we’d cream ourselves. It’s so bold, so audacious, that it might just work and jerk people’s attention away from what everyone else is doing on local TV. What ALLTV lacked in syndicated programming, comedy, and even sports, JACK can easily give them a hand with. It’s a ratings explosion waiting to happen.

Or not. But you gotta admit, JACK-ALLTV has a really nice ring to it.

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