In what is seen as game-changing move, CignalTV, the country’s premier satellite television service provider, recently launched Cignal Entertainment, a full entertainment brand of original content designed to cater to Filipinos’ evolving and upgrading tastes.
During the launch event that took place at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, CignalTV president Jane Basas said that the company, which currently has a subscriber base of over 1.8 million plus another 65.9 million broadband and mobile subscribers from the Smart/PLDT group, has taken on “the challenge of bringing fresh, relevant and intelligent content to the screens of Filipinos.”
By fresh, relevant and intelligent content, Basas is referring to “good stories that will take viewers to different places, stories that are meant for the Global Filipino.”
“These are stories that will make us cry or make us laugh, stories that are able to touch us, move us, motivate us, or even change us; and stories that are intelligent, relevant, of the highest quality,” she added.
To this end, CignalTV has partnered with Sari Sari Network, Unitel Productions, The IdeaFirst Company, Content Cows Company, Fox International and Masque Valley Productions, outfits headed mostly by former TV5 executives and creative partners.
For its initial presentation, Cignal Entertainment will kick things off with Masque Valley Productions’ “Tukhang,” a four-part mini-series that explores the social costs behind the government’s controversial war against illegal drugs.
Directed by Lawrence Fajardo and Derick Cabrido, and written by Jose Javier Reyes and Eric Ramos, “Tukhang” follows the day-to-day lives of several individuals trying to survive the country’s unforgiving drug war zone.
The stellar cast of the series is led by James Blanco as a tormented cop, Karel Marquez as a journalist who knows more than she should, Yul Servo as a hired hitman and Mon Confiado as a flawed senator.
Other members of the cast include Butch Francisco, Zandra Summer, Raffy Tejada, Archie Adamos, Elora Españo, Jake Macapagal, Che Ramos, Chrome Cosio, Mimi Juareza, and the comebacking Janna Victoria.
“Tukhang” is one of several, exciting new content under Cignal Entertainment. The first two back-to-back episodes of the series will premiere on on July 22 on Sari Sari (Channel 3 SD) and Colours (Channel 60 SD, Channel 202 HD).
Watch the teaser of “Tukhang” here:
Also watch Mon Confiado and Zandra Summer talk about their respective roles in “Tukhang” here: