GMA Network Inc., commonly known as GMA and a backronym of its legal name Global Media Arts, is a Filipino media company based in Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. GMA 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 with television distribution. GMA is formed by the legal name of Global Media Arts.
GMA Network was founded on March 1, 1950 by American entrepreneur Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart as Loreto F. de Hemedes Inc. The company launched its first radio station, DZBB on June 14, 1950. Its first broadcast on television was launched on October 29, 1961, and the television station was known as DZBB Channel 7.
In 1974, the company became known as Republic Broadcasting System (RBS) after the triumvirate of Gilberto Duavit Sr., Menardo Jimenez and Felipe Gozon due to the changes in media ownership laws. It then changed its corporate name to GMA Network Inc. on May 16, 1996, when the network identity became GMA Network.[4] The common shares of GMA is a publicly traded company on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GMA7.
History
The company's roots can be traced back to then Loreto F. de Hemedes Inc., founded by Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart, an American war correspondent.[5] The company started with the launching of its first AM radio station in Manila through DZBB.[5] It went on air on March 1, 1950, using the frequency of 580 kHz of the AM band, broadcasting from the Calvo Building in Escolta, Manila. Its early radio coverage highlights were the crash of President Ramon Magsaysay's plane in Mount Manunggal; the eruption of Mount Hibok-Hibok and various local elections in the Philippines.[6] DZBB became the first radio station in the Philippines to use telephones for live interviews.
Within years since its first broadcasts, the huge triumph of the station and its growing number of listeners made clear the move to modern facilities in EDSA, Quezon City, with the work done in 1959.
On October 29, 1961, the company launched its first television station, RBS TV Channel 7 using local VHF channel 7.[5] In 1963, DYSS Television was launched in Cebu. On May 28, 1974, the company was renamed as Republic Broadcasting System Inc.[5] A triumvirate composed of Gilberto Duavit Sr., Menardo Jimenez and Felipe Gozon took over the company from Stewart at the same year.[5]
In 1987, GMA became the first Philippine network to broadcast in StereoVision while opening their high-end live studio at Broadway Centrum. In 1988, the network greatly improved its signal by switching to its 777-ft transmitter known as the Tower of Power.[7] In 1992, the Philippine Congress passed a law granting the network to operate for another 25 years. The network launched the Rainbow Satellite, making their programs available nationwide and across Southeast Asia. In 1996, the company changed its name to GMA Network Inc.[5][8]
On April 21, 2017, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10925, renewing GMA Network's license for another 25 years. The law granted GMA Network Inc. a franchise to construct, install, operate, and maintain radio broadcasting stations and television stations for commercial purposes, including a digital television system. This franchise encompasses the establishment of corresponding facilities such as relay stations throughout the Philippines.[9][10]
Television
GMA Network
GMA Network, or simply GMA (Global Media Arts), is a major Philippine commercial television network. Launched on October 29, 1961, GMA Network is also referred to as the "Kapuso Network" in reference to the company's logo. Its headquarters can be found at the GMA Network Center in Quezon City.
GTV
GTV (Good Television) is a Philippine general entertainment channel that aired on its flagship station, UHF channel 27 and was launched on February 22, 2021, replacing GMA News TV. The channel carries news, entertainment and sports programs and it is available in most satellite and cable TV systems.
Heart of Asia
Heart of Asia is a Philippine digital television channel owned by GMA Network Inc. Its programming consisting of Filipino-dubbed Asian films and television series. The channel was initially launched on June 12, 2020, and officially launched on June 29, 2020.[11]
International broadcasts
GMA Pinoy TV
On March 14, 2005, GMA Network Inc. launched its first international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. The channel is targeted toward Filipino communities worldwide. Flagship programs from GMA Network are shown aside from in-house programming. It also syndicates shows and airs a simulcast of ABS-CBN Studios' It's Showtime with TFC and AMBS' All TV.[15][16][17][18][19]
Radio
DZBB
DZBB, also known as Super Radyo DZBB 594 is the AM radio station of RGMA in Metropolitan Manila, one of GMA Network's subsidiaries. Radio studios are located at 3rd floor of GMA Network Studio Annex, EDSA corner GMA Network Drive, Diliman, Quezon City while its radio transmitter is at Camia St., Brgy. Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan. The station operates 24 hours a day, except on Sundays in where it goes off air from midnight to 03:00 am. Some of the programs of GMA and GTV's Dobol B TV block are simultaneously simulcast on the station.
Provincial AM Stations
Provincial AM Stations
DWLS
DWLS-FM, also known as Barangay LS 97.1, is the FM radio station of RGMA in Metropolitan Manila, a subsidiary of GMA Network. Its main radio studios are located at the 3rd floor of GMA Network Studio Annex, EDSA corner GMA Network Drive, Diliman, Quezon City and its transmitter is at Tandang Sora Avenue, Barangay Culiat, Quezon City. DWLS is the assigned call letters for the radio station and it was derived from the name of Loreto Stewart, the wife of its founder, Robert La Rue "Uncle Bob" Stewart.
Broadcast facilities
Tower of Power
In order to strengthen its broadcast signal in Metropolitan Manila and its suburbs, GMA Network Inc. constructed the Tower of Power in the third quarter of 1987.
GMA Network, Inc. spent more than PhP168 million to the upgrade its broadcast transmitters and facilities in various key cities in the Philippines.[26] It plans to augment its existing studio facilities in Cebu, Iloilo and Davao. It also plans to upgrade construction of its existing broadcast facilities in Dagupan to further improve its coverage in the northern part of the Philippines.[27] These upgrades include new transmitting equipment, from transmitters to antenna systems and buildings/tower rehabilitation/construction. GMA Network Inc. expects completion of these projects by end 2009.
Presented to the Philippine Stock Exchange on January 15, 2009, GMA Network, Inc. discloses that it already disbursed almost PhP1.3 billion from the proceeds of its initial public offering to support various expansion programs in key cities in the Philippines. Expansion includes construction of broadcast facility, tower and transmitter upgrade for its Naga station; broadcast facility and transmitter tower for its Legazpi station; construction of transmitter tower and upgrading its General Santos station; and upgrading broadcast facilities, equipment and transmitter tower in
Digital television
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was ordered[30][31] all broadcasting companies in the Philippines to shut off their analog signal by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2015, and switch to digital broadcast.[32] The Philippines will be using the Japanese ISDB-T to facilitate the country's transition to digital television, rather than the ATSC system implemented by North American broadcasters devised as a replacement for the NTSC system utilized by North America and the Philippines.[33]
GMA Network is presently applying[34] for a digital television license from the NTC to install and maintain transmitting stations that will be attuned with and utilize to offer digital terrestrial television and digital mobile TV broadcast services,[35]
Online
GMA News Online
Established on January 1, 2007, GMA News Online (formerly GMANews.TV) is the official site of GMA Integrated News. It features the latest news coverage, including video reports, as well as business, sports, technology, entertainment and special reports, mobile alerts, newsletters, RSS feeds and real time search.[40] A diverse number of presenters and correspondents maintain blogs on its site and has an archiving database for its news content. A live stream of DZBB, an AM radio station of GMA Network is also available on its website. It also features YouScoop, an interactive section, wherein viewers can upload first-hand footage of news events happening in their area and visitors can also view such footage. Aside from GMA Integrated News content and materials produced, GMA News Online publishes articles and features from several news organizations, including The Associated Press and Reuters wire service. In December 2010, GMANews.TV received one million page views per day.[41]
Joint ventures
Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP)
Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc., a joint venture between GMA New Media Inc. and Summit Media, operates Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) and Sports Interactive Network (SPIN).
Kapuso JobMarket
Partnerships of GMA Network Inc., the Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQ7 Interactive Inc. and New Media Inc. The Kapuso JobMarket aims to provide convenience for job seekers by creating another online service that will help them search for employment opportunities using their mobile phones.
Q
Q was a partnership between GMA Network Inc. and ZOE Broadcasting Network. The television channel previously aired foreign dramas, lifestyle shows and public affairs programming. The channel ceased commercial operation on February 20, 2011, to give way to its sister channel, GMA News TV
Defunct channels
INQ7.net
GMA Network Inc. partnered with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, one of Philippines' daily broadsheets to venture in an online multimedia news and information delivery company, INQ7 Interactive Inc. Its main business offers text, images, audio, video and online interactive information tools such as discussion boards, polls and searchable news archives. The partnership also paved the way the creation of a joint web site, the inq7.net and in recent reports, its ranks no. 11 in the most read online newspaper worldwide. In January 2007, GMA Network, Inc. and Philippine Daily Inquirer ended their partnership and GMA Network Inc. focused on to its owned consent site, the GMA News Online (formerly known as GMANews.TV).
GMA News TV (Philippines)
The domestic counterpart of GMA News TV was a Philippine news and lifestyle-oriented channel that was launched on February 28, 2011, and was aired on local UHF channel 27 and formerly VHF channel 11 through its blocktime agreement with ZOE Broadcasting Network until June 3, 2019. On February 21, 2021, GMA News TV stopped its broadcast operations to give way for GTV the following day. It was failed to watch as a free-to-air news and lifestyle-oriented channel in the Philippines due to blocktime programs.[50]
Executive management
- Felipe L. Gozon (chairman and adviser of the board; Chairman of the Programming Committee)
- Gilberto Duavit Jr. (president, chief executive officer, chief operating officer; Vice Chairman of the Programming Committee)
- Felipe S. Yalong (chief financial officer, EVP for Corporate Services Group, corporate treasurer, director)
- Jose Marcelo G. Jimenez (Board Member; Chairman of the Executive Committee)
- Anna Theresa “Annette” M. Gozon-Valdes (Board Secretary, Board Member, Senior Vice President for Talent Management Development, Program Management, Human Resources Department, Legal Department, Worldwide Department and other subsidiaries)
- Judith Duavit-Vasquez (Board Member)
- Laura J. Westfall (Board Member)
- Artemio Panganiban (Board Member and Independent Director)
- Cheryl Ching-Sy (Officer-in-charge for Entertainment Group and Vice President for Drama)
- Michelle Seva (Officer In Charge of GMA Integrated News and Vice President for News Programs and Specials)
- Marivic Araneta (Officer In Charge of Regional TV and Synergy and Senior Assistant Vice President and Deputy Head of Synergy)
Assets
Divisions
GMA Entertainment Group
The entertainment division of the company that produces drama, comedy, reality, variety, game, and talk shows.[61] It is currently headed by its Officer-In-Charge Cheryl Ching-Sy.
- BDD I - Drama Productions
- BDD II - Comedy/Infotainment/Game & Reality Productions
- BDD III - Talk/Musical Variety/Specials and Alternative Productions
GMA Integrated News
The news division of the company that generates news output for GMA Network's television, radio, and digital media platforms. The division is headed by Officer-In-Charge Michelle Seva, Under Seva's leadership, GMA News was rebranded as GMA Integrated News, integrating the newsrooms of GMA News Manila, GMA News Online, and GMA Regional TV.
External links
- Media Ownership Monitor Philippines – Media Companies: A Duopoly Rules by VERA Files and Reporters Without Borders
References
- Ayahl Ari Augusto Chio. GMA SEC FORM 17-A Philippine Stock Exchange, April 15, 2025^
- Annual Report 2023^
- Organizational Chart GMA Network, April 9, 2024^