Probe (Philippine TV program)

Probe Profiles (formerly known as Probe, The Probe Team and The Probe Team Documentaries) is a Philippine documentary television program broadcast by ABS-CBN, GMA Network and ABC. The program was hosted by Cheche Lazaro. It premiered on March 6, 1987 and ended on June 30, 2010.

Probe Profiles
Title card
Also known as
  • Probe
  • The Probe Team
  • The Probe Team Documentaries
GenrePublic affairs
Presented byCheche Lazaro
Theme music composerReev Robledo
Opening theme"Probe Profiles theme"
Country of originPhilippines
Original languages
  • English (1987–1999)
  • Filipino (1999–2010)
Production
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time42 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original network
  • ABS-CBN (March 6, 1987 – December 18, 1987; August 18, 2005 – June 30, 2010)
  • GMA Network (May 20, 1988 – November 25, 2003)
  • ABC (June 2004 – April 2005)
Picture format480i (SDTV)
Original releaseMarch 6, 1987 (1987-03-06) –
June 30, 2010 (2010-06-30)
External links
Website

The program, considered as the pioneer television news-magazine in the Philippines, started airing in 1987 on ABS-CBN, with Lazaro, Maria Ressa (formerly ABS-CBN News head and former CNN Jakarta bureau chief) and Luchi Cruz-Valdez (currently TV5 News and Information (News5) Head and former ABS-CBN Current Affairs head as well as former GMA Network executive) at the helm. After one year and fourteen months, it moved to GMA Network as a blocktimer. It was in GMA where The Probe Team had its longest run in its history.

Overview

After more than two decades of censorship and repression, press freedom was immediately restored with the dismantling of the Marcos dictatorship by a popular revolt in 1986 (People Power Revolution). Media ownership was turned over to an enthusiastic private sector eager to take advantage of the newfound democratic space.

Probe Productions Inc. was a product of the euphoric period. Convinced that Filipinos need more than just the news, four pioneering journalists – Cheche Lazaro, Maria Ressa, Luchi Cruz-Valdez, Tony Velasquez, and Angie Ramos – adopted the investigative newsmagazine format and called the television program Probe. The project, which was first broadcast over ABS-CBN, turned out to be the country’s first, most awarded and longest-running, investigative newsmagazine show.

To make investigative pieces a main fixture in Philippine television, the group put up its own production house and continued with what it started. Operating from a small bedroom, the show’s one-hour reports were broadcast as monthly specials by a new television station—GMA Network. After the third telecast, in response to enthusiastic reviews, GMA gave The Probe Team (Probe’s new name) a weekly slot. The first weekly telecast began on May 20, 1988.

The Probe Team, or Probe Profiles, is known for fearlessly exposing the hard truths in Philippine society. No non-sense and hard-hitting, Probe tackles pressing societal concerns through the eyes of various stakeholders and calls a spade a spade. It engenders a deeper understanding and appreciation of issues by way of stories that capture the hearts and minds of viewers.

PAGCOR Controversy

Due to a controversy surrounding one of its features which involved a Philippine government official close to former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003, its contract with GMA was terminated for 15 years. As a result, it moved to ABC and renamed the show The Probe Team Documentaries.[1]

The show returned to its original home, ABS-CBN, in 2005, and was retitled back to Probe. It has continued the tradition of airing provocative documentaries and investigative reports. On June 17, 2009, it was known as Probe Profiles.

Final hosts
Probe alumni
  • Cecilia Lazaro - Host, Founder and President of Probe
  • Maria Ressa - former CNN Jakarta Bureau Chief; former Vice President for News and Current Affairs, ABS-CBN; News Chief, Rappler.com
  • Luchi Cruz-Valdes - Vice President for News and Information, TV5
  • Nessa Valdellon - Vice President for GMA News and Public Affairs
  • David Celdran - News Director and Anchor, ANC; PCIJ
  • Manny Ayala - National Geographic Channel Singapore
  • Apa Ongpin - former ABS-CBN News Lifestyle Reporter & also former cast member in a sitcom, Palibhasa Lalake
  • Ditsi Carolino - Documentarist
  • Marga Ortigas - Former GMA 7 News Anchor & Currently as Manila Bureau Chief, AlJazeera
  • Angie Ramos- Producer, Reuters Singapore
  • Karen Davila - Anchor, Bandila and Host, Ako Ang Simula (ABS-CBN); Host, Headstart (ANC)
  • Pauline Mangilog-Saltarin - Creative Director, Jesuit Communications Foundation; Contributing Producer, Caldecott Productions/NHK Japan
  • Jessica Domingo Lara - Producer, Lakbay TV; freelance writer, OffTheGridNews.com (USA)
  • Ruben Canlas - Professor and IT Management Consultant
  • Carol Gancia - Executive Producer / CEO - Ripplemakers, Inc.; CEO - Sikat Naturals; Filmmaker/Writer - Ripplemakerstv.com; Producer - Google, Inc.; Associate Producer - KQED TV San Francisco; Executive Producer - I-Witness (GMA 7)
  • Angelina Cantada - Independent Filmmaker, Executive Producer, I-Witness (GMA 7)
  • Tony Velasquez - Anchor, ANC and Headline Pilipinas (DZMM TeleRadyo)
  • Twink Macaraig - Anchor, AksyonTV
  • Howie Severino - Host, I-Witness (GMA 7); Editor-in-Chief, GMANews.tv; PCIJ; Anchor, News to Go (GMA News TV)
  • Love Añover - Host, Unang Hirit and Lovely Day (GMA 7)
  • Jay Cesora Orense - Former Executive Producer for various GMA Public Affairs shows, Author "Silence Speaks", Program Manager TV5 News and Information or News5
  • Bernadette Sembrano - Former Anchor, TV Patrol Weekend and Current host, Salamat Dok and Umagang Kay Ganda (ABS-CBN)
  • Pinky Webb - Anchor, ANC and TV Patrol Weekend and Host, XXX; CNN Philippines
  • Eliza Zamora-Solis - Former Executive Producer, I-Witness and Case Unclosed (GMA 7); Senior Correspondent TV5 News and Information, Editorial Consultant, Insider (TV5)
  • Ella Evangelista - Program Manager, GMA 7 Public Affairs
  • Karen Lumbo - Program Manager, GMA 7 Public Affairs
  • JM Cobarrubias - Program Manager, GMA 7 Public Affairs
  • Michaela Cabrera - Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University; Producer and Reporter, Reuters Manila
  • Rolly Ng - Cameraman, Reuters Manila
  • Kathy Quiano - Reporter/ Producer (CNN Jakarta)
  • Rene Santiago - Former cameraman CNN Jakarta: Chief cameraman (TV5)
  • Garlic Garcia - Headwriter/Creative Consultant (ABS-CBN Entertainment)
  • Abbie Lara - Director, I -Witness (GMA 7)
  • Joseph Laban - Fulbright Scholar at NYU; Managing Producer (GMA 7); Contributing Producer, New York Times; PCIJ, Cinemalaya Director
  • Bong Lozano - Director, Unang Hirit (GMA 7)
  • Lloyd Navera - former Executive Producer and Director, I-Witness; Program Manager, GMA 7 Public Affairs
  • Minette Tirona, Program Manager, GMA 7
  • Inky Santiago - Nakpil, Contributing Manila Producer, CNN, Discovery Channel and BBC
  • Lolita Lachica - Producer, English Current Affairs, Channel News Asia, Singapore
  • Robert Alejandro - Graphic Artist & also a former TV host of Art Is Kool: now currently co-manager of Papemelroti Gift Store
  • Kath Mendoza-Hernandez - Supervising Producer, Art-is-Kool / Producer, Probe
  • Adrian Ayalin - Media Officer, US Embassy; Reporter Government News and Public Affairs Group-RPN; Anchor, NewsWatch (RPN): now currently as a senior reporter of ABS-CBN News.
  • Alexis Loinaz- Managing Editor, Metromix New York
  • Nike Lorenzo - Contributing Producer, Al Jazeera Manila
  • Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala - Managing Director, Asianeye Productions; Contributing Producer, CNN
  • Leogarda Sanchez-Matias - Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs, GMA 7
  • Macky Recinto Fernando - Marketing Manager, Probe Productions, Inc. Special Projects Division
  • Betong Sumaya - Sole Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Doubles Showdown, GMA 7; Segment Host, Unang Hirit and Ang Pinaka, GMA 7; Executive Producer, Day Off; Sunday PinaSaya; GMA News TV 27; now current hosts of All Out Sundays & Centerstage, GMA 7
  • Akiko Thomson - Olympic swimmer; current Philippine Sports Commission commissioner
  • Ricky Carandang- Malacanang Spokesman
  • Ivy Cay (DJ Diwata of 91.5 Big Radio)

Accolades
Accolades received by The Probe Team
Year Awards Category Recipient Result Ref.
1988 2nd PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Magazine Show The Probe Team Nominated
Best Magazine Show Host Cheche Lazaro Nominated
  • PMPC Star Awards for Television: Best Public Affairs Program (2009)
  • Gawad CCP Para Sa Telebisyon (Winner,1988-1999)
  • Catholic Mass Media Awards (Hall Of Famer, 1987-1999)

References
  1. "GMA 7 denies allegations of Probe Team's Lazaro". INQ7.net. November 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2006.
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