Citynet Network Marketing and Productions

Citynet Network Marketing and Productions, Inc. (CNMPI) is a Philippine media company and subsidiary of GMA Network, Inc. Its most visible role has been as the licensee and operating entity associated with DWDB-TV, a Metro Manila television station whose programming identity has changed several times since its launch in 1995. Through the station, Citynet has been connected with Citynet Television 27, EMC 27, Channel V Philippines, relay operations for GMA-7 and QTV, GMA News TV, and, since 2021, GTV. The company’s broadcast history began with the August 27, 1995 launch of Citynet Television 27. GMA positioned the UHF station as an independent service that could carry imported programming, particularly content from the United States and other international markets, while allowing GMA’s main channel, DZBB-TV, to concentrate on locally produced programming. Citynet 27 also carried selected local productions, including Citynet Television News and Citycourt, a historical courtroom anthology. Its news and public-affairs activities were organized through a Citynet news subdivision associated with GMA News and Public Affairs, with international media partnerships involving CNBC Asia and the former Asia Business News. The independent-programming model became difficult to sustain amid high operating costs and competition from Studio 23, the UHF service operated by ABS-CBN through AMCARA Broadcasting Network. In 1999, the station moved toward a music-oriented format under the temporary EMC, or Entertainment Music Channel, identity. Later that year, GMA entered an arrangement with STAR TV that turned the frequency into the Philippine home of Channel V Philippines. The partnership ended in 2001 after changes in the ownership relationship between GMA and PLDT created a competitive conflict involving MTV Philippines. Channel V Philippines and the associated DWDB service signed off on July 25, 2001. After a period away from regular programming, the station returned in 2004 as a relay of GMA-7 Manila. In November 2005, it became a repeater for DZOE-TV’s QTV service under an agreement between GMA and ZOE Broadcasting Network. The arrangement used DWDB’s UHF coverage to improve reception in parts of southern Metro Manila, including Makati and Pasay. The analog channel was later vacated in preparation for digital television testing. GMA used DWDB’s channel 27 frequency for ISDB-T digital test broadcasts beginning in February 2013. The tests initially carried simulcasts of GMA-7 and GMA News TV. In 2019, GMA transferred its primary digital test transmission to UHF channel 15, assigned by the National Telecommunications Commission, while the channel 27 frequency was repurposed for the analog Manila feed of GMA News TV after the termination of GMA’s blocktime agreement with ZOE. The analog service resumed on June 4, 2019, making DWDB the originating Manila outlet for GMA News TV. On February 22, 2021, the service was relaunched as GTV. The new identity broadened the channel’s programming mix to include news, entertainment, and sports while retaining selected news programming. In the digital environment, DWDB’s feed is carried through GMA’s digital transmission system associated with DZBB-TV. The station’s broader transmission footprint has included Metro Manila and parts of several neighboring Philippine provinces. Citynet therefore functions primarily as a broadcast and licensing vehicle within GMA’s television operations rather than as a consumer-facing standalone brand.

Citynet Network Marketing and Productions is associated with GMA Network’s operation of DWDB-TV in Metro Manila. The station launched on August 27, 1995 as Citynet Television 27, an independent UHF service intended to complement GMA’s main channel. Its schedule relied heavily on imported programming, although the station also produced local material, including Citynet Television News and Citycourt. The news operation was connected with GMA News and Public Affairs and involved cooperation with international business-news broadcasters. The original model faced high costs and strong competition from Studio 23. In 1999, GMA first repositioned the station as EMC, a locally operated music channel, and then reached an agreement with STAR TV to carry Channel V Philippines from December 19 of that year. This arrangement ended on July 25, 2001. The termination followed a changing media-ownership environment in which PLDT acquired an interest in GMA while also having ties to MTV Philippines through its wider corporate structure. Programming returned to the frequency in 2004 when DWDB-TV served as a relay of GMA-7 Manila. In November 2005 it became a repeater for QTV, the secondary network created through GMA’s arrangement with ZOE Broadcasting Network. DWDB’s UHF signal was useful for coverage in southern Metro Manila. The analog frequency was later cleared as GMA prepared for digital broadcasting. GMA began ISDB-T digital tests through DWDB-TV in February 2013. The test service carried GMA-7 and GMA News TV simulcasts. In 2019, GMA moved its main digital test transmission to UHF channel 15, while channel 27 was returned to analog use for GMA News TV. The change followed the announced conclusion of the GMA-ZOE blocktime agreement and enabled GMA News TV to continue its Manila broadcast after leaving channel 11. DWDB-TV resumed analog transmission on June 4, 2019, after a one-day postponement related to digital receiver rescanning. On February 22, 2021, the service became GTV. GTV adopted a wider format covering news, entertainment, and sports, while retaining some programming inherited from GMA News TV. In digital broadcasting, the DWDB feed is distributed through GMA’s wider digital transmission infrastructure. The company’s importance is consequently tied to GMA’s station licensing, transmission, and network-distribution structure rather than to a separately marketed consumer product portfolio.

• 2021

  GTV launches

  [1]DWDB-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The service is relaunched as GTV with news, entertainment, and sports programming.

• 2019

  Channel 27 returns to analog service

  [1]DWDB-TVen.wikipedia.org

  DWDB-TV resumes analog broadcasting as the Manila originating station for GMA News TV after the network’s channel-11 arrangement with ZOE ends.

• 2013

  Digital television testing begins

  [1]DWDB-TVen.wikipedia.org

  GMA starts ISDB-T digital test broadcasts using the DWDB-TV frequency.

• 2005

  DWDB becomes a QTV repeater

  [1]DWDB-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins relaying QTV under the GMA-ZOE arrangement.

• 2001

  Channel V Philippines ends

  [1]DWDB-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Channel V Philippines and the associated DWDB service cease broadcasting on July 25.

• 1999

  Station adopts EMC and Channel V identities

  [1]DWDB-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station moves from independent programming to a music-channel format and later becomes the Philippine carrier of Channel V.

• 1995

  Citynet Television 27 launches

  [1]DWDB-TVen.wikipedia.org

  DWDB-TV begins service as Citynet Television 27, an independent GMA-affiliated UHF station focused on imported programming and selected local productions.

A GMA Network-affiliated broadcast and licensing entity used for Metro Manila television operations, station experimentation, and distribution of general-interest, news, entertainment, sports, and digital television services.

• Television station · 1995

  DWDB-TV

  DWDB-TV is the Metro Manila television station associated with Citynet Network Marketing and Productions and GMA Network. Its broadcast identity has changed across Citynet Television 27, EMC, Channel V Philippines, QTV relay service, GMA News TV, and GTV. The station has operated in both analog and digital environments and remains part of GMA’s wider television transmission system.

• Television service · 1995

  Citynet Television 27

  The original independent programming identity of DWDB-TV. It emphasized imported programming and served as a complementary outlet to GMA’s main Manila station, while also presenting locally produced news and public-affairs programs.

• General-interest television network · 2021

  GTV

  GTV is the current broadcast identity carried by the DWDB-TV service. Launched in 2021, it combines news, entertainment, and sports programming and represents the latest general-interest format developed for the GMA-associated channel.

• 2021

  Relaunch the service as GTVProduct launch

  Background

  GMA sought a broader channel identity after the service’s period as GMA News TV.

  Action taken

  The DWDB-TV service was relaunched as GTV with a schedule spanning news, entertainment, and sports.

  Aftermath

  GTV became the continuing broadcast identity associated with the station.

  Source

• 2019

  Reallocate channel 27 for GMA News TVStrategy

  Background

  GMA’s blocktime agreement with ZOE Broadcasting Network was ending, requiring GMA News TV to leave its long-standing channel-11 Manila outlet.

  Action taken

  GMA moved the Manila analog feed of GMA News TV to DWDB-TV’s channel 27 frequency while shifting its primary digital test transmission to channel 15.

  Aftermath

  DWDB-TV resumed analog transmission on June 4, 2019, and served as GMA News TV’s originating Manila station until the service was replaced by GTV.

  Source

• 2005

  Use DWDB-TV as a QTV repeaterStrategy

  Background

  GMA and ZOE Broadcasting Network established an arrangement for GMA to handle QTV programming and provide support related to ZOE’s broadcast operations.

  Action taken

  DWDB-TV became a repeater for QTV, improving access to the service in parts of southern Metro Manila.

  Aftermath

  The analog channel was later vacated as GMA prepared the frequency for digital television testing.

  Source

• 1999

  Shift from independent programming to music televisionStrategy

  Background

  The original Citynet 27 model faced high operating costs and competition from Studio 23.

  Action taken

  GMA changed the station to the temporary EMC music-channel format and then entered a Channel V Philippines arrangement.

  Aftermath

  The station operated under the Channel V identity until the service ended in 2001.

  Source

1. 1DWDB-TVen.wikipedia.org