Front Page Philippines TV debuts in Alberta

Sept. 19 -- “Front Page Philippines” – the weekly TV program aimed at the Filipino-Canadian community in Ontario debuts in Alberta, Sunday, September 21.

The first airing of the program in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta coincides with the sixth anniversary of the program in continuously providing bits and pieces of news, cultural events and entertainment to Ontario viewers.

Ace Alvarez, producer of the program, recalled that it was on September 21, 2002 that the Front Page Philippines first aired in Ontario.

In Alberta, the program will be aired through the two recently-acquired television stations of Rogers OMNI Television in that province, namely, OMNI Calgary (CJCO) which airs on cable channel 4 and over-the-air on channel 38; and,  OMNI Edmonton (CJEO), airing on cable channel 11 and over-the-air on channel 56.

Canadian broadcast history unfolds anew when Rogers OMNI Television launched the two landmark ethnic programming television stations in Alberta on Monday, September 15, to serve and reflect the increasingly diverse population of that province.

“We’re clearly happy to be a pioneering language television in two previously underserved areas at the same time,” Al Thorgeirson, Regional Vice President of Television for Rogers Media said.. 

“While we are breaking new ground with Rogers OMNI Alberta we are also providing a long-overdue service by offering community-focused programming in 20 languages to ethnocultural audiences we feel will be highly receptive.”

“Rogers OMNI Alberta is pleased and privileged to bring much-needed broadcast reflection to the ethnocultural communities of the province -- this is a huge victory on both sides of the camera,” says Madeline Ziniak, National Vice President of Rogers OMNI Television.  “Each OMNI station will have a strong focus on local news with a balance of local, regional and national perspectives as well as the opportunity to share ethnocultural issues and stories throughout our evolving national television system – something we’ve never been able to offer before.”

While Front Page Philippines could be viewed across Canada on OMNI 2 Television through the satellite facilities of Bell ExpressVu on Channel 216 and StarChoice on Channel 395, subscribers of cable television in Edmonton and Calgary  will likewise enjoy the multilingual/multicultural programming of OMNI Television .

For local advertisers in Toronto whose products and services are likewise targeting consumers in Alberta, advertising on “Front Page Philippines” in Calgary and Edmonton can be arranged by calling (416) 285-8583, or by e-mail, frontpagephilippines@rogers.com.

Meanwhile, Russell International—the production arm of Front Page Philippines, announced that the alternative viewing day of the program on Thursdays has been moved from 12 noon to 3 PM, resulting from the fall re-programming of OMNI 2 TV. The Sunday original airings continues to be at 11 AM.[Russell International; also with files from OMNI Television]