GMA Network
(or just GMA, short for "Global Media Arts", and colloquially known as GMA-7 after its flagship station in Manila which airs on channel 7) is a television network in the Philippines. It is one of the biggest Filipino television networks, right up there with TV5 (which, incidentally, is also one of GMA's rival networks).
The channel's origins lie in Manila's local radio station DZBB, which was launched in 1950 and owned by American war correspondent Robert La Rue "Uncle Bob" Stewart. In 1961, Uncle Bob expanded the station's operations when he launched the TV channel DZBB-TV under the name RBS TV Channel 7. More RBS TV channels eventually started to become available in other parts of the Philippines, thus forming a network. The network changed its name to GMA Radio-Television Arts in 1974, then to GMA Rainbow Satellite Network in 1992, and finally to GMA Network in 1995.
Telenovelas produced by GMA network lean more to the modern and edutational streak, and has dabbled into topics that are controversial or aren't talked about in public. The network also produces fantasy-themed soaps, sitcoms, documentaries, and news shows.
They also have a secondary channel named GTV, which originally began in 1995 as Citynet Television. In 1999, Citynet Television was rebranded to EMC 27 before GMA entered into an agreement with STAR TV to carry Channel [V] programs into Filipino FTA airwaves until 2001 when channel 27 was taken off the air and remained silent until 2004, when it became a relay of GMA's flagship TV-7 station in Manila. In 2005, GMA entered into a blocktime agreement with religious broadcaster ZOE Broadcasting Network to lease ZOE's channel 11 in Metro Manila. The GMA Network/ZOE agreement lasted until 2019, when GMA News TV moved to channel 27 and channel 11 remained silent until 2020 when they reached a blocktime agreement with GMA's former rival ABS-CBN to launch A2Z
In 2023, GMA teamed up with ABS-CBN to produce Unbreak My Heart, the first coproduction between both companies. This partnership also extended to a blocktime agreement for GTV to air a simulcast of It's Showtime that same year, after ABS-CBN opted not to renew their blocktime agreement with TV5 for the show. GMA and ABS-CBN would later expand on their blocktime agreement with It's Showtime almost a year later by not only letting GMA coproduce the show, making it the second coproduction between both companies, but also allowing It's Showtime to air on GMA's flagship channel alongside GTV. This is following the cancellation of their previous noontime program, Tahanang Pinakamasaya.
Not to be confused with Good Morning America.
List of programs produced and aired by GMA Network:
- Abot-Kamay na Pangarap
- Amaya
- Barangay 143
- Bayan Ko
- Black Rider
- Bubble Gang
- Eat Bulaga! (aired from 1995 to 2024; previously aired on RPN-9 and on ABS-CBN. Has since channel hopped to TV5 from 2024 onwards)note
- Inday Will Always Love You
- Indio
- It's Showtime (coproduction with ABS-CBN. Also airing on sister channel GTV)
- Jollitown
- Kambal, Karibal
- Maria Clara at Ibarra
- Mulawin
- Encantadia (Spin-Off of Mulawin)
- Iglot (Spin-Off of Mulawin)
- Mulawin vs. Ravena (sequel series of Mulawin)
- My Husband's Lover
- The Rich Man's Daughter
- Te Amo Maging Sino Ka Man
- Voltes V: Legacy (live-action adaptation of Voltes V)
