MANILA, Philippines – Executives of GMA Network Incorporated and ABS-CBN Corporation formalized on Wednesday, March 20, an agreement on airing the Kapamilya-produced noon show It’s Showtime on the Kapuso network’s two major channels starting April 6.
Led by comedian Vice Ganda, It’s Showtime’s 17 cast members, nearly all wearing red, were warmly welcomed in GMA’s Studio 7 in Kamuning, Quezon City after stepping down from an It’s Showtime-designed truck from the nearby ABS-CBN compound on Mother Ignacia Avenue after its Wednesday show.
They then witnessed the contract signing that would have It’s Showtime airing on GMA’s flagship Channel 7, in addition to its sister channel, Good TV or GTV, starting April 6, Saturday at 12 noon. They all thanked GMA executives for the new deal that is seen to improve the show’s ratings after Holy Week.
Channel 7 is the Philippines’ leading free TV channel with a share of over 40% in 2023 while GTV was third with nearly 10%, according to Nielsen data.
It’s Showtime moved to GTV from Manny V. Pangilinan’s TV5 Channel on July 1, 2023 after showbiz veterans Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon (TVJ) left Jalosjos family-led Television and Production Exponents Incorporated (TAPE) on May 31, 2023 and put up a new noon show, E.A.T. Bulaga, on the Kapatid channel.
Last March 7, TAPE, which had a blocktime deal with GMA until end of 2024, waved the white flag on its noon show, Tahanang Pinakamasaya (Home of the Happiest) on Channel 7 after failing to get enough commercials to sustain the show. This created the opening for It’s Showtime to take over the slot on Channel 7.
It’s Showtime also airs on televangelist Eddie Villanueva’s Zoe Network’s A2Z channel and on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Channel on cable TV.
It’s Showtime on Channel 7 and GTV will go head-to-head with TVJ Productions’ E.A.T. Bulaga on TV5 and RPN’s RPTV starting April 6.
GMA Chairman Felipe Gozon said after the contract signing he expects the ratings of It’s Showtime to go up starting April 6.
GMA and ABS-CBN were fierce competitors in the Philippine broadcast business until Lopez-led ABS-CBN was ordered by the Duterte administration to close down its free television and radio operations in May 2020. ABS-CBN has since pivoted to being a content provider to various networks and streaming platforms. – Rappler.com
More details to follow