GMA Network facts for kids
Logo used since October 27, 2002
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| Type | Free-to-air television network |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines |
| Affiliates | List of GMA Network stations |
| Headquarters | GMA Network Center, EDSA cor. Timog Ave. Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Filipino (main) English (secondary) |
| Picture format | 16:9 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| Parent | GMA Network, Inc. |
| Key people | |
| Sister channels |
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| History | |
| Founded | March 1, 1950 |
| Launched | March 1, 1950 (radio) October 29, 1961 (television) |
| Founder | Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart |
| Former names |
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| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Analog VHF/UHF | Listings may vary |
| Digital VHF/UHF | Listings may vary |
| Streaming media | |
| YouTube Live | Live stream (Philippine users only) |
GMA Network (also known as Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a major Philippine television and radio network. It is the main part of the company GMA Network, Inc.. The network first started broadcasting on television on October 29, 1961.
GMA Network is often called the Kapuso Network. This name comes from the heart-shaped design of its logo. Its main office is in the GMA Network Center in Quezon City. GMA also has many regional stations and offices all over the Philippines.
The letters GMA originally stood for Greater Manila Area. This was the first area the station covered. As the network grew, it changed its meaning to Global Media Arts. GMA's main TV station is DZBB-TV (GMA-7 Manila). It broadcasts on Channel 7 for analog and Channel 15 for digital. GMA's shows are also available outside the Philippines through channels like GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV.
Contents
History of GMA Network
Early Years (1950s and 1960s)
GMA Network started as a radio station called DZBB on March 1, 1950. It was owned by Robert La Rue "Uncle Bob" Stewart, an American reporter. In the 1960s, Stewart started RBS TV Channel 7 on October 29, 1961. This became the fifth TV station in the Philippines.
At first, RBS TV mostly showed programs from the United States. Later, it started making its own local shows for Filipino viewers. Some popular early shows included Uncle Bob's Lucky Seven Club for kids and Dance Time with Chito. In 1963, RBS opened its first TV station outside Manila in Cebu. The company's name then changed to Republic Broadcasting System, Inc. (RBS).
Changes in the 1970s
In September 1972, then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. Many media companies, including RBS, were temporarily closed. In December 1972, RBS was allowed to broadcast again but with strict rules.
In 1974, Robert Stewart and the American Broadcasting Company (who owned part of RBS) had to give up control. This was because foreign citizens were not allowed to own media companies in the Philippines. Three Filipino businessmen took over: Gilberto Duavit Sr., Menardo Jimenez, and Felipe Gozon. The station's name changed to GMA Radio-Television Arts. GMA now stood for Greater Manila Area.
After the new owners took over, GMA started broadcasting in color. They bought new equipment and acquired foreign shows. The station's ratings improved, moving up to third place.
Growth in the 1980s
During martial law, GMA was the only local network to broadcast the funeral of Senator Ninoy Aquino in August 1983. He was a public leader who was assassinated. In 1984, Imee Marcos, President Marcos's daughter, tried to take over GMA, but the network's leaders stopped it.
GMA played a big part before the People Power Revolution. They were the first to interview Corazon Aquino in 1984. She announced her plan to run for president during that interview. During the People Power Revolution, GMA was also the first to report that Fidel V. Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile left the Marcos government.
In 1987, GMA became the first VHF television network in the country to broadcast its programs in full stereo. In 1988, they built the Tower of Power in Quezon City. This was the tallest man-made structure in the country at that time.
Expansion in the 1990s
In 1992, the Philippine Congress allowed GMA to operate for another 25 years. The network then aimed to reach international viewers. GMA programs were seen across the Philippines and in Southeast Asia through its relay stations. They also started airing in 60 American cities.
GMA was the official broadcaster for the 1995 World Youth Day when Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines. In the same year, popular TV shows Eat Bulaga! and Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! moved to GMA. The network also launched a UHF channel called Citynet 27. New shows like Bubble Gang and the late-night news program Saksi also started.
In 1995, GMA started its own film company, Cinemax Studios. It was renamed GMA Films in 1998 and then GMA Pictures in 2019. In 1998, the company produced the movie José Rizal, which was the most expensive Filipino film at the time. It won many awards.
In 1996, GMA formally changed its company name to GMA Network Inc. The acronym 'GMA' now stood for Global Media Arts. In 1999, GMA was the first Philippine broadcaster to win a Peabody Award for Investigative Reporting.
New Millennium (2000s)
In October 2000, Menardo Jimenez retired as President and CEO. Felipe Gozon took over his role. Gilberto "Jimmy" Duavit Jr. became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
On May 1, 2001, GMA news reporters Michael Fajatin and Jiggy Manicad were injured during the EDSA III riots. These riots were started by groups supporting former President Estrada.
GMA officially showed its current logo and image on October 27, 2002, during its show SOP. In 2003, Saksi won a Gold Medal at the New York Television Festival. This was the first time a Filipino news program won this award.
In 2004, GMA launched several new programs. These included the newscast 24 Oras, the documentary show Reporter's Notebook, the singing competition Pinoy Pop Superstar, the fantasy series Mulawin, and the magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
From 2005 to 2019, ZOE's station DZOE-TV Channel 11 became Quality TeleVision. It later became GMA News TV and is now known as GTV. In 2006, the public affairs program Debate with Mare at Pare won a bronze medal at the New York Television Festival. GMA was also praised for its coverage of the Wowowee stampede. In April 2006, GMA founder Robert Stewart passed away in the United States.
GMA started making local versions of TV shows from other countries. This began with Celebrity Duets: Philippine Edition in partnership with FremantleMedia. They later made local versions of Marimar, Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan, and Survivor Philippines. Their evening newscast 24 Oras won two awards at the New York Television Festival.
Recent Developments (2010s and 2020s)
In the 2010s, GMA Network continued to release many new shows. These included The Last Prince, Panday Kids, Diva, Pepito Manaloto, Endless Love, and Amaya, which was the first historical drama in the Philippines.
In 2012, GMA Network signed a deal with Fox International Channels. This allowed some of GMA's shows and movies to be shown on FOX cable channels. These included Encantadia, Darna, and José Rizal.
On February 28, 2012, Wilma Galvante, the senior vice president for the Entertainment Group, retired. Lilybeth Rasonable was appointed as the new Officer-in-charge of the Entertainment Group.
In 2013, GMA Network launched more new shows. These included Indio, Vampire ang Daddy Ko, Mundo Mo'y Akin, and My Husband's Lover.
In 2014, GMA Network's major shareholders planned to sell part of their shares to Ramon S. Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation. However, these talks ended in June 2015. In the same year, GMA won another Peabody Award for its coverage of Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Supertyphoon Yolanda).
In April 2015, GMA Network made some budget cuts to its regional TV stations. This led to changes in how some regional stations operated.
In 2016, GMA Network launched many new shows like Wish I May, Dear Uge, Lip Sync Battle Philippines, and a new version of Encantadia.
On April 21, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law that renewed GMA Network's license for another 25 years. This allowed GMA to continue operating its TV and radio stations across the Philippines.
On March 9, 2018, GMA Network launched its new slogan, "Buong Puso Para Sa Kapuso" (meaning "Wholehearted for the One in Heart"). On August 27, 2018, GMA stations in Iloilo and Bacolod became originating stations again. This happened with the launch of the new regional news program One Western Visayas.
On December 14, 2018, GMA Network's founding chairman, Atty. Gilberto M. Duavit Sr., passed away at 84. He had been a key figure in the network since 1974.
On February 22, 2019, the network announced it would invest ₱1 billion for the second phase of its digitization project.
On January 1, 2020, GMA Network began celebrating its 70th anniversary. Its international channel, GMA Pinoy TV, also celebrated its 15th anniversary. They revealed new programs for 2020, including All-Out Sundays, Descendants of the Sun, and Love of My Life.
On March 14, 2020, GMA Network stopped producing live shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. The network aired reruns of popular drama series during this time. Production of new programs resumed on August 24, 2020.
On April 5, 2022, GMA Network announced a deal with ABS-CBN Corporation. This deal allowed films from Star Cinema to be shown on GMA's local channels. On November 11, 2022, GMA Network also announced a collaboration with ABS-CBN and Dreamscape Entertainment for a new drama series in 2023.
On February 27, 2023, GMA Network and its sister channels switched to a wider screen format (16:9). This improved the picture quality for viewers.
On December 9, 2023, Atty. Felipe Gozon announced his retirement as CEO of GMA Network Inc. Gilberto Duavit Jr. took over as CEO starting January 1, 2024. Gozon remained as Chairman of the Board and an Adviser.
Digital TV Broadcasts
In February 2013, GMA Network started testing ISDB-T, the Japanese standard for digital television. This was done on UHF Channel 27. In October 2013, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) decided that ISDB-T would be the only standard for digital TV in the Philippines.
In May 2015, GMA Network announced plans to spend money to roll out its digital TV service. They planned to produce special devices called dongles for viewers. In December 2016, the network said it would spend ₱416 million to start its Digital Terrestrial Television project. This included buying new transmitters and equipment.
In June 2020, images of a digital TV box called the GMA Affordabox appeared online. This box was designed to help viewers receive digital TV signals. It also included features like a multimedia player and a personal video recorder. The GMA Affordabox was sold for ₱888. In December 2020, a mobile digital TV dongle called GMA Now was released. It works with Android smartphones and offers extra features like video on demand and games.
On February 22, 2019, GMA Network announced another ₱1 billion investment for the second phase of its digitization project. On May 15, 2019, GMA Network began transmitting its digital test broadcast on UHF Channel 15. This is its permanent frequency assigned by the NTC.
Ownership of GMA Network
GMA Network is owned by three main families: the Gozon, Duavit, and Jimenez families. The company's shares are held by different groups. These include Group Management & Development Inc., FLG Management & Development Corp., M.A. Jimenez Enterprises, GMA Holdings Inc., and Television International Corp.
GMA Holdings, Inc. is jointly owned by Felipe L. Gozon, Gilberto Duavit, Jr., and Joel Marcelo Jimenez.
GMA Network's Identity
Network Names
GMA Network has changed its name several times throughout its history.
- RBS TV Channel 7 (1961–1974) – This was the first TV station launched by Robert La Rue "Uncle Bob" Stewart.
- GMA Radio-Television Arts (1974–1992) – After new owners took over, the name changed to GMA. This stood for Greater Manila Area.
- GMA Rainbow Satellite Network (1992–1995) – The network rebranded when it launched its satellite to reach more areas.
- GMA Network (1995–2002) – The name was simplified to GMA Network.
- GMA Network (Kapuso Network, 2002–present) – On October 27, 2002, GMA Network introduced its current logo and nickname, the Kapuso Network. This was to make its image more Filipino.
Logos and Slogans
GMA Network has used different logos and slogans over the years. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, the network used a Circle 7 logo. In the 1980s, GMA Network used the slogan "Where You Belong."
In 1992, GMA Network became the "Rainbow Network," using rainbow colors in its branding. This rainbow symbol was used until 2002. In 2002, it was replaced by the current heart-shaped logo, known as "Kapuso." This new logo is now very well-known in the Philippines.
"Kapuso ng Bawat Pilipino" ("One in Heart with Every Filipino") is a secondary slogan for GMA Network. It was first used when GMA became the Kapuso Network in 2002. Another slogan, "Kapuso, Anumang Kulay ng Buhay" ("One in Heart, in Every Colors of Life"), is also used.
GMA Network's news department uses the slogan "Serbisyong Totoo" ("True Service"). This is one of the longest-running slogans for news. In 2018, the network introduced a new main slogan, "Buong Puso para sa Kapuso" ("Wholehearted for the One in Heart"). This slogan shows GMA's dedication to providing programs and services. In 2020, for its 70th anniversary, a variation "Buong Puso para sa Pilipino" ("Wholehearted for the Filipino") was unveiled.
GMA Network Programs
GMA Network shows a variety of programs. These include news, public affairs, local dramas, soap operas, anime, variety shows, musical shows, cartoons, children's shows, talk shows, reality programs, sports, and movies. Most of these shows are produced live or taped at the GMA Network Centers and Studios in Metro Manila.
GMA Network broadcasts for many hours each day. It provides many hours of prime-time programming each week. Its schedule includes morning shows like Unang Hirit, the noontime variety show It's Showtime, afternoon dramas, and evening news programs like 24 Oras and Saksi. Its main evening block is called Telebabad (now GMA Prime).
TV Show Competition
Competition for TV shows became strong in 2004, especially with ABS-CBN. GMA Network's reality show Extra Challenge and fantasy series Mulawin started to lead in ratings. By September 23, 2004, GMA Network became the leader in Mega Manila.
In 2005, GMA Network produced Mars Ravelo's Darna, a classic Filipino comic book character. This show was a big hit, getting very high ratings. Other fantasy shows like Encantadia also helped GMA lead in Mega Manila. In 2006, GMA continued its prime-time success. It reformatted Extra Challenge and showed more fantasy series. It also aired local versions of popular Korean shows like Stairway to Heaven and Full House.
In 2007, GMA Network produced the local version of the Mexican TV series MariMar. Its first episode received very high ratings, making it one of the most-watched soap operas in GMA Network's history. A 2006 survey showed that many viewers in Metro Manila found GMA Network more believable than its competitor.
The National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) started in October 2006. This system helps measure TV ratings and audience share across urban areas in the Philippines. In August 2007, GMA Network kept its lead in Mega Manila. This area has many TV households and a lot of advertising.
In 2011, GMA Network continued to lead in national TV ratings. It had a higher audience share compared to ABS-CBN and TV5. GMA also led in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which are important markets for television.
