ABS-CBN executive Lauren Dyogi is happy with the performance of Pinoy Big Brother: Otso when it comes to the ratings game.
Dyogi, the former business unit head of PBB, still spearheads the production of the reality show as TV Production Head.
Dyogi and current PBB business unit head Raymond Dizon pointed out that this is the first PBB edition that was able to sustain a double-digit rating out of all the editions that were aired during the Christmas season.
The same observation can also be said about Camp Star Hunt, the supplementary program of PBB: Otso that is available on ABS-CBN's online streaming service, iWant.
Dyogi said, "Yung usapan namin nila Raymond, normally, ang PBB during the Christmas season, abala lahat ng tao, maraming ginagawa, mababa rating ng PBB of any season.
"But this batch was able to sustain a double-digit rating of both afternoon and evening, so that's a very very good sign."
According to Kantar Media, PBB was able to register a TV rating of 16.1% on December 24, 12.0% on December 25, 17.9% on December 31, and 13.9% on January 1.
Its rival show on GMA-7 is the Thai drama Waves Of Life. The show airing on the Kapuso Network got a Kantar rating of 6.8% on December 24, and 4.5% on December 25.
Saksi Liga Ng Katotohanan became its GMA rival on December 31 and it registered a Kantar rating of 8.7%.
On January 1, PBB was again pitted against Waves Of Life, which garnered 5.5%.
The first batch of teen housemates for PBB Otso left the house last Sunday, January 6.
Jelay Pilones, Kaori Oinuma, Karina Bautista, and Lie Reposposa comprised the Big Four. The winner has yet to be announced.
Their stint, which started on November 10, 2018, ran for eight weeks.
Dyogi reacted to those doubting the success of the reality show because it did not earn any extensions.
It may be recalled that during the kick-off, it was announced that four batches of housemates will enter the house, with each stint running for eight weeks.
He explained, "I read some comments in social media na, 'kung talagang successful yan, hinabaan niyo.'
"E, we're committed to do, in-announce naman namin 'yan, 8 weeks, 8 weeks even at the start.
"But of course, playable naman yan. Totoo, playable.
"But we wanted the first batch, we committed to 8 weeks so that we can sustain the Otso brand for at least the first batch."
With regards to the fans and followers of the housemates and star dreamers, the PBB executive is glad that everyone has their own fan base.
Dyogi observed, "Kasi ang isa ring learning namin, walo lang sila sa bahay. Normally pag mas marami, may mga hindi napapansin.
"Ito, they're given more opportunity because they're only 8—although they are two batches, there's the Camp Star Hunt—iba naman yung timeslot noon so they're also given the opportunity."
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other bloggers spoke to Lauren Dyogi during the media conference for the ex-housemates yesterday, January 9, at ABS-CBN's Studio 8.
PLANS FOR HOUSEMATES
Now that the housemates are already in the outside world, people are expecting to see them in different shows of ABS-CBN.
In fact, as early as November, fans have already been supporting possible love teams, namely KarJon (Karina Bautista and Aljon Mendoza), KaoRhys (Kaori Oinuma and Rhys Eugenio), and SethLie (Seth Fedelin and Lie Reposposa), and other fan bases.
PEP.ph asked PBB Otso executive if the first batch of teen housemates can do projects with the Kapamilya network such as teleseryes or movies.
He said, "Well, technically, di pa tapos yung season so we don't know what their involvement will be. Lagi namang may surprise yung PBB, so we don't really tell them na tapos na until we have the big night and announce [the winner].
"For now, the commitment is to give them workshops, just so [makita] kung sino sa kanila ang may determinasyon, may puso sa pag-aartista, o sa larangan ng showbiz, so at least we prepare them and we equip them with the skills.
"Kasi naman, nasa bahay, they're very raw. What you see now, they're raw, hindi pa marunong masyado sumagot, nahihiya pa.
"Pero in the coming months, as we give them the proper training and workshop... and I've spoken to them actually, medyo disoriented pa yang mga 'yan kasi they're coming from a smaller world na sila-sila lang.
"Sabi nga nila, 'pag labas niyo, lapel hinahanap niyo, so they're not yet acting normal.
"So we're still going to help them to get adjusted and you know how crazy showbiz is, so we need to also prepare them with what they want to get into, kasi I'm sure all of them they want to be in show business.
"So our commitment to our star dreamers and housemates is to give them proper training and opportunities.
"Of course, the guestings will be there, hopefully with the continuous support, they will have more exposure on television, cinema, and other platforms of ABS-CBN."
Most of the evicted housemates have already appeared in interviews with the late-night program, Tonight With Boy Abunda.
Ex-housemate Aljon Mendoza has appeared as a guest in Magandang Buhay yesterday, January 9.
Dyogi also said that some housemates have already gone through go-sees in the different drama units of ABS-CBN.
However, the ABS-CBN executive wants the housemates to undergo workshops first to gain experience before they start doing TV shows.
"Actually they've gone through some go-sees, pero I spoke to the producers.
"Sabi ko nga, bigyan lang kami ng konting panahon para mahanda sila, kasi we also don't want them to be prejudged.
"Siyempre, 'pag lumabas 'yan tapos umarte, sabihin nila, hindi marunong umarte.
"Ang learning namin kasi in the past, with all the housemates, nasasalang kaagad, e, they're not yet prepared for that kind of a world again.
"So yung iba nakaka-survive, yung iba nawawala na lang kasi hindi [kinaya], but hopefully this time, we can do it differently."
