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The longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga has one of the biggest digital assets online. In fact, the multi-awarded program has over 16.1 million followers on Facebook, 3.6 million Twitter friends, and over 2.3 million followers on Instagram.

In an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com during the contract signing between APT and Cignal TV for the launch of a new comedy channel in 2020, APT Entertainment CEO and director Michael "Mike" Tuviera shared how they plan to increase the show's digital reach.

IN PHOTOS: 'Eat Bulaga' Dabarkads arrive in Dubai

“Ang daming plano ng Eat Bulaga in terms of digital, they have one of the largest Facebook pages, we are very, very proud of that.

“They are very, very strong in Twitter, to the point na actually people from Twitter came here to coordinate with us, kasi nga ang lakas ng integration ng social media with Eat Bulaga."

Tuviera added that they are also boosting their Eat Bulaga merchandise to cater to online demand.

“Ngayon naman ang parang ginagawa, sinusubukan namin gawin with Eat Bulaga is merchandising also, kasi isa 'yun sa malaki sa social media na people really buy online eh.

“'Nakita ko 'yung t-shirt ni Poleng. Ano 'yung suot ni Bossing?'

“And they don't have the capacity na pumunta lang sa isang store and buy it, so we are trying to help with them that also.”

More EB shows abroad in 2020?

Eat Bulaga is also fresh from their successful show in Dubai. Direk Mike revealed that there are plans of bringing the dabarkad brand of entertainment abroad in 2020.

But he enumerated some of the challenges they faced when mounting such a big show with the whole dabarkads.

Direk Michael tells GMANetwork.com, “May mga plans for next year. Actually each year marami namang plans, maraming nag-iimbita.

“Ang problema lang, for example for Dubai. That's almost two weeks of taping para mawala sila ng kahit ilang araw lang, so ang daming apektado. The crew, the staff, the scheduling, ang dami!

“They would need to do two episodes of Eat Bulaga a day para lang makagawa ng isang show sa labas, so that's a lot of compromise and sacrifice and adjustment for one show.

"So sinisigurado lang nila na kapag may one show na ganun, 'yung talagang worth it na kailangan tayong lahat pupunta doon.

“Pero there are always opportunities, kasi ang dami nating kababayan na miss na miss nila [at] gustong gusto nila makita 'yung mga dabarkads natin up close.”

APT Entertainment Inc. was founded in 1994 by Mr. Antonio P. Tuviera, the man behind the Philippines' longest running live program, Eat Bulaga.