GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine broadcast/free-to-air network and media company based in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. It is primarily involved in radio and television broadcasting, with subsidiaries dealing in various media related businesses. The majority of its profits are derived from publicity and marketing incomes associated to television distribution. It is one of the biggest companies and networks in the Philippines.
Despite rating wars, GMA has collaborated with ABS-CBN for the production of series Unbreak My Heart, and, in 2022, the two companies signed an agreement allowing Star Cinema movies to air on GMA. The following year, they signed an agreement to allow GTV (and later the main GMA Network starting April 6, 2024) to air It's Showtime.
Background[]
Ratings war[]
- Further information: ABS-CBN-GMA ratings controversy
On December 20, 2007, Judge Charito Gonzales of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 80 released a temporary restraining order on TV ratings surveys based on a civil case filed by ABS-CBN Corporation versus AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines. ABS-CBN accused competitor GMA of funding bribing operations in Bacolod City, to discredit the former. The local court in the Philippines further ordered ABS-CBN to file comment on the plea of AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines for the alleged gathering and dissemination of television ratings data, within five days or until December 22, 2007.
On December 21, 2007, Junrie Hidalgo, a field reporter of DZMM, reported a news story entitled "AGB Nielsen, umamin sa dayaan: GMA Network, tahasang itinurong nasa likod ng dayaan" ("AGB Nielsen admits to cheating: GMA Network aggressively accused of being behind the cheating") during the radio program of Showbiz Mismo, hosted by Cristy Fermin and Jobert Sucaldito. The news story is based on an interview of AGB Nielsen general manager Maya Reforma regarding the purported cheating. In response, GMA aired a television plug reproving the purported unfair journalism and disagreed the accusations of ABS-CBN.
GMA later filed a ₱15 million civil libel suit against ABS-CBN on January 3, 2008. The respondents included Hidalgo, Fermin, Sucaldito, the station and news manager of DZMM, writers and executive producers of Bandila, Entertainment Live and The Buzz after the same story was aired locally. On January 7, 2008, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court junked ABS-CBN Corporation's suit against AGB Nielsen, saying the case was "prematurely filed" before the local court. Judge Gonzales' basis is the principle of mutuality of contracts, citing Article 1308 and 1196, New Civil Code of the Philippines.
Also, Judge Samuel Gaerlan, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 issued court summons against ABS-CBN and 15 of its personnel on January 3, 2008. On January 17, 2008, Judge Gaerlan recused himself from the case, considering that he has a cousin working in the legal department of ABS-CBN.
The case was later re-raffled on January 28, 2008, and the case was eventually assigned to Judge Henri Inting of Branch 95 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. On February 14, 2008, Judge Inting issued a temporary restraining order barring ABS-CBN from airing defamatory statements against GMA.
Collaboration with ABS-CBN[]
On April 5, 2022, GMA Network announced a deal with ABS-CBN Corporation that would allow Star Cinema films to air on GMA's local channels. On November 11, 2022, GMA Network announced a collaboration with ABS-CBN and Dreamscape Entertainment for the production of Unbreak My Heart, which aired in 2023.
On June 20, 2023, ABS-CBN signed another deal with GMA Network to allow It's Showtime on GTV. TV5, which had aired the show since July 16, 2022, offered a 4:30pm delayed telecast to It's Showtime due to a new TVJ variety show (then known as E.A.T. but renamed to Eat Bulaga!) occupying the noontime slot, but ABS-CBN declined the offer. As a result, It's Showtime had its last episode on TV5 on June 30, the date when the blocktime deal was set to expire, and the following day, the GTV simulcast of the variety show began. Due to the suspension of the variety show from October 14 to 27, GTV also took simulcast rights for its interim replacement It's Your Lucky Day.
In a media event on March 20, 2024, ABS-CBN and GMA Network signed a contract to that would allow It's Showtime to extend its simulcast on the main GMA Network starting April 6, 2024. The show will occupy the timeslot of the show's former rival Tahanang Pinakamasaya.
Notable personalities[]
- Ogie Alcasid (with GMA 1995-2013)
- Anne Curtis
- Bea Alonzo (with ABS-CBN 2002-2021, moved to GMA in 2021)
- Bernadette Sembrano (with GMA 1998-2004, moved to ABS-CBN in 2004)
- Kim Atienza (with ABS-CBN 2006-2021, moved to GMA in 2021)
- Iza Calzado (with GMA 2002-2012, transferred to ABS-CBN in 2012)
- Janine Gutierrez (with GMA 2011-2021, transferred to ABS-CBN in 2021)
- Jaya (with GMA 2000-2016, transferred to ABS-CBN in 2016)
- Jolina Magdangal
- Karylle (with GMA 2001-2008, transferred to ABS-CBN in 2008)
- Kyline Alcantara (with ABS-CBN 2010-2017, transfered to GMA in 2017)
- Lovi Poe (with GMA 2006-2021, transferred to ABS-CBN in 2021)
- Mel Tiangco (with ABS-CBN 1986-1995, moved to GMA in 1996)
- Pokwang
- Richard Yap (with ABS-CBN 2010-2020, transfered to GMA in 2020)
- Regine Velasquez (with GMA 1998-2018, moved to ABS-CBN in 2018)
- Vice Ganda (with GMA 2002, moved to ABS-CBN in 2005)
- Zephanie (with ABS-CBN 2019-2021, transferred to GMA in 2022)