“We wanted Philippine Idol on our own terms or not at all. Fremantle has apparently found what they think is a better deal. We were only willing to buy Idol, and not any other programs packaged with it, or other Frermantle formats.

“Also, we told Fremantle that based on our learnings from season one, we wanted some modifications, like in the audition process, production and interactivity. We thought Fremantle had agreed to these.

“Talks with Fremantle may have slowed down when Mr. (Tonyboy) Cojuangco was taken ill and had to go back and forth to the U.S. for medical treatment. That must have been the time another party came in. We’re glad, though, that Mr. Cojuangco is fine now. “GMA-7 was in a position to make a better offer. It’s a giant. We’re just Jack trying to climb the beanstalk. Also, where we wanted only American Idol and Philippine Idol, GMA agreed to pick up a number of other formats aside from Celebrity Duets, which must have been the foot in the door to Fremantle.

“We grant that it was a business decision on the part of Fremantle. The Philippines has become a lucrative market for format franchising since Pearson/Fremantle targetted Asia for its expansion drive late nineties and early 2000. It is to be expected that suppliers will go for the better deal.