Andronico Del Rosario
“Better days are coming. Yes, better days!”
This seemingly cryptic tweet from Vice Ganda may have just confirmed rumors of a comeback for ABS-CBN’s top-rated programs It’s Showtime, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, ASAP, and their nightly newscast TV Patrol.
Better days are coming. Yes better days!!!!!
— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) October 1, 2020
An online broadcast of It’s Showtime also showed the Kapamilya comedian excited dropping hints throughout the show.
Several lines from Vice Ganda piqued the interest of Kapamilyas who have eagerly awaited the network’s return to free tv.
“Abang abang kayo diyan.”
“Ayokong magsalita, baka mapagalitan.”
“Di ba sabi ko naman sa inyo, madlang people. Better days are coming.”
Perhaps the most telling clue he revealed was during a segment where the hosts of It’s Showtime were playing a game of rock, paper, scissors.
“Eh kung 1 plus 1 equals 2. 1 and 1 equals 11.”
The tweet, which showed a recording of It’s Showtime’s latest episode, has since been retweeted over 250 times.
Vice Ganda giving hints of possible free TV return of ABS-CBN/Kapamilya Channel thru Channel 11?
Your thoughts @AltABSCBN hahaha pic.twitter.com/TsWPbcVuXi
— Renz Daniel De Vera (@renzdvr) October 2, 2020
Rumors about a possible blocktime arrangement between ABS-CBN executives and Zoe Broadcasting Network have been circulating since a few weeks after the denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Various media outlets have “heard rumors” from insiders saying Jesus Is Lord Church leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva, who also owns Zoe Broadcasting, has reached an agreement with the Lopezes to air ABS-CBN’s top-rated programs.
Zoe Broadcasting currently uses Channel 11 and Channel 33. GMA Network used to have a block time agreement with Zoe Broadcasting to use Channel 11 for GMA News TV. GMA did not renew its block time contract with Zoe Broadcasting due to increasing lease payments, effectively taking Channel 11 off free TV in May 2019.
Zoe TV would later do a test broadcast on Channel 11 on June 22, 2020, simulcasting programs from its sister channel Light TV Channel 33.
This further fuelled rumors of a comeback of sorts for ABS-CBN’s top-rated programs.
