General entertainment channel RTL CBS Entertainment is relatively new on the cable television scene but it already boasts a roster of multi-awarded programs that feature some of the brightest stars in Tinsel town.
“That’s how we would like our channel to be known for,” Jennifer Batty, the channel’s executive vice president for Programming, told The Standard.
The Singapore-based TV executive was in town to meet select members of the press to talk about the channel’s upcoming programs and how they would appeal to the local market.
“We bring you the biggest stars and the most interesting series. Filipinos, in particular, are very updated on what’s happening around the world so we make sure that our programs keep them informed about the latest happening in Hollywood, not to mention our programs and series are telecast on the same day they are shown in the United States,” Batty said.
She added that RTL CBS focuses on general entertainment and their programs are suited for general audiences.
“For this month we are pitching The Late Late Night Show with James Corden. This funny guy is immensely popular on social media. Since Filipinos are very much active on social networking sites, I believe they must have seen his videos, so it’s time for them to see this guy tickle funny bones on TV,” Batty related.
The Late Late Night Show with James Corden official YouTube channel has racked up more than 185 million views due to the popularity of the show’s creative segments, which have featured actors like Tom Hanks and Arnold Schwarzenegger acting out their careers in a few minutes with Corden. The Carpool Karaoke segments with Mariah Carey, Iggy Azalea and Justin Bieber have also become very popular on social media.
“James is even surprised on the massive support he gets from social media. But of course we have to give it to the guy, he really has an interesting personality,” Batty furthered.
James Corden took the reigns as host of The Late Late Night Show in March just this year. Since its first week on-air in the U.S., the show has consistently attracted Hollywood’s biggest stars helping make it one of this year’s most buzzed about new shows.
The Late Late Night Show with James Corden, which premiered on Aug. 3 and The X Factor UK premiering on Aug. 29 are the channel’s program highlights this month.
A song for modern-day heroes
Google Philippines collaborates with five well-known local bands and musicians to help create the song meant to recognize and celebrate close to 12 million Overseas Filipino Workers. It aims to reconnect them with the things they miss back home through music.
The tech giant is working with Sponge Cola, ItchyWorms and Kjwan, band vocalist Ebe Dancel and YouTube star Mikey Bustos, who will be putting melody to the lyrics and will be recording the song together. The song will be released on Sept. 1 exclusively on YouTube, just in time for the National Heroes’ Day.
“In our effort to make the lives of Filipinos easier, we strive to provide Filipino families ways to stay connected wherever in the world they may be,” said Ryan Morales, Google Philippines country marketing manager. “This is why we thought of creating this song to deliver the fond memories of our overseas Filipinos across the miles through music and technology. We are inviting every Filipino to join in the fun by contributing lyrics to the song.”
Morales furthered that anyone can submit their contribution by simply using the hash tag #GoogleMissKoNa on their posts on Google+, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram posts. And for every submission, Php1 donation will be made on behalf of the collaborators to the Blas Ople Policy Center & Training Institute. These donations will be used to build halfway houses for victims of human trafficking.
“This is going to be an exciting initiative. On our part as artists, this project is going to be a big challenge. We’re going to work on a crowd-sourced material so we’re going to have a lot of different ideas. I think in doing this project, mutual respect will play a big role. Everybody is a good songwriter and musician,” said one of the artists during the press launch held last week.
This initiative is part of Google Philippines’ “Balikbayan” campaign, which aims to reconnect overseas Filipinos with their families and friends and help them sustain and enrich their relationships despite physical barriers.