Veteran director and talent manager Johnny Manahan, widely known as “Mr. M,” acknowledged that TV5’s OPM music countdown show “Vibe Plus” continues to face challenges competing in television ratings a year after its broadcast launch.
In an interview with the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), the seasoned director shared his candid assessment of the show’s current standing while remaining hopeful about its progress.
“Rating? I don’t think na competitive na. Pero andun na, malapit na. Malapit na kaming maging competitive kahit papano,” Manahan said.
Despite the ratings struggle, Mr. M highlighted that public and industry awareness of the program has improved significantly over the past year.
“Saka parang nare-recognize na, e… napapansin na kami ng viewers, saka mga artista,” he noted.
He added, “Mas madali na sabihin ngayon na may show kami. Kung puwede kayo makasama dito, ganun. Alam na nila.”
Reflecting on the milestone, the director expressed surprise at reaching the one-year mark, citing the fast-paced nature of the television industry and the effort required to build the network’s viewership from scratch.
“Unbelievable, andito pa kami. Pero parang kailan lang. Ang bilis ng panahon. Ang daming nangyayari. So, ano kasi kami, e, di ba?” he reflected.
“Ang 5, galing sa halos wala. So, kailangan, i-build up lahat. Dito ang Vibe mismo, kailangang bigyan ng identity, ‘no? So, yun ang napili nila, yung OPM. Kami yung OPM show,” Manahan explained.
Manahan serves as the director of the music program and currently heads Star Worx, the talent management arm of the Kapatid Network.
”Vibe Plus” airs every Saturday at 6:00 PM on TV5, accompanied by its daily weeknight edition, “Vibe Plus Express,” broadcasting Monday through Friday at 10:45 PM.