JE C.C.
The history of Philippine television goes back to as early as practically the beginning of press journalism in the country itself. Although, the first TV newscast didn’t arrive until 1962, when ABC or the Associated Broadcasting Corporation (now TV5) aired the pilot broadcast of the English news program, The Big News, in 1962.
ABS-CBN’s The World Tonight soon dominated the competition and later became the longest-running TV program in the country. Today, it remains on the air since it first aired on ABS-CBN’s DZXL-Channel 9 in 1966, becoming the only currently running program to stay airing after 55 years.
The following are the ten longest-running local newscasts on Philippine television:
1. The World Tonight (ABS-CBN, ANC), 55 years
First Broadcast: November 21, 1966.
Current Anchors: Tony Velasquez, Pia Gutierrez, and Stanley Palisada.
The World Tonight was ABS-CBN’s flagship newscast until the shutdown of the Network in 1972, following the order of late dictator, President Ferdinand Marcos.
It was the first-ever Philippine newscast to be broadcasted in color. The newscast resumed broadcast in 1986 after ABS-CBN was handed back to the Lopezes.
In 1996, the show migrated to ABS-CBN’s cable news channel, Sarimanok News Network, which later became the ANC. Veteran journalists like Loren Legarda, Tina Monzon-Palma, eric Eloriaga, Hal Bowie, and Henry Halasan, co-anchored the show in its more than five-decade-long broadcast.
2. Big News (ABC), 46 years
First Broadcast: March 19, 1962
Last Broadcast: August 8, 2008
Last anchored by: Cherry Mercado and Amelyn Veloso.
Big News was the longest-running newscast in the country, until its cancellation in 2008.
It was the first news program to air on any local free TV network. Its success prompted other national TV networks to produce their own newscasts, including ABS-CBN’s The World Tonight and RPN’s Newswatch. Like its ABS-CBN counterpart, The Big News went off-air, through the Martial Law years.
The program returned in 1992 and went to the air several more years until 2008.
3. Newswatch (RPN), 42 years
First Broadcast: June 1, 1970
Last Broadcast: October 29, 2012
Last anchored by: Joyce Burton-Titular and Marigold Haber-Dunca.
Newswatch was among the three most-watched English-language newscasts in the country, alongside The World Tonight and The Big News.
The show underwent several changes in name and formats, as the TV Network went from one owner to another.
The program spawned several spinoffs, including ones anchored by Erwin Tulfo, Connie Sison, Aljo Bendijo, and Orly Mercado.
4, TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) 34 years
First Broadcast: March 2, 1987
Current anchors: Henry Omaga-Diaz, Bernadette Sembrano, and Karen Davila.
Currently, the longest-running Filipino-language evening newscast in the country, TV Patrol, is ABS-CBN’s flagship newscast, and still one of the most successful news programs to ever air on national television. Airing upon the return of ABS-CBN in 1986, one can say that TV Patrol is a direct legacy of the restoration of democracy in the country.
The show spawned several regional versions across the country, which vernacular languages as a medium of reporting. Seasoned broadcasters, including Noli de Castro, Mel Tiangco, Robert Arevalo, Christine Bersola, Ted Failon, and Korina Sanchez, co-anchored the newscast.
5. TV Patrol Central Visayas (ABS-CBN Cebu), 32 years
First Broadcast: August 29, 1988
Last Broadcast: August 28, 2020
Last anchored by: Leo Lastimosa.
The first regional edition of its Manila counterpart, TV Patrol Central Visayas served Central Visayas and the province of Negros Oriental with the latest news in the region.
The latest edition of the newscast was a merger of the defunct Cebu and Dumaguete editions and was one of only two regional newscasts (the other being TV Patrol Palawan) to introduce sign language for speech and hearing-impaired viewers.
6. TV Patrol Negros (ABS-CBN Bacolod), 31 years
First Broadcast: December 12, 1988
Last Broadcast: August 28, 2020
Last anchored by: Barbara Mijares.
Originally called TV Patrol 4, TV Patrol Negros was the first Philippine newscast to use the Hiligaynon language. From 1995 to 2001, it was called TV Patrol Western Visayas, while from 2001 to 2007, the newscast was called TV Patrol Bacolod.
Its final version aired from 2007 until the dissolution of ABS-CBN Regional Network Group in 2020.
7. TV Patrol Southern Mindanao (ABS-CBN Davao), 31 years
First Broadcast: April 7, 1989
Last Broadcast: August 28, 2020
Last anchored by: Paul Palacio and Melanie Severino.
TV Patrol Southern Mindanao was the largest and most comprehensive local newscast in Mindanao.
The regional newscast covered news and current affairs in the Davao region and made its broadcast from ABS-CBN News headquarters in Davao City.
8. Saksi, GMA Network 26 years
First Broadcast: October 2, 1995
Current Anchors: Arnold Clavio and Pia Arcangel.
Saksi was GMA Network’s flagship evening newscast before it moved to a late-night slot. Originally presented by Mike Enriquez and Karen Davila, Saksi’s earliest broadcasts ran for 15-minutes per episode.
The program became a late-night newscast on July 15, 2002, to give way for Mel Tiangco’s Frontpage, which then became the network’s flagship news program. Several seasoned journalists, including Bernadette Sembrano, Jay Sonzo, Luchi Cruz-Valdez, and Vicky Morales, co-anchored the show.
9. Dateline Philippines, ANC 25 years
First Broadcast: July 10, 1995
Current anchors: Karmina Constantino and Raine Musngi.
Dateline Philippines is currently the longest-running noontime newscast and the oldest cable-only newscast in the country.
The program debuted as a flagship newscast of the now-defunct Sarimanok News Network, which later on became the current ABS-CBN News Channel.
The newscast was previously presented by Frankie Evangelista, Gene Orejana, and Joyce Burton-Titular.
10. TV Patrol Chavacano (ABS-CBN Zamboanga), 25 years
First Broadcast: January 16, 1995
Final Broadcast: August 28, 2020
Last anchored by: Jewel Reyes.
Previously called TV Patrol Zamboanga, TV Patrol Chavacano was the only newscast in Western Mindanao to broadcast in the vernacular Chavacano language.
It was the biggest and most extensive news program in the region until its final airing on August 28, 2020.
Take note that the list does not include news bulletins and minute-long news updates. Did you think we missed an entry to the list? Make sure to drop a comment in the comment section.
