Now you can watch your radio

The brainchild of ABS-CBN chairman Gabby Lopez, teleradyo took several years to conceptualize and was pilot-tested over Sky Cable Channel 22 last April. Teleradyo had its first acid test during DZMM’s coverage of the elections last May 14. ABS-CBN VP for Radio Peter Musngi explains that the teleradyo concept involves simultaneous broadcast of a radio program on television while it is being aired on radio. Television cameras are brought into the announcer’s booth, so that while the program hosts are doing their thing, the video feed is being beamed out to television viewers across the Philippines.

“In short, the same programmes that our audience has been listening to for so many years, they can now watch on television,” says Musngi.

But teleradyo is more than just that. DZMM listeners-turned-TV viewers won’t just get to see the faces of their favorite radio anchors, like Ted Failon and Korina Sanchez (of Tambalang Failon at Sanchez), Julius Babao and Tintin Bersola (of Magandang Morning with Julius and Tintin) and the lively tandem of Ariel Ureta and Winnie Cordero of Todo Todo, Walang Preno.

Aside from being able to now see the anchors in person, teleradyo gives listeners and viewers direct access to information by flashing it across TV screens. Teleradyo will carry a summary of the day’s headlines, the dollar-to-peso exchange rate and the time. There will also be a venue for viewers to react to what the anchors say on air, through DZMM REACT. Viewers’ reactions and opinions will be screened, then flashed on the screen.

It is a format that has been used to great success abroad, on stations like Bloomberg. But don’t mistake teleradyo for the Filipino version of Bloomberg TV. It is more than just that.

The Pinoy flavor will be very strong. “This is the beauty of teleradyo. It’s instantaneous and interactive, plus it has that familiar Pinoy radio flavor. We’re not aiming to become the Filipino version of Bloomberg,” explains DZMM Station Manager Angelo Palmones. “DZMM will still maintain the original traits and qualities that has made it the number one AM radio station for many years.”