QUESTION: How do you think will the Aquino presidency impact [your station?s] News and Public Affairs in terms of getting scoops and exclusives?

Answer: ?Honestly speaking, on the record...[but] don?t ask about my basis [for saying this], I don?t think [President-elect] Noynoy will give Channel 2 undue advantage over Channel 7, knowing what I know.?

There is a collective gasp before the predictable follow-through, ?There?s absolutely no way you?re telling?? The response was quick. ?No ? it?s just my opinion, anyway.?

That was lawyer Felipe L. Gozon (FLG), GMA 7 chair, president and CEO, engaging the entertainment press with characteristic candor during a lunch hosted by the network on Monday as part of its 60th anniversary celebration.

Just as swift with the repartees was Jimmy (Gilberto) R. Duavit Jr. (JRD), executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Together they are tagged as ?the two men who made it happen,? referring to a turnaround from being ?a mere second player [to ABS-CBN] for close to 20 years.? The reversal is said to have begun when the duo assumed their posts in 2000. ?You can see that we?re like Batman and Robin,? Gozon jested about their official photograph together. He did not assign the roles.

Lunch slid into a freewheeling Q&A, during which much ground was covered (and no response was declared off the record, happily): How the network is addressing talent migration, why TV5 is not taking over the industry anytime soon, how programs in trouble are pinpointed and rehabilitated. Et cetera:

How are GMA 7 shows evaluated?

JRD: We have a program committee...[during its] meetings, existing programs are evaluated...napag-uusapan ang ratings...mga programang ?di nagpapakitang gilas...kung ano ang mga plano ng producers.

What would be a lackluster program?

JRD: Simply put, something that is rating lower than its counterpart program on the grid of the key competitor. Meron ding mga programa na because of their nature or time slot, may konting discount sa rating...but for which it is not the end-all and be-all. One example is ?Bubble Gang?...nananalo yan, [pero minsan] hindi. Marami nang itinapat sa kanya pero it is synonymous na with the network. It has a very loyal following, both in the trade and sa viewership. We acknowledge that, particularly sa tail end niya napaka-late na ng ?Bubble Gang?...but even changing its time slot is not an option for us. That show will outlive me. And so will Bitoy and Ogie.

FLG: In fairness, nananalo ngayon ?yong ?Bubble Gang.? We never thought of changing or replacing ?Bubble Gang.?

Do you involve yourself in the personal lives of your stars, since they are a reflection of the network?

FLG: Well, yes ? not to meddle in their love life, but only to the extent that will affect their image na bini-build up in relation to the programs that they are cast in. Kung sweet [type of roles], mahirap naman na makita kang naglalasing magdamag at kung sinu-sino kasama. But not the two of us directly. We have a talent development department. I don?t remember any instance when I or Jimmy discussed that with a talent.

How are you addressing talent migration?

JRD: We are very aggressively making effort to keep our talents ? not so much in terms of salaries, as in terms of opportunities that we can provide. Fortunately, we have a grid that is close to 60 percent network-produced. And we also have QTV, with entirely different program menu options. We very consciously and deliberately optimize opportunities that could be given to a talent.

FLG: Let me just add something that is very practical and historical. Sanay na kami diyan dahil maski wala pa ?yong TV5, meron nang nagpa-pirate sa ?min. We have a long history of building up our capability without having to pirate talents from ABS-CBN...sila lang naman ang...So up to now, our policy is, if there are talents from ABS that are transferring to us, that means their contracts have already expired and they are the ones asking if they have a place here. Hindi pa namin ginagawa yung may live contract, pupuntahan namin and offer twice or three times their talent fees.

Meanwhile, we also analyze the landscape, the threats. Halimbawa, bakit bumabagsak ang ratings ng programs namin na dati e ang tataas? We have a department that does only this, and reports its findings in writing. Sometimes the producers are hurt when their programs are criticized. Kung minsan, kami ni Jimmy nagre-referee. That?s part of our job. Ito ang pinakamagandang example: For so long, our Sunday noontime show ?SOP? lorded it over that slot. Papalit-palit yung Channel 2, until they hit something na tinalo kami! We studied it, and gave the producers a chance [to improve]. Mahirap naman ?yong bigla mong papatayin. You have to give everybody a day in court. Nung sumuko na, pinalitan na ? still, sometimes you don?t hit the hole that brings the oil right away.

JRD: We have also upgraded transmitter facilities [where we should] so our signals are noticeably clearer and better in most areas. And as you have probably observed, [every week] isa, dalawa, minsan pa nga tatlong areas ang pinupuntahan ng mga artista natin. This is because of the very strong and deep branding affinity between ABS-CBN and regional viewers.

Do you consider TV5 a major competitor?

FLG: From our own experience, it takes more than money to rise to the top in this industry. Mga creative people ang pinag-uusapan dito... programs. Kahit na may 10-hectare studio ka dyan, kung wala ka namang mga talents at marurunong na writers, what are you going to do with that? It?s not infrastructure [that matters]; it?s talent. They know that ? so they?re pirating left and right.

What?s the latest on DJ Mo?

FLG: DJ Mo is a strictly legal problem. We have sole option to renew [his contract]. We renewed, and [TV5] ignored it. So I filed a case [to] see whether there is contractual obligation in this country or not. The last time I looked, there was. I want to see whether the law is being followed by everybody or not.

How do you measure the popularity of a show ? by commercial load or rating?

FLG: We have programs na natatalo [sa ratings], pero naglo-load better than the counterpart program in ABS. Ganun din naman sila. But the general rule is, ?pag mataas ang rating, mataas ang load.

GMA 7 seems to be just reacting to ABS-CBN programs now, where before you were setting the trend.

FLG: I hate to admit it, but you are correct. We are trying to do something about that now. Siguro naging kampante. In this very dynamic industry, you have to be ahead of everybody, even the viewers. That?s why I enjoy this job better than my law practice. No two days are the same.

Recently, ABS-CBN prohibited its artists from giving interviews to either TV5 or GMA 7. Any reaction?

FLG: Wala. I think that?s right. We should have that same policy, although we can?t require that of talents with non-exclusive contracts. Ang [value] ng show biz talk programs, ?yung mga artistang ini-interview. So why should we aid the competition? For example, kung magtanan sina Marian at Dingdong, saan a-appear ?yan? E di dapat sa amin. Bakit ko papayagan na sa ?The Buzz? nila sabihin yon?

What about swapping talents for special projects?

FLG: I won?t allow that. Si John Lloyd ba, papahiram nila sa ?min?