NewsWatch (Philippine TV program)

*NewsWatch*
NewsWatch
Genre	Newscast
Directed by	Rudy Alberto
Presented by	Joyce Burton-Titular ; Various contributors
Narrated by	Eric Eloriaga (late-night, 2001–2007) ; Orly Mercado (evening, 2008–2009) ; Marigold Haber-Dunca (evening, 2008–2009; 2010–2011) ; Joyce Burton-Titular (evening, 2009–2012) ; Jay Esteban (late-night, 2008–2009)
Opening theme	NewsWatch Theme by James Sace
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language	English
No. of episodes	n/a (airs Monday to Friday)
Production
Production locations	RPN 9 Studios; Broadcast City, Quezon City
Running time	60 minutes (2009–2012); 30 minutes (1970–2009); 2 to 3 minutes (2008–2011) (News bulletin)
Production company	RPN News and Public Affairs
Original release
Network	Radio Philippines Network
Release	June 1970 –; October 29, 2012

RPN NewsWatch in the Philippines was the longest-running English language flagship newscast of the Radio Philippines Network. It had a complicated history, undergoing many name changes, until it was axed in 2012 upon Solar Entertainment Corporation's purchase of RPN's majority stake.

Broadcast chronology

Launched in June 1970, it became one of the highly watched English newscasts on Philippine TV. Prior to 2008, it produced some spin-offs like:

NewsWatch Balita Ngayon, a Filipino-language early evening newscast.
NewsWatch sa Umaga, morning spin-off of the newscast.
NewsWatch sa Tanghali, noontime spin-off of the newscast.
NewsWatch Kids Edition, first youth spin-off of the newscast that aired from 1979 to 1993.
NewsWatch Evening Cast, first English-language early evening newscast anchored by Cathy Santillan, then it was anchored by Cielo Villaluna and Cristina Pecson; later with Buddy Lopa.
NewsWatch Prime Cast, a late night edition also anchored by Harry Gasser and Coco Quisumbing and later, Eric Eloriaga.
NewsWatch Now, replacement of Primetime Balita aired from August 13, 2001 to March 9, 2007.
Jr. NewsWatch, second youth spin-off that aired in 2005.
RPN Aksyon News, later "NewsWatch Aksyon Balita," successor of NewsWatch from April 17, 2006 to January 4, 2008 first anchored by Erwin Tulfo, Connie Sison, Aljo Bendijo, Jake Morales, Vikki Sambilay and Bobby Yan.
i-Watch News, replacement of NewsWatch Now anchored by former K-Lite disc jockey Carlo Tirona, and Aryana Lim, who was replaced by Lexi Schulze after a few months. It aired from March 12, 2007 to January 11, 2008.

On July 3, 2000, NewsWatch made its one-year absence on television due to low ratings because of the premiere of the network's only Filipino-language late-night newscast Primetime Balita but was replaced by NewsWatch Now and returning its English-language news reporting on August 13, 2001 until its final broadcast on March 9, 2007. On January 7, 2008, when Solar Entertainment channel C/S started to air on free-TV, it went back on the air replacing "NewsWatch Aksyon Balita". It was anchored by the network's President and Chief Executive Officer, former Defense secretary and senator Orly Mercado and the News and Current Affairs department head Marigold Haber-Dunca. On January 14, 2008, its late-night spin-off was aired as "NewsWatch Second Edition". This broadcast was anchored by Jay Esteban and Queen Sebastian. It also started to air on cable on all frequencies occupying C/S. The network's hourly news updates was renamed as "NewsWatch Update" until February 25, 2011.

The show was reformatted into a reality show between June 7, 2008 and August 16, 2008. On October 11, 2008, another version was premiered, entitled "NewsWatch Junior Edition" with the contestants of the show anchoring it. This was the third youth spin-off of the NewsWatch; the previous two were NewsWatch Kids Edition (1979 to 1993) and Jr. NewsWatch (2005).

On October 8, 2008, broadcasts covering of the games of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) was started. These were broadcast to coincide with the second half of the game on Wednesday and Friday. This coverage had ended since 2011 when RPN lost its PBA broadcasting rights to Studio 23 (and later to TV5).

On February 16, 2009, former ABS-CBN news anchor Joyce Burton-Titular replaced Orly Mercado as anchor. Mercado was then able to focus on his duties as the network's President and CEO. This was the second time that a female became the anchor of the newscast since the time of Cathy Santillian, Cielo Villaluna and Cristina Peczon.

On November 30, 2009, Radio Philippines Network (RPN) relaunched as Solar TV. Broadcast times were changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes duration. From the usual twice a day times of 5:30 pm and 11:00 pm, it became once a day at 5:30 pm and Reema Chanco was engaged as an additional anchor. RPN NewsCap replaced NewsWatch Second Edition and started airing at midnight. In 2010, the timeslot was moved to back to 11:30 in the evening. It also continued to air on both free TV and on cable until February 25, 2011.

On March 2, 2011, after Solar Entertainment bought 34% of RPN, RPN relaunched as ETC. Alongside NewsCap, NewsWatch started to air only on free TV on that date at 5 pm as ETC had occupied the RPN frequency on all cable providers nationwide. But, it is still being managed to air only through Global Destiny Cable (now Destiny Cable, owned by SkyCable) on channel 116, which was the frequency occupied by The Game Channel, a channel of Solar TV Network, occupying the 5:00 pm timeslot. On August 15, 2011 the two newscasts began to air on BEAM TV Channel 31 as The Game Channel was simulcast on that channel. Its simulcast on that channel stopped in October 2011.

On October 29, 2012, RPN NewsWatch and NewsCap were axed due to the impending privatization of the network and the controversial retrenchment of some employees of the network. However, NewsWatch is still used by RPN's provincial AM radio arm Radyo Ronda for its newscasts.

Past anchors

Bob de Veyra
Joyce Burton-Titular
Viviene Guilla
Phoebe Javier
Joyce Ilas
Raissa Puno-Diaz
Marlene Alcaide
Frank Abao
Eric Eloriaga
Harry Gasser
Lina Ramos
Charlie Ismael
Dodi Lacuna
Buddy Lopa
Meanne Los Baños
Cristina Peczon
Joee Guilas
Coco Quisumbing
Cathy Santillan
Vikki Sambilay
Pat Lazaro
Babe Romualdez
Bong Lapira
Joe Carlos
Audrey Gorriceta
Teresa Guanzon
Ernie Fresnido
Jing Magsaysay
Luchi Cruz-Valdes
Twink Macaraig
Thelma Aranda-Sugay
Ninez Cacho Olivares
Dennis Cabalfin
Cielo Villaluna
Arlene Lim-Farol
Ramon Imperial
Orly Mercado
Gaby Roldan-Concepcion
Jay Esteban
Queen Sebastian
Reema Chanco
Loren Legarda
Lulu Pascual
Mel Tiangco
Marigold Haber-Dunca
Stephanie Ongkiko
Roma Agsalud
Ina Andolong
Kara Javier
Joanna Gomez Santos
Pete Roa
Bill Velasco

Past news reporters

Carlo Carongoy
Dale de Vera
Evangeline Evangelista
Emman Paz
April Abello-Bulanadi
Marsha Tañedo
Pircelyn Pialago
Dennis Principe
Janeena Chan
Kiko Dagohoy
Apple Ortiz
Lia Manalac-del Castillo
Grace Asuncion
Hector Sagrado
Therese Gallenero
Jamie Santos
Lea Remulla
Paolo Capino
Jeffrey Espiritu
Beverly Verches
Jiggy Panopio
Chino Gaston
Chester Lobramonte
Lee Ruiz
Dan Campilan
Andrea Lagmay
Michelle Solano
Jamela Alindogan
Adrian Ayalin
Tricia Zafra
Jake Morales
Jerald Uy
Luisa Jimenez
Bestie Konisis
Peter Martin
Jorge Bandola

Broadcast chronology

Past anchors

Past news reporters

See also