TVJ, Dabarkads To Move To TV5; Battle Over ‘Eat Bulaga!’ Trademark Still On

After admitting that Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. wanted to replace him, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (TVJ) and the rest of their group as hosts of “Eat Bulaga!” despite becoming iconic, former Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said TVJ and the “dabarkads” are moving to TV5.

Tito revealed on Agenda over One News on Wednesday, June 7, that they would be producing content for the network and parent company MediaQuest’s other platforms. He said TV5 and MediaQuest were picked over five other networks, and the deal was formalized late Tuesday, June 6.

According to Tito, MediaQuest has several platforms such as Cignal TV, which owns One News and One PH, among others.

Tito said a legal counsel, their production staff and 95 percent of their sales group joined them in making the deal.

“If you really want to reach more people, I think (it) was the best decision for us to join the Kapatid channel and Aksyon TV international. It's available in the Middle East, in Guam, we took all that into consideration,” Tito noted.

But the most important factor was trust, Tito said, adding that MediaQuest-TV5 gave them full creative control over their upcoming show.

“We have been doing the show (Eat Bulaga) for 44 years and all of a sudden, (TAPE’s new management) comes in with their own ideas and production which for us (are) already outdated,” Tito stressed.

“You don't trust us and you already have a different agenda... So, TV5 trusts us with the content of the show. We will decide on the content. They don’t have any control on that, (but) of course, the slot will be decided by management,” Tito said.

TVJ departed from TAPE last May 31, which was announced via livestreaming platforms since they were no longer allowed to have even one last live episode of Eat Bulaga.  Co-hosts Paolo Ballesteros, Jose Manalo, Maine Mendoza, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Wally Bayola, Ryan Agoncillo and Allan K followed suit through a resignation letter hours later along with the production staff and the sales department.

Eat Bulaga eventually returned on air on Monday, June 5, after relying on replays. It is currently hosted by Paolo Contis, Betong Sumaya, Buboy Villar, Alexa Miro and Legaspi twins Mavy and Cassy. 

In a statement dated Tuesday, June 6, MediaQuest president and CEO Jane Basas said they have entered an agreement with TVJ.

“I’m honored that these pillars of the Philippine entertainment industry have agreed to work with us. Our partnership strengthens our ability to continue to deliver the best for Filipino viewers here at home and all over the world. I’m happy that Tito, Vic, and Joey will now call TV5 their home,” Basas said.

Still Eat Bulaga

Tito firmly said their new show should still be titled Eat Bulaga when asked during his interview on Agenda. He maintained that TVJ were its creators, meaning they own the title in line with “supreme jurisprudence.”

Tito pointed out that TAPE’s trademark registration with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) will expire by June 14, 2023. He said TAPE registered Eat Bulaga in “bad faith,” but they intend to keep the name by filing a claim before the World Intellectual Property Office or WIPO.

“We started it…Eat Bulaga started in 1979 so I think history and the law will back us up on that so to your question, my opinion, it should be Eat Bulaga,” Tito told Agenda host Cito Beltran.

Tito revealed they are setting up TVJ Productions, and will be a joint venture with MediaQuest. Instead of using his own VST Productions, a new one was formed so their co-hosts can be onboard with them.

Tito explained the joint venture will make it possible to fully compensate their talent pool. Currently, it is still being incorporated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“In the coming days, we will be able to thresh things out. The incorporators of TVJ Productions right now are myself, Vic, Joey (De Leon), (creative director) Jenny Ferre and director Poochie Rivera,” Tito bared.

Earlier on Monday,  Tito told CNN Philippines’ “The Source” that they left TAPE for a number of reasons, but the last straw was the new management’s refusal to let them go live last May 31.

“Bottomline, they (TAPE) helped us decide because we were not in a decision at that time, at that point yet,” Tito said.

He also cited the mistrust of the new management led by Zamboanga del Norte 1st District Romeo Jalosjos Jr., who replaced Tony Tuviera as TAPE Inc. chief executive officer and president, wanted the old hosts including TVJ replaced.

The new management also wanted to discontinue top-rating segments like “Juan for All, All for Juan,” and “Bawal Judgmental,” Tito said.

Tito said the management never intervened in the past 44 years and did not have any contribution in the show’s segments.

He also criticized the initial plan of management to introduce a segment that was similar to the old “Maid in the Philippines.”

Aside from having the same concept, Tito told The Source that they opposed it since advertisers no longer favor such segments.

He likewise admitted the salary of the hosts and staff was another issue.

Tito said everyone agreed to a 10-percent across-the-board pay cut after management said the company is facing financial challenges.

While they agreed, Tito said they did not believe the financial angle since TAPE ended 2021 with a net profit, including earnings from political advertisements during the 2022 elections.

Political agenda, broken promises

Tito disclosed that the political agenda of TAPE chairman Romeo “Romy” Jalosjos Sr. contributed to their falling out.

Aside from this, he repeated the reasons behind their decision to leave TAPE unceremoniously during his Agenda interview. In particular, Tito said Maid in the Philippines was a flop.

“After less than one or two months, we discontinued it because advertisers did not like it. So we said to ourselves, ‘Why force it when the previous iterations flopped,’ so we shelved our plans,” Tito said.

 Tito also delved into TAPE’s beginnings and recalled the promise of making them stockholders to pay debts for doing Eat Bulaga for free in 1980.

Tito recalled asking his lawyers to check on this during TAPE’s initial takeover in February this year. He found out that instead of the three of them, one child, and a then-unborn one were named TAPE stockholders.

“We found out there were only five stockholders and TVJ was not there. One was 10 years old in 1981, while the other was not even born yet. We were intentionally excluded,” he said.

‘Go for gold’

For now, Tito kept their plans vague and merely said they are “on their way” to finalizing the segments of their new show their head writers own those that they aired on Eat Bulaga over GMA 7.

He assured the public that “some” ongoing portions their audiences have learned to love will be retained while new ones will be introduced.

“We’re delighted and we keep laughing when talking about these two new portions. These portions are such a great idea from our group, so there will be a rebirth of Eat Bulaga, and it will be a new venture,” Tito said.

“It will be a new chapter, but our target is to go for gold, which is 50 years. Eat Bulaga has to reach 50 years, so go for gold. Six years to go,” he added.

Tito further said they learned to keep things in “black and white.” While they can still trust, or be trusted, this is to prepare against their new management changing their stance on TVJ.

When asked by Beltran for a six-year plan, Tito said they hope to find new and guidable talents. He was optimistic because ever since TVJ’s formation through “Okay Lang” and eventually Eat Bulaga, they have found a number of talents.

Tito mentioned the late comedians Redford White and Ritchie D’Horsie, actresses Chiqui Hollman, Coney Reyes and the late Helen Vela as some examples. 

“But now, there are so much more young talents and we could probably hone them and teach them the ropes,” he said.

Tito said the trio plans to go beyond 50 years if they are still capable. While in denial of their age, Tito acknowledges it’s part of the plan to eventually pass the torch.

“We have to hone new talents. You see our new one? Fourteen years old, Carren Eistrup…she’s a super singer,” Tito said.

“We also plan to get back Maja Salvador and other talents TAPE released because of their high salary, those guys. We plan to get back the talents we know that are really great,” he added.