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GMA Network

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GMA Network, Inc.
TypeBroadcast television and radio network
Country
Philippines
AvailabilityPhilippines
Key people
Felipe Gozon, CEO
Launch date
June 14, 1950 (radio broadcasts)
October 29, 1961 (television broadcasts)
Former names
Greater Manila Area Radio and Television Arts (acronym used until 1996, when the network rebranded itself. Used after the acquisition of the network from Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart in the 1970s)

Republic Broadcasting System(corporate name until 1996, when the network changed it into the current corporate name.)

DZBB-TV (Remains as the network's call sign in Manila.)
Official website
iGMA.tv

GMA Network, Incorporated (Global Media Arts Network, Incorporated) is one of the largest broadcast networks in the Philippines. It provides news and entertainment programs through its forty-four fully-owned television relay stations, three affiliate television stations and thirty-four radio stations throughout the Philippines. The network also offers its shows outside the Philippines through GMA Pinoy TV.

Its headquarters, the GMA Network Center, is located at EDSA corner Timog Ave., Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Atty. Felipe Gozon is its Chairman and CEO.

History

GMA Network traces its origin to March 1, 1950, when American war correspondent Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart (1918-2006) sent his first radio transmission through his AM station at the fourth floor of the Calvo Building in Escolta, Manila. Known then as the Republic Broadcasting System, the station used the call sign DZBB. The station went on to cover events such as President Ramon Magsaysay's sudden death, the eruption of Mt. Hibok-Hibok in 1951 and the various elections in the country. DZBB became the first radio station in the country to use the telephone patch for live interviews. The station also broadcasted the forerunner of today's political satire programs, Kwentong Kutsero and glued audiences to the amateur radio contest, Tawag ng Tanghalan. A decade after the radio station's launch, the Stewarts ventured into Television. Using two cameras and a surplus transmitter, RBS Channel 7, the Philippines' third television station, started airing on October 29, 1961. While the station's programming were mostly canned shows from the United States, RBS did produce local programming like Uncle Bob's Lucky Seven Club, Dance Time with Chito and various news programs. During the establishment of the television station, RBS was always in the red. It was always at a distance from the larger and better funded networks. But it did not stop the company to start broadcasting in Cebu in 1963.

File:GMA 90.jpg
In 1990, GMA established itself as the Rainbow Network.
File:GMA 97.jpg
Rainbow Network was the network's branding until 2002, when it changed its slogan and logo.
File:GMA Kapusostars.jpg
The Kapuso logo with its stars

In the 1970s, during the Martial Law era, foreign citizens and corporations were disallowed from owning media outlets in the country. Stewart and the American Broadcasting Corporation, who owned a quarter of the company, was forced to cede majority control to Gilberto Duavit, a Malacañang official, Menardo Jimenez and Felipe Gozon. Through the acquisition, the channel now was able to broadcast in color with a seven million peso credit line. The station also changed its name to GMA, or Greater Manila Area, the station's initial coverage area, although RBS remained its corporate name for years to come. But some people speculated that President Ferdinand Marcos changed its name due of being the one of the television networks that existed before the Martial Law. When the smoke cleared, viewers had channels two, nine and thirteen, ran by Benedicto, four, which belonged to the Ministry of Information, and Duavit's.

When Benigno "Ninoy" S. Aquino, Jr., a senator who strongly opposed the Marcos administration, was assassinated on August 21, 1983, it was a small item on television news. During his historic funeral procession, GMA gave ten seconds of airtime. With the assassination of Aquino, the iron grip that the Marcos administration had on television began to slip, as GMA broadcasted the funeral, the only station to do so. In 1984, Imee Marcos, daughter of Ferdinand Marcos, attempted to takeover GMA, just as she did with the Benedictos. However, she was foiled by GMA executives, Menardo Jimenez and Felipe Gozon. Stewart left the Philippines for good as he was utterly disappointed with the Marcos move. GMA was also instrumental during the years preceding the People Power Revolution. The network was the first to air a television interview with Corazon Aquino, and when she later announced that she would run for the presidency if she receives one million signatures. And, much later, in 1986, the network is also the first to report that Fidel Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile broke away from the Marcos administration. When democracy in the Philippines was restored in the People Power Revolution in 1986, television stations began to air, some with their original owners. ABS-CBN also began broadcasting, and in six months, took over the ratings, which ultimately started its hold on local broadcasting for years to come. The political instability of the country also added to the station's burden, when soldiers stormed into the studios for two days in a part of coup attempt to topple then President, Corazon Aquino. In 1987, it opened its high-end live studio, the Broadway Centrum, boosting its local programming, and inagurated its 77-footTower of Power, the tallest man-made structure in the country in 1988.

International reach became GMA's target in the 1990s, which it began through the Rainbow Satellite launched on April 30, 1992. Through its relay stations, GMA programs were seen across the archipelago and Southeast Asia. GMA has started airing in 60 American cities and parts of South America through the International Channel Network. GMA was also the official broadcaster of the 1995 World Youth Day, which was the last visit of Pope John Paul II to the country. During the same year, GMA launched a UHF channel, Citynet 27, several new shows (Bubble Gang and Startalk), and the news program, Saksi with Mike Enriquez and Karen Davila. At the same time, two popular TV shows, Eat Bulaga and Okay Ka Fairy Ko began broadcasting on GMA-7 after airing for sometime in ABS-CBN. In 1996, GMA formally changed its corporate name to GMA Network Incorporated. The acronym was also changed to Global Media Arts. GMA was the first Philippine broadcaster to win the Peabody Award for Investigative Journalism in 1999. Later, Citynet 27 becomes EMC, the first locally programmed music video channel. It later became Channel V Philippines when it struck an agreement with Star TV to localize the said music channel. Channel V, however, ceased operations due to the conflict of interest between the owners of GMA, which was then being considered by PLDT, who handles MTV Philippines through Nation Broadcasting Corporation, one of its subsidiaries. GMA was also the official affiliate of its once part-owner, ABC, during its marathon millenium coverage.

The Kapuso Network

In 2002, the GMA Network engaged in a rebranding program in line with its goal to become the leader in providing local news and entertainment. It changed its logo and slogans to reflect its new corporate identity but still incorporating its identity as the "Rainbow Network". The new brand consisted of a red, stylized heart logo, with a band of different colors representing the rainbow. In tune with the new logo, the new slogan was "Kapuso, Anumang Kulay ng Buhay" ("One in Heart, Regardless of the Colors of Life"). In 2003, Saksi won the New York Festival Gold Medal for best newscast, the first Philippine newscast to do so. This, and the Peabody Award in 1999, earned GMA a House of Representatives commendation in 2003.

In 2003, GMA Network, withdrawn its membership from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP), after incidents involving host Rosanna Roces, alleged commercial overloading and interfering when news anchor Mike Enriquez. aired his complaints over radio against Lopez-owned cable firm SkyCable's distortion of GMA's signal on its system, and a lost videotape containing evidence that the cable firm had violated the rule on soliciting ads for cable TV.

Changes were apparent in the programming of the network. The production of various shows were up to par with its rival network, ABS-CBN. Extra Challenge started to lead the game. And with launch of the telefantasya Mulawin in 2004, GMA finally gained a rating advantage in Mega Manila over ABS-CBN. By the end of 2004, GMA was one of the most profitable companies in the country. During the same year, GMA launched a new primetime news program, 24 Oras.

In 2005, GMA began broadcast of Mars Ravelo's Darna, a classic comic book character among Filipinos which became a big hit, with its ratings being the highest ever for a pilot episode for GMA. Other primetime telefantasyas like Encantadia and Sugo also maintained the network's lead in its Mega Manila ratings during the year. The company’s subsidiary, Citynet Inc., also signed a co-production and blocktime agreement with Zoe Broadcasting, allowing the GMA Network with another platform to showcase its programming and talents. In November 11, 2005, Zoe Broadcasting Network's VHF station, DZOE-TV Channel 11, went on the air as QTV. QTV stands for Quality TeleVision, and broadcasts show that primarily targets women audiences. QTV's news programs share the same resources of GMA News and Public Affairs, while some programs are produced by Citynet Inc. Also in 2005, GMA made another milestone in Philippine television, when it won the Asian Television Awards' Best Terrestrial Television Station, besting MBC of Korea and Mediacorp Channel 5 of Singapore.

In early 2006, Debate, a late-night public affairs program, won the Bronze Medal in the New York Festivals. The network maintained its primetime ratings re-formatting shows Extra Challenge and Encantadia (which was succeeded by sequels Etheria and Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas), and by the localized versions of the Korean series Jewel in the Palace and My Name is Kim Sam Soon. The network was also praised on its coverage of the Wowowee stampede incident by various local publications. In an exclusive interview, a reprehensive Mike Enriquez also interviewed embattled Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the first time since the lifting the State of National Emergency, which the network allowed other stations to air without prior consent. At the end of the interview, the President praised the network for its news coverage, hinting that other media outfits to do the same (probably referring to the local newspaper, The Daily Tribune). In April, the founder of the network, Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart died in the United States. During the Everest climbing season the same year, GMA supported climber Romi Garduce, the third Filipino to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in only three days. The network is one of the first local companies to produce an iMax film, with the opening of the San Miguel-Coca-Cola iMax Theatre in SM's Mall of Asia.

The GMA Network Center

Main article: GMA Network Center
File:GMA Network Center.jpg
GMA Network Center

GMA inaugurated its new GMA Network Center facility on June 14, 2000 as part of the kick-off of its year-round celebration of its 50th anniversary. The GMA Network Center supports GMA's thrusts towards digitalization and media convergence. While the first phase of the project has already been completed with the construction of the 17-storey high-rise, the center has an option to upgrade the older, existing facilities in the GMA compound, as originally planned. The network center is equipped with MARC and a Broadcast Automation System that allows the network to manage live feeds and international feeds that will be carried out to GMA Pinoy TV subscribers around the world. The GMA compound has five studios, three of which are in the new network center, and two in the older structures. The Center serves as the Corporate Headquarters for the network and also houses the radio station and the newsroom.

Branding of the GMA Network

Evolution of GMA Network Logos

Main article: GMA Network logos

GMA Network has used a number of logos throughout its history especially when the station was acquired by Gozon, Jimenez and Duavit in the 1970's. In the 1980's, the network first used it slogan, "Where You Belong," which it would use for two decades. For the first time in 1989, the network identified itself as the "Rainbow Network," after the colors of the rainbow. Throughout the 1990's, the network refined the logo before having it replaced by the its current logo in 2002. After a huge marketing campaign, and improved ratings, the new logo is now one of the most recognizable in the country.

GMA Network Slogans

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File:Iba kapuso.jpg
  • Where You Belong - Used in the late 1970s and was used for the next 20 years.
  • In the service of man, for the glory of God. - Corporate slogan
  • Kapuso, Anumang Kulay ng Buhay - First used in 2002 with the re-branding of the network.
  • GMA All-Out Blowout- Released in 2003 when the network launched several new programs featuring several of the big-named movie and TV personalities in the Philippines.
  • Kapuso, Kayo ang Star ng aming Pasko- Released in Christmas 2003.
  • 54 na tayo, Kapuso! - Released in 2004 for its 54th anniversary
  • 55 na tayo, Kapuso! - Released in 2005 for its 55th anniversary.
  • Iba ang Tibok 'pag Kapuso - Released in Summer 2005
  • Kapuso, No. 1 tayo - Released in 2005, for surpassing its rival network in Mega Manila ratings.
  • Kapuso ng Bawat Pilipino - Released in 2005, after the launch of its international channel.
  • Pebrero ang Buwan Natin Kapuso - Released in 2006 before and exactly Valentine's Day
  • Kapuso Summer Magic - Released for the 2006 Summer Season
  • 56 na tayo, Kapuso!- Released in 2006 for its 56th anniversary

Entities and Ventures

Subsidiaries

Main article: GMA Network Subsidiaries
  • RGMA Network, Inc. (RGMA)
  • GMA Network Films, Inc. (GMA Films)
  • GMA Worldwide, Inc. (GMA Pinoy TV)
  • Alta Productions Group, Inc.
  • GMA Records (Formerly Infiniti Music)
  • GMA Kapuso Foundation
  • GMA Marketing and Productions, Inc.
  • GMA New Media Inc.
    • www.iGMA.tv is the GMA Network official website. Run by New Media Inc., it features content and information regarding the network, as well as several interactive features. The site also offers selected content to cellphones via wap.igma.tv
    • Fanatxt
    • Digital Kitchen, Inc.
  • Scenarios, Inc.

Affiliates

Media Ventures

File:Lnk inq7.jpg
  • INQ7 Interactive Inc. is a joint online multimedia news and information delivery company of the GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Text, images, audio, video, and online interactive information tools such as discussion boards, online polls, searchable news databases, and others are made available through the two companies’ joint website, accessible at www.INQ7.net Ranking No. 11 in the 100Hot’s most-read online newspapers in the world, INQ7.net is owned by the Inquirer and GMA with both companies each owning abour half of INQ7.
File:Kapuso jm.jpg
  • Kapuso JobMarket is partnership project of GMA, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQ7 Interactive Inc. and New Media Inc. The Kapuso JobMarket aims to provide convenience for job seekers by creating another off-line service that will help them search for employment opportunities using their mobile phones.
File:Qtv ph.jpg
  • Quality TeleVision Channel 11 is the newest television network powered by the GMA Network, Inc. It is owned by Zoe Broadcasting network, Inc.(ZOE-TV) which is a Christian network by Eddie Villanueva opened on November 11, 2005. And now, It produces programs that is targeted for families all over the Philippines. Its shows also focuses on Filipino women all over the country.

Availability

Main article: List of GMA Network and Affiliate Stations
  • GMA Pinoy TV
    • Comcast
    • DirecTV
    • Wave Broadband
    • MiTV Inc.
    • Marianas Cable Vision
    • Americable International apan,Inc.
    • Access TV
    • Orbit Satellite Television
    • Nora Eastern Corporation

Infrastrucutre

  • GMA Network Center
  • GMA Broadway Centrum
  • GMA Relay Centers
  • GMA Regional Network Centers
    • Cebu
    • Bacolod
    • Davao
  • QTV 11 Studios
  • KapusoVision

Divisions

  • GMA Artist Center
  • GMA News and Public Affairs
  • GMA Entertainment Television Group
  • GMA Engineering

Subsidiaries

  • Alta Productions Group, Inc.
  • GMA Marketing and Productions, Inc.
  • GMA Network Films, Inc.
  • GMA New Media, Inc.
  • GMA Worldwide (Philippines), Inc.
  • Scenarios, Inc.

Programming

Main article: List of GMA Network shows

GMA Network programs include news and current affairs shows, documentaries, dramas, dubbed foreign serials, entertainment news and talk shows, game shows, variety shows, musicals, sitcoms, children's shows, anime shows, fantasy and reality shows. Most of its shows are broadcasted from the GMA Network Center.

Program blocks

  • GMA Dramarama sa Hapon
  • GMA Asianovelas
  • GMA KiliTV
  • Anime Swak Pack Sa Hapon
  • GMA Telebabad
  • GMA BuliliTV
  • Sabado Combo
  • Sunday Kiddie TV
  • Sabado Star Power sa Hapon
  • Sabado Star Power sa Gabi
  • Linggo Bingo sa Hapon
  • Linggo Bingo sa Gabi

Partnerships

Programming

Media

Film

Interactivity

See also

References

Official

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