NewsWatch

RPN NewsWatch is a Philippine flagship television news program that aired on Radio Philippines Network (RPN) from June 1, 1970 until October 29, 2012. It was the longest-running English-language newscast of RPN. The program had a complicated history, undergoing several name changes until it was cancelled in 2012. Its reportorial teams were tasked to gather news from every major beat in the Greater Manila Area as well as nearby provinces. Broadcast chronology Launched on June 1, 1970, it became one of the highly watched English newscasts on Philippine TV alongside The World Tonight of ABS-CBN and The Big News of ABC 5 (now TV5). It is dubbed as the "First TV Newspaper" in the Philippines. Prior to 2008, it produced some spin-offs and like: RPN NewsWatch Balita Ngayon, a Filipino-language early evening newscast. RPN NewsWatch sa Umaga, morning spin-off of the newscast. RPN NewsWatch sa Tanghali, noontime spin-off of the newscast. RPN NewsWatch Kids Edition, first youth spin-off of the newscast that aired from 1979 to 1993. RPN NewsWatch Evening Cast, first English-language early evening newscast anchored by Cathy Santillan, then it was anchored by Cielo Villaluna, Rolly Lakay Gonzalo and Cristina Pecson; later with Buddy Lopa. It was also the first newscast from 1970 to 1999. From 1999 to 2000, it was named as RPN NewsWatch Primetime Edition. RPN NewsWatch Prime Cast, a late night edition also anchored by Harry Gasser, Cathy Santillan, Dodi Lacuna, Lulu Pascual, Mike Toledo and Coco Quisumbing and later Eric Eloriaga (Eloriaga, who is known for his very strong American English accent, also anchored rival newscast The Big News on ABC 5). RPN NewsWatch Now, replacement of Primetime Balita aired from August 27, 2001 to March 9, 2007. RPN Jr. NewsWatch, second youth spin-off that aired in 2005. RPN Aksyon Balita, later NewsWatch Aksyon Balita, successor of NewsWatch from April 17, 2006 to January 4, 2008, first anchored by Erwin Tulfo, Connie Sison, Aljo Bendijo, Jake Morales, Vikki Sambilay and Bobby Yan. RPN i-Watch News, replacement of NewsWatch Now anchored by former 103.5 K-Lite disc jockey Carlo Tirona, and Aryana Lim, who was replaced by Lexi Schulze after a few months.