Find the most comfortable seat in front of the TV as SKYCABLE gives you more TV viewing options with additional channels—all free when you avail of the SKYCABLE Digibox. The Digibox is equipment attached to your TV set. It acts as the TV’s intelligence hub, making your cable viewing a no-fuss experience. It has a child-lock feature, a channel surfing organizer guide that makes channel line-up customization easier than before and a on-screen program that lists what can be watched for the next 7 days. The Digibox also allows subscribers to customize their channel lineup and monthly fees, based on their viewing preferences and budget.

Along with these privileges are a number of perks and exciting programs  for existing Gold and Silver subscribers who can now access the HISTORY, BIO, BTV, Euronews and FX channels all for free. Gold subscribers also get CNBC for free as an added bonus. On top of these free channels comes a full load of high-quality entertainment. Catch the latest cutting-edge TV series on FX (Ch. 156). Get hooked on mystery thriller Harper’s Island every Friday at 11 pm and don’t miss out on Emmy Award-winning retro TV drama Mad Men Season 2 every Wednesday, also at 11 PM.

Relive the past with HISTORY (Ch. 153). See how the 70s, 80s and 90s technology impact a British family life in Electric Dreams; find out the facts about The Legacy of Ancient Egypt and History Asia: Battle for Korea; and immerse yourself in different worlds in Warriors and Prehistoric Monsters Revealed.

Find out more about the secret lives of popular icons and extraordinary people on BIO (Ch. 154). Watch Hoarders, where we look at compulsive collectors of seemingly insignificant things. The Locator brings you heart-wrenching stories of how they help find long-lost family members. Get up close and personal with culture vulture and award-winning actress Sarah Jessica Parker three of The World’s Greatest Musical Prodigies from Britain, USA and China in this three-part series.

Never run out of entertainment for the rest of the year with SKYCABLE. Get started with the SKYCABLE Digibox now to avail of these free channels. For more information, contact the customer service hotline at 631-000 or log on to www.mysky.com.ph. SKYCABLE, it changes you.

Celebrate a joyful Christmas with your favorite cartoon friends!

Tis a season to be jolly on Cartoon Network! From December 21 to 25, celebrate Christmas the Cartoon Network way with many beloved toon stars! Kicking off the celebration are the Bean Scouts and the charming 60s-style rock ‘n’ roll hunk in Camp Lazlo’s “Kamp Kringle” and Johnny Bravo Christmas Special on December 21 at 11am, followed by Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends’ “A Lost Claus” and Ed, Edd n’ Eddy’s “Jingle, Jingle, Jangle” on December 22 at 11am. Superheroes are also lining up to join the party in Ben 10’s “Merry Christmas” and Justice League’s “Joy and Comfort” on December 23 at 11am.

On Christmas Eve, join Chowder for a very special Marzipan version of Christmas in the premiere of “Hey Hey, It’s Knishmas” at 11am, together with the Kids Next Door gang in Codename: KND’s “Operation N.A.U.G.H.T.Y.” And on Christmas Day, celebrate the jolly festival with a group of musical talented kids in Class of 3000 Christmas Special at 12 noon. Then at 2:45pm, join forces with Billy, Mandy and the Grim Reaper to save Christmas as vampires threaten the North Pole in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy’s “Billy & Mandy Save Christmas.”

Join the cool and talented magician Stephen Mulhern as he reveals more secrets behind some of the neatest magic tricks in all-new episodes of Tricky TV starting December 21, weekdays at 8am! Getting kids involved in a variety of spoofs and helping them to do the tricks themselves, learning magic with Stephen is cool, cheeky and fun!  The show also embraces the brand-new hidden camera technology and places kids in real situations with an unreal twist to capture the most candid and funny moments.
Ben 10 fans are also in for a Christmas treat with brand-new episodes of Ben 10 Alien Force from December 21 to 31, Mondays to Thursdays at 10am and 5pm, with encore screenings of the weekly episodes every Friday from 10am till 12 noon and from 5pm to 7pm.

CARTOON NETWORK POPCORN also presents an all-new Pokemon adventure with the premiere of Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker and the special short Pokémon: Gotta Dance on December 12, Saturday at 4pm with an encore screening at 9pm. Max, Ash, May and Brock just stop evil magician Butler from unleashing an ancient Pokemon to reign destruction over the land and save the world!

Also making its debut on CARTOON NETWORK POPCORN is Digimon Tamers Special on December 19, Saturday at 4pm with an encore screening at 9pm. In Digimon Tamers: The War of the Adventurers, Takato, Luki, Lee and Minami, a girl with a sad past, join forces to uncover the evil plot behind “V-Pets,” a popular online site where “virtual pets” are raised.  Then in Digimon Tamers: Explosion of Digimon Express, Takato and Luki must stop Locomon, an unknown Digimon in a form of train, from attacking Metropolitan Tokyo.  But more troubles arise when Luki’s mind is taken over by a parasite-like Digimon called Parasimon.

Enchanting tales and marvelous adventures continue this month in CARTOON NETWORK STAR LOUNGE, presented by the courageous princess Barbie.  On December 6, Sunday at 2pm, embark on a journey full of obstacles to save a girl trapped inside an enchanted mirror in Barbie and the Diamond Castle. Then catch a heartwarming story filled with cherished Christmas carols, fabulous fashion and lots of laughter in Barbie in a Christmas Carol on December 19, Saturday at 2pm. Finally on December 20, Sunday at 2pm, meet a tiny girl named Thumbelina who lives in harmony with nature in the magical world of Twillerbees in Barbie Thumbelina.

Halloweens are always full of spookily fun mysteries on Cartoon Network and this year is no exception!  Doc, Drew and Zak Saturday are giving out prizes to kids who can help them solve mysteries by identifying the disguised villains who are trying to sneak into their Halloween party. To join, kids are tasked to tune-in to The Secret Saturdays on Cartoon Network at 10 AM from September 28 to October 31 and identify the party-crashing villain. Kids can send their answer, name and contact details by SMS to 4627 for Sun, Smart, Globe, Touch Mobile and Talk N’ Text subscribers. To increase their chances of winning, kids can also check The Secret Saturdays’ page on www.cartoonnetwork.com.ph for additional clues!

To make this Halloween scarily fun for the five grand prize winners, the Saturdays are dishing out iPod Shuffles, Ben 10 Alien Force costumes and stickers, and gift certificates from Toy Kingdom for them. Runner-up prizes with loads of awesome Cartoon Network goodies are also up for grabs.  Delay no more, join now for the spooky mystery solving fun!

Dishing out complete spooky fun and adventure on Halloween day, Cartoon Network is treating everyone to The Secret Saturdays’ Pumpkin Party at The Block at SM City North EDSA on October 31. To join this spookily fun party, spend PHP 500 or more at select Toy Kingdom outlets from October 12 to 31 and receive a ticket to join the show!  Tickets can be redeemed at the Toy Kingdom branch located in The Block at SM City North EDSA and all kids and kids at heart are invited to a whole day of smashing Secret Saturdays fun with a line-up of games, booths and great prizes to be won!

Zuma, Blair, Albright and Queen Rania to be featured in CNN’s new global interview program

Airtimes:

Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore and Taipei
Tuesday, Sep 22 at 0300 (live)
Tuesday, Sep 22 at 2000 (replay)

Bangkok and Jakarta
Tuesday, Sep 22 at 0200 (live)
Tuesday, Sep 22 at 1900 (replay)

Christiane Amanpour today announced the guest line-up for her new interview show ‘AMANPOUR.’ which debuts live on CNN International around the world on Tuesday September 22. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke will discuss the issues underlying the powder keg that is Afghanistan — the war there, the growing power of the Taliban, the fraud charges surrounding the recent election, and the tough road ahead.

Amanpour talks with two key players in a pivotal political drama that affects millions of people and that is grabbing world headlines.

“The impact of the situation in Afghanistan is felt far beyond its own borders,” said Amanpour. “It is emblematic of the type of issues I plan to tackle in this show.  I want to dig deep into issues that stir the global conscience. I want to provide a forum for audiences to do the same. I hope to stimulate global dialogue about issues that deserve real debate, not just on public platforms but in the global living room.”

Over the next few weeks, Amanpour will also interview a range of political leaders, cultural icons and global influencers, to offer viewers a deeper examination of the major news stories and urgent issues around the world.

Among them are South African President Jacob Zuma; Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair; Queen Rania of Jordan; Israeli Deputy PM and Minister of Justice Dan Meridor; Chief Palestinian  Negotiator Saeb Erakat; former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; Human Rights Council Report on Gaza War Richard Goldstone; and HRH Haakon and Mette-Marit, Crown Prince and Princess of Norway.

“This show is a global conversation on pressing issues of the day and how they affect people” said Amanpour. “As the show develops, we want to directly involve the audience to create a real-time global interaction that will add an exciting new facet to the power of the interview.”

THE GOOD WITCH and THE GOOD WITCH’S GARDEN
(Saturday, October 31 at 7/6c and 9/8c)
It’s no trick: Hallmark Channel’s ‘Countdown to Halloween’ concludes with the treat of a Halloween double feature of Catherine Bell in “The Good Witch” and “The Good Witch’s Garden,” Saturday, October 31 (7pm/6c and 9pm/8c). Bell stars in the films – two of the network’s highest-rated ever – as the mysterious Cassie Nightingale, an alluring woman whose eccentric and charming ways have an entire town under her spell. “Good Witch” fans can’t get enough of these highly rated Original Movies, and will be thrilled to hear that a third installment is on the horizon!

As Jack TV celebrates its fourth year anniversary, the channel started airing this month  the exclusive premiering of “Parks & Recreation,” every Friday at 9:30PM (also seen on Global Destiny channel 32, Cable Link channel 41, MY TV and on over 300 cable operators).

The series stars  Emmy nominated comedienne Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a government worker in a fictional town full of hilariously weird occurrences. As the competent yet completely misguided Director for Parks & Recreation, Amy shows off her comic genius by treating audiences to the quirks and oddities of Leslie Knope.

Celebrate four years of fun times with Jackstock ’09, the biggest anniversary bash brought to you by Jack TV! As the premiere channel for everything that’s Definitely Fun, Jack TV invites all the fun-loving guys and gals to hop aboard and party like a rockstar on August 29 (Saturday) at the Eastwood Central Plaza. To be hosted by Kim Marvilla and the men from Comedy Cartel (Tim Tayag, Mike Unson, etc). The line-up of cool activities is open to the public starting from 12 noon onwards.

Without a doubt, it’s not Jack TV without the gut-busting comedy! Bring out the laughs with stand-up performances from the funny guys that compose the Comedy Cartel. Then shift into party mode when nighttime comes! Enjoy live performances by more than 20 of today’s hottest bands including Razorback, Calla Lilly, Imago, Greyhoundz plus other surprise performers.

Jay Taruc’s I-Witness Documentary
Airing Date: August 17, 2009

The production of hollow blocks has been a profitable business for two neighboring towns in Leyte for the past two decades. Buyers from all places flock to San Rafael and San Jose just to buy their product. Residents here claim they have the sturdiest hollow blocks because of the ingredients that they use — black sand and a special variety of pebble that locals call ormegon.

“Ormegon” are small stones that are washed ashore by waves from the Pacific Ocean, usually deposited beneath the glimmering black sands of Leyte . Gathering them seems like an easy task, but Jay Taruc finds out that collecting these stones is no laughing matter. Strong waves pound the gatherers by the minute as sharp rocks and corals cut their skin every time they haul the pebbles using small nets. A sack of ormegon usually weighs more or less 50 kilos, which is sold for only P3.00 per sack.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is already worried that the continuous mining of ormegon could cause soil erosion and flashfloods. But to the residents, this is no cause for alarm. They believe that Mother Nature will continuously provide them their supply of ormegon.
Award-winning journalist Jay Taruc presents the plight of ormegon gatherers in his I-Witness documentary “Ormegon: Sea Pebbles,” airing this Monday midnight over GMA-7 after the late night newscast Saksi.

ETC keeps the temperature rising every Sunday night with some sizzlin’ eye candy as ETC A-List presents: SEXIEST.

The hottest countdown continues with the most delish bods in the world! Our very own Dingdong Dantes joins the list together with David Beckham, Johnny Depp and other drop-dead gorgeous guys in Sexiest Men of the World, airing on August 16.

Feel the heat even more as you feast your eyes on the hottest Celebrity Body Parts on August 23. From Charlize Theron’s sultry shoulders, to Gisele Bundchen’s sexy long legs, see who’s-got-what that captivated everyone’s attention.

And make room for some more bootylicious treat as Salma Hayek, Kim Kardashian, Eva Mendes and more Hollywood hotties make their way to the Voluptuous Vixens list on August 30. Just make sure you keep your mouth closed because these women surely know how to wear their curves like a dream.

Catch the world’s SEXIEST on ETC A-List airing every Sunday at 8:30 PM on ETC.

Log on to www.etc.com.ph for more information.