Television in the Philippines

The early years (1946–1959)

James Lindenberg, an American engineer dubbed the "father of Philippine television," began assembling transmitters and established Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC) on July 11, 1946.^[5] The company was named after his wife's hometown of Bolinao, Pangasinan. Three years later, he was the first to apply for a license in the Philippine Congress to establish a television station. After a year, on June 14, 1950, his request was granted. Due to the scarcity of raw materials and strict import control since 1948, he was compelled to branch into radio broadcasting instead.^[6]

Lindenberg's attempt to put up a television station did not go to waste. Judge Antonio Quirino, the brother of then-Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, had been trying to get a license from Congress that would allow him to put up a television station. The Congress, however, denied him from getting such a license for the fear that he might use it as a vehicle for propaganda for his brother who was then running for a second term in the presidential elections of 1953. Because of this, he bought a 70% share in BEC,^[6] which earned him indirect control of a television franchise. He changed the name of BEC to Alto Broadcasting System (ABS), after the names of its new owners, Aleli and Judge Antonio Quirino. Lindenberg continued to be a co-owner and served as the general manager.^[6]

Before the television station was formally launched, it faced several obstacles. The Central Bank, for instance, refused to grant Quirino dollar credit from the bank, saying that the said venture was too risky. For this reason, Quirino asked help from his friend Marvin Gray, whose family was a friend of David Sarnoff, then president of Radio Corporation of America (RCA). Through the intervention of Gray, Quirino was able to get assistance from RCA.

Before the first telecast, Quirino initiated the importation of 120 television sets through the 60,000 pesos loan that he received from the owner of Joe's Electric, who was, in turn, the first to be bestowed with the right to sell television sets in the country.^[6]

Finally, on October 23, 1953, Quirino marked the first official television broadcast in the Philippines with the launching of ABS' DZAQ-TV Channel 3 (DZAQ-TV 3). With the help of RCA, four men underwent technical training in the United States. These were Arcadio Carandang, Romualdo Carballo, Harry Chaney and Jose Navarro.^[6]

The ABS studio was a makeshift barn along Florentino Torres Street in Manila. With the transmitter acquired from RCA, the telecasts were received not only in Manila but also in the neighboring provinces. Except for the four engineers who were sent to the US for training, most of the personnel at ABS learned TV operations on the job. The first transmitter for the station was located in San Juan, Rizal.

DZAQ-TV 3 started on a four-hour-a-day schedule, from six to ten in the evening. Although ABS was able to round up 52 advertisers for the premiere telecast, selling spots for regular programming had proven to be difficult since buying radio ad spots was more cost-effective for advertisers. During this time, TV sets cost less than an automobile, and TV reception depended on electrical power, which was not always available.^[6]

The programs aired at that time were usually borrowed films from foreign embassies, imported old cowboy movies, and actual coverage of a variety of events. When the station ran out of presenting any new features, stage plays were transported to television. In 1953, less than a month after the first telecast, Father James Reuter SJ, who had radio and television training, produced the first play on Philippine television entitled Cyrano de Bergerac. The three-hour-long play was aired live and all the talents were students.^[6]

In the beginning, Philippine TV networks would buy the rights to air mediocre American TV programs and serials since it was cheaper than producing local shows. To entice advertisers, as well as to encourage increased viewership, simultaneous airing of programs on radio and television resorted to promotional gimmicks. Many popular radio shows, including, Tawag ng Tanghalan, Kuwentong Kutsero, and Student Canteen, started their life on TV this way.^[6]

In 1955, Radiowealth Inc., a radio manufacturer, began manufacturing television sets. Other local outfits such as Carlsound and Rehco, also started setting up assembly plants. In 1958, the high taxes previously imposed on imported television shows were removed, which made American shows less expensive than locally produced live programming. In April 1955, the Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) was established as a radio medium in 1956 by businessmen Eugenio and Fernando Lopez. In the same year, CBN acquired ABS from Quirino and merged the two companies under Bolinao Electronics Corporation.^[6]

With the establishment of DZXL-TV Channel 9 on April 19, 1958, the Lopez brothers controlled the ABS and CBN television channels.

In 1958, the combined ABS (DZAQ-TV Channel 3) and CBN (DZXL-TV Channel 9) television stations moved to their new studios in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay and the ABS radio facilities moved to the Chronicle Building in the Intramuros District of Manila, the home building of the CBN Radio studios.

Rising popularity (1960–1972)

At the turn of the next decade, TV sets became the most sellable appliance in urban areas.^[6] Also within this period, other VHF TV stations opened. These include DZTV-TV (established on March 1, 1960, by Inter-Island Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), owned by Dick Baldwin and later Andrés Soriano, Sr. of San Miguel Corporation), DZBB-TV (established on October 29, 1961, by Republic Broadcasting System (RBS), owned by Robert Stewart),^[7] DZFM-TV (established in 1961 by the Philippine Broadcasting Service of the Philippine government, now defunct),^[8] DZRH-TV (established on April 11, 1962, by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), owned by Manuel "Manolo" Elizalde Sr.), DZTM-TV (established in July 1962, by Associated Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), owned by Chino Roces, the publisher of The Manila Times),^[9] DZFU-TV (established in August 1962, by FEATI University, now defunct),^[9] and DZKB-TV (established on October 15, 1969, by Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS), owned by Roberto Benedicto). Among the top-rated programs in the 1960s were The Nida-Nestor Show, Buhay Artista, and Pancho Loves Tita. Another local show that has had a prevailing top rating is Tawag ng Tanghalan, the amateur singing contest hosted by Lopito and Patsy.

BEC's DZAQ-TV Channel 3, following the success of the first-ever locally produced television drama Hiwaga sa Bahay na Bato in 1963, staged in 1963 the first-ever test television broadcasts in color using the NTSC system of the Radio Corporation of America and would begin to broadcast in color in 1966. Channel 3 also beat others when it came to educational television initiatives with a one-hour daily slot in the early years of the decade, with Inter-Island 13 following suit.

On February 1, 1967, the corporate name of BEC was changed to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (later adapted the name ABS-CBN Corporation in August 2007 the media conglomerate's diversification although the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation name is still used alternatively nowadays on some contexts). Also, during this year, Radiowealth Inc. pioneered the production of 19-, 21- and 25-inch models of color TV sets. Moreover, it was favored by advertisers like Procter and Gamble, the Philippine Refining Company, Colgate-Palmolive, Del Rosario Brothers, and Caltex. That same year in November 14-15, ABS-CBN broadcast a 36-hour marathon coverage of the 1967 Philippine Senate elections under its coverage name Halalan '67.

In 1969, Filipinos witnessed the live television coverage of the Apollo 11 historic Moon landing. It was the first live telecast via satellite in the country. Channels 5, 7, and 13 tied up for the said project, while ABS-CBN produced its color coverage on DZXL-TV Channel 9 under the name Man on the Moon.^[6] On November 14, 1969, DZAQ-TV transferred from Channel 3 to Channel 2, while its sister station DZXL-TV transferred from Channel 9 to Channel 4. On October 15, 1969, Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS) launched its television network with DZKB-TV Channel 9, which would broadcast in full color. On November 11, ABS-CBN became the first network to use chroma key in Halalan '69, for the 1969 Philippine Presidential elections, while ABC-5, RBS-7, and IBC-13, once again collaborated for the multi-network coverage with Election '69.

By the late 1960s, news and public affairs programs were pioneered by ABS-CBN and ABC.The Big News (in English) on ABC's DZTM-TV Channel 5, first anchored by Bong Lapira and later, Jose Mari Velez and The World Tonight (in English) on ABS-CBN's DZAQ-TV Channel 2, anchored by Henry Halasan were the first news programs on Philippine television, followed in that same period by NewsWatch (in English) of KBS's DZKB-TV Channel 9 and NewsBreak (in English) on ABS-CBN's DZXL-TV Channel 4 featuring Lapira. ABS-CBN pioneered Filipino language news programming in the primetime slots, with DZAQ-TV Channel 2 having Balita Ngayon, once anchored by Ric Tierro and DZXL-TV Channel 4 having Apat na Sulok ng Daigdig, with Orly Mercado as its first presenter. IBC-13 followed up with Mayor Villegas Reports, co-produced with the Manila city government, and National Television News (in English) featuring future NewsWatch anchor Harry Gasser. MBC's DZRH-TV Channel 11 dominated through late night news programs with The 11th Hour News.

By 1971, the Philippines, through Radiowealth Inc., had become the third country in the world to manufacture color TV sets.^[6] By January 1972, the growth of the Philippine television industry was unstoppable. Aside from ABS-CBN's pioneer satellite broadcasts, stations opened up one after the other in many parts of the country beginning in 1961, when DYCB-TV Channel 3, the pioneer provincial television channel, was opened in Cebu City, bringing four hours of locally produced programming with relays of Manila programs.

Martial law era (1972–1986)

When President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in September 1972, he ordered the takeover of media firms. Government troops entered radio and television stations and placed them under military control. All media outlets that were critical of the Marcos administration were padlocked and sequestered.

ABS-CBN was seized by the Office of Press Secretary and the National Media Production Center and DZXL-TV Channel 4 was renamed DWGT-TV Channel 4 (PTV-4), the government-owned channel. KBS, IBC, and RBS were later allowed to operate with limited three-month permits. ABS-CBN was seized from the Lopez family and Eugenio Lopez Jr., president of ABS-CBN, was imprisoned. By late 1973, RBS, which was then under blocktimer Philippine Productions, was sold to Felipe Gozon, who was also the lawyer of Robert Stewart, because foreigners were not allowed to own businesses in the Philippines. RBS later changed its name to GMA Radio-Television Arts (now GMA Network), popularly known as GMA-7.^[7]

On June 6, 1973, a fire destroyed the KBS television studios (originally, the ABS and CBN television studios) on Roxas Boulevard, Pasay. Benedicto took control of the ABS-CBN broadcast center on Bohol Avenue, Quezon City. ABS-CBN, as a network, ceased operations for the next 14 years, and its studios became the broadcasting center of Benedicto's KBS and the government's GTV. A year later, ABS-CBN's DZAQ-TV Channel 2 would reopen as DWWX-TV Channel 2 under Benedicto's Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). In 1976, GTV-4 began color broadcasts.

The Benedicto networks—BBC, KBS, which became Radio Philippines Network (RPN) in 1975, and IBC—served as vehicles of propaganda for the Marcos government while also broadcasting local and overseas entertainment and sports. In 1979, the Benedicto networks moved to the newly built Broadcast City in Diliman, Quezon City. In the same year, Gregorio Cendaña was named Minister of Information. In 1980, GTV-4 was relaunched as Maharlika Broadcasting System (MBS-4).

Initially, the Department of Public Information (later Ministry of Public Information), reviewed everything that was to be aired on radio and TV and set up the rules and regulations. Through other government agencies, policies on ownership, allocation of frequencies, station distribution, and program standards were promulgated. In 1973, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas was created, and this agency allowed for self-regulation. A year later, a presidential decree created the Broadcast Media Council.

The 1974 Miss Universe Pageant, the 1975 Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier heavyweight fight, and the 1981 visit of Pope John Paul II were shown worldwide. When Benigno Aquino was assassinated in 1983, it was a small item on television news. During his historic funeral procession, GMA was allowed only ten seconds of airtime coverage exclusively on the late night news program The 11:30 Report.^[6] For most of the late 1970s to the early 1980s, RPN and IBC were the most-watched channels in terms of ratings. However, in the years leading up to the People Power Revolution, GMA – which was the only independent station – managed to beat the Benedicto-owned duopoly and stayed in the position for the next two years.

The martial law era also jump-started the beginnings of satellite broadcasts linking the entire country by ABS-CBN through trial runs, soon followed by RPN and MBS which started simulcasts of programs from Manila to the provinces across the country, followed by GMA and BBC. Cable television also began at this time when the government, through the DPI, created the first true cable television firm, the Benedicto-owned Sining Makulay Inc., in the late 1970s, after years of trials that began in 1969.

In 1984, Imee Marcos, daughter of Ferdinand Marcos, tried to take over the GMA network but she was successfully prevented by GMA executives, Menardo Jimenez and Felipe Gozon. Afterward, GMA founder Robert Stewart decided to move back to the United States and retire following his utter dissatisfaction with the Marcos regime.^[6] The resistance of network leadership would trigger the beginning of the end of Marcos's dominance in the television industry, for in the months to come, GMA broke from the pack when it began airing interviews by Benigno's widow, Corazon, in 1985 in the lead up to her presidential campaign and the 1986 snap presidential elections that followed.

In addition, the martial law period also jumpstarted an offshoot of current affairs programming – public service and non-news informative programs. GMA Network's Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko, launched in the fall of 1975, was the first and longest public service TV program in the Philippines. Having helped millions of viewers be aware of medical issues, especially among the poor and lower middle class, its success in providing medical care to indigent and poor families, as well as its revelations on the state of health facilities in far-flung communities, led to the creation of the namesake foundation in 1976 and would also begin a new form of Philippine TV programming, that of medical and health-related programs that would inform the public on health matters and on living healthy lives. That was the concept that helped BBC-2 launch its medical affairs TV program in the early 1980s.

Restoration and expansion (1986–2007)

In 1986, in the aftermath of the historic People Power Revolution which ended the 20-year dictatorship of Marcos that forever altered television history, the Benedicto networks BBC, RPN, and IBC were sequestered by the Philippine Commission on Good Government (PCGG). BBC was returned to ABS-CBN through an executive order while RPN and IBC were handed over to the Government Communications Group. ABS-CBN would begin both satellite and international broadcasts (the latter a first for a Philippine TV station) in 1989.

During the latter part of the 1980s, as the once insurmountable RPN and IBC suffered from gross mismanagement and financial crisis which took a toll on their ratings, the struggling ABS-CBN surged ahead to be the undisputed number 1 from 1988 onward. GMA, which retained its owners, faced an uphill battle for ratings supremacy as it ended the 1980s as the No. 2 network after a brief stint in the lead, though it did maintain its position as a leading player in the industry.

Yet even as it encountered financial troubles, RPN in 1990 broke ahead as the first Philippine station ever to have 24-hour broadcasts. By then, ABS-CBN enjoyed a significant lead over not just GMA, but also the now-faltering RPN and IBC.

MBS became the New TV-4 on February 24, 1986, during the third day of the EDSA Revolution, given the fact that soldiers loyal to President Corazon Aquino and civilian supporters took over the channel's broadcast facilities, but later officially rebranded as the People's Television Network (PTV) in April 1986, and in 2001, it was relaunched as the National Broadcasting Network (NBN), before renaming back to the People's Television Network in 2011, albeit in its current Visayas Avenue studios (which was opened in 1992).

ABC returned to broadcast on February 21, 1992. On August 9, 2008, ABC became TV5.

IBC became a 100% government-owned station in the 1990s under a compromise agreement between PCGG and Roberto Benedicto, management and marketing were returned to the IBC Board of Directors.

In 1998, ZOE TV was finally launched on channel 11. The channel was blocktimed by GMA Network in 2005 and was relaunched as QTV in November. The channel was again relaunched in February 2011, this time as GMA News TV. The channel was blocktimed by ABS-CBN in 2020 and was relaunched as A2Z in October.

During the middle 1990s to 2000s, many UHF stations were launched such as SBN 21, Studio 23, Net 25, Citynet 27, RJTV 29, CTV 31, UNTV 37, and NBC 41 among others.

Philippine shows began to be exported to other Asian and non-Asian countries. After the international success of Philippine television (with many TV dramas being broadcast to many countries), Eat Bulaga! was the first Philippine variety show to be franchised in another country. Its first franchise is Eat Bulaga! Indonesia.

Cable television was, in keeping with the 1987 Constitution and the Aquino government policies, removed as a state responsibility in 1988. In this new atmosphere of privatized cable came what is today the cable firm Sky Cable, created in 1990. 11 years later, Dream Satellite TV began operations as the country's first Direct-broadcast satellite television service, lasting up until 2017.

Shift to digital (2007–present)

In 2007, ABS-CBN Corporation applied for a license from the National Telecommunications Commission to operate a digital terrestrial television service in the country.

In 2008, Sky Cable became the first cable network to adopt digital television, and Cignal, the country's first digital direct-broadcast satellite television service, made its debut in February 2009.

In 2009, ABS-CBN started to test digital transmission using the European DVB-T standard. On July 11, 2009, ABS-CBN launched Balls HD in Sky Cable, the first-ever high-definition television channel in the country. On the same day, Balls also showed the live broadcast of the first-ever locally produced coverage of an event in high-definition.

In 2010, Government-controlled television stations in Manila started to test digital transmission using the Brazilian ISDB-Tb standard. In June 2010, NTC announced that the country would formally adopt the ISDB-Tb standard for digital terrestrial television. In 2011, ABS-CBN started to test ISDB-Tb transmission and released a trial version of its set-top boxes manufactured by American communications equipment supplier Atlanta DTH, Inc. GMA Network, TV5, and other commercial television networks also started their test during this time. However, GMA Network opposed the decision made by NTC and asked NTC to reconsider the European DVB-T for its superior quality.

On February 11, 2015, ABS-CBN Corporation formally launched its ABS-CBN TV Plus service to the public in a ceremony in Quezon City. On October 3, 2015, ABS-CBN became the first national Philippine television network to broadcast in high-definition on cable.

On May 25, 2018, Solar Entertainment Corporation released a DTV product called Easy TV (Philippines) Originally as a mobile TV dongle service, it later distributed digital set-top boxes, as well as freemium digital TV channels until its discontinuation on September 30, 2019.

On July 30, 2018, ABS-CBN TVplus conducted a free trial of the new set of freemium channels using UHF Channel 16 (485.143 MHz). It includes cable channels from sister company Creative Programs: O Shopping (also aired as overnight programming for ABS-CBN), Jeepney TV, and Myx (which previously had a complimentary channel Myx2 before TVplus launched in 2015). Also included in the lineup are two new exclusive digital channels, Asianovela Channel and Movie Central. Initially, the five new channels will be beamed from Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro, with plans to extend its coverage to existing ABS-CBN DTV stations.

On June 1, 2019, ABS-CBN launched a digital TV dongle called ABS-CBN TVplus Go for Android smartphones. It was initially available in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Benguet, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Iloilo, Bacolod, Metro Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Metro Davao.

On May 5, 2020, ABS-CBN TVplus was affected by the cease-and-desist order (CDO) issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Solicitor General Jose Calida due to the expiration of ABS-CBN's franchise. ABS-CBN's main channel and S+A ceased broadcasting, as well as the regional digital stations operated by ABS-CBN. Some TVplus channels resumed broadcasting on May 8, but in a limited coverage (Metro Manila, Laguna province, Iloilo province, and selected areas of Baguio) through a blocktime agreement with an unnamed third-party broadcast company. On June 1, 2020, Jeepney TV and Asianovela Channel resumed broadcasting and took over the channel spaces of ABS-CBN and S+A respectively.

On June 26, 2020, GMA Network launched its digital set-top box service, GMA Affordabox to the public.

On June 30, 2020, all the digital channels of ABS-CBN TVplus stopped operations due to the alias cease-and-desist order (ACDO) issued by the National Telecommunications Commission, until it was resumed in 2021 as Digital TV Receiver.

On September 10, 2021, TV5 Network Inc. launched its digital set-top box service, Sulit TV to the public.

Weekdays

While TV programs vary from station to station, some generalizations can be made. Most commercial television stations sign on between the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. every morning. Early morning hours are dominated by breakfast and news programs, and these run from around 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. They are then replaced by acquired cartoon or anime programming that targets children, and later programs movie blocks which airs blockbuster films whether foreign (dubbed) or Filipino made films. In some television stations they air Morning Talk Shows. These run until 12 noon and they start airing Noontime Shows, these run until 2:30 pm which later airs afternoon teleseryes or Movie Blocks in some tv stations. At 5:10 pm (for GMA) regional newscasts start to air for around 30 minutes. And after airing regional newscast they air either an afternoon game/variety show or Korean Dramas. At 6:30 p.m. and/or 5:00 p.m. (formerly 6pm) flagship newscasts like TV Patrol, 24 Oras, Tutok 13 and Frontline Pilipinas, start airing to deliver latest updates for 90 minutes (formerly 60 minutes), these run until 8:00 p.m. in the evening and starts airing primetime teleseryes which run until 10:20 p.m (for GMA every Mon-Thurs and 9:35 pm for Fri with delayed telecast on GTV weeknights at 9:40 pm to 11:05 pm and 11:25 pm to 12:10 pm for Mon-Thurs) and 9:30 pm (for Kapamilya Channel/A2Z/TV5 with delayed telecast on Jeepney TV weeknights at 10:15 pm to 12 mn). Formerly primetime programs air weekly programs whether comedy, drama or horror as well as foreign series, cartoons and animes. They air between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. (previously from 7:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. onwards). The usage was stop sometime between August 28, 2006 (for ABS-CBN) and April 12, 2010 (for GMA) due to the competition for higher ratings in primetime. From the 1990s to 2001, they air weekly foreign cartoons and animes like Pokémon (GMA); The Simpsons, Dragon Ball (RPN); The Real Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman: The Animated Series, Beast Wars: Transformers, Digimon (ABS-CBN) which they air on their evening timeslots. Around 10:45 p.m., 11 p.m. or 11:30 p.m. They start to air late-night newscasts which airs ranging 30 to 45 minutes. Formerly, they air weekly current/public affairs programs after late-night newscasts, but now they only air during weekends, they were then replaced by K-dramas or Religious programs. During 2000s to 2010s they air Up-Late Programs like Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman (GMA); The Medyo Late Night Show with Jojo A. (RJTV/Q/TV5/GMA/PTV); Games Uplate Live, Music Uplate Live, O Shopping (ABS-CBN) which they air from around 12:00 m.n. to 2:00 a.m.

Weekends

For weekends, it differs from weekday programming, they start signing on from around 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m depends on the network. For Saturdays they air medical programs at 6 am (like Pinoy M.D. on GMA at 6:30 am, Health @ Home on PTV at 7 am Dok True Ba? on IBC at 8 am) and airs Sunday Mass for Sundays. Around 7am they air educational programs targetting children. at around later they start airing Cartoons or Anime, that targets children. After that they air movie blocks then when it hits at 11:30 a.m. (for Eat Bulaga! on TV5 and RPTV) and 12:00 nn (for It's Showtime on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, GMA, GTV and All TV) (every Saturday) and 12:00 nn (every Sunday), they start to air noontime shows and noontime newscasts (like Sentro Balita Weekend on PTV). For Sunday it is different than the weeklong variety shows, they air musical variety shows reserved for only Sundays. After airing Noontime Shows, they air either a movie block or an original series (like Sunday Blockbusters on Kapamilya Channel and A2Z at 2:15 pm, Cine Cinco Astig Sunday on TV5 at 2:15 pm, GMA Blockbusters on GMA at 2 pm, Sine Date Weekends at 12 nn and Afternoon Movie Break at 2 pm on GTV and Sunday Combo Panalo on RPTV at 11:30 am). Around afternoon, they air current/public affairs programs and switch to weekend newscasts that formerly airs around midnight (like TV Patrol Weekend on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, ANC, TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Prime TV and All TV, Ulat Bayan Weekend on PTV, Frontline Pilipinas Weekend on TV5, One PH and RPTV (sometimes as a delayed telecast), 24 Oras Weekend on GMA and GTV). At around 6:00 p.m. Comedy Programs are aired at that time and by 7:00 p.m. Reality programs are aired, sometimes airing of acquired game shows. by 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. anthology programs start to air on Saturdays and on Sundays News Magazine type of programs airs (like Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho on GMA at 8:15 pm and GTV at 9:25 pm). Current/Public affairs programs start to air around 10:00 p.m. until midnight. for Saturdays and for Sundays they air Specials or Movie Blocks for around 10:00 p.m.

Drama

Teleseryes are a staple and popular genre for Philippine Television which broadcasts every weekdays. All major TV networks in the Philippines produce a variety of drama series including romance, comedies, horror, fantasies etc.

Fantaserye and Telefantasya

Fantaserye or telefantasya is a genre of Philippine television programming which mixes soap opera, telenovela, fantasy, myth, magic and enchantment. The episodes are usually 30 minutes long and have a daily slot in the evening primetime row. Popular fantaseryes include Marina, and telefantasya like Encantadia.

Sitcoms

Sitcoms are popular in the television usually airs weekends and formerly airs weeknights. Sitcoms include Pepito Manaloto (GMA's longest running sitcom), Everybody Hapi (TV5's first sitcom after rebrand), and Palibhasa Lalake (ABS-CBN's first sitcom after re-opening in 1986).

Variety Shows

Since 1958, network television programs in the Philippines have featured variety shows as staples at the midday hour. The popularity of bodabil (vaudeville) in the first half of the 20th century had an impact on the earliest noontime variety television shows in the Philippines. Since then, the format has changed to reflect the times, adding aspects of reality television in the 2000s. The majority of television's noontime variety shows are independently produced by blocktimers, who pay television networks a certain length of time to screen their show. However, a few TV networks have succeeded in producing only these kinds of shows, with varying degrees of success in terms of viewership and ad income.

Most of the variety shows air around noontime slot, Willing Willie was the first variety show that aired primetime, airing against TV Patrol of ABS-CBN and 24 Oras of GMA. It was the variety show that aired primetime after the main host left at ABS-CBN causing the end of Wowowee, which airs at noontime slot.

Major television networks

• A2Z: On October 6, 2020, ABS-CBN entered an blocktime agreement with ZOE Broadcasting Network that rebranded ZOE TV into A2Z on October 10. Both media networks entered an airtime leasing on May 30, 2022.^[10] The channel was available in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, and other cable and satellite providers including ABS-CBN's Sky Cable. The channel's programming included some of the ABS-CBN programs and movies and its other sister television networks, as well as feature content from ZOE TV's sister station Light TV and its content partners CBN Asia and Trinity Broadcasting Network.
• GMA Network: Launched on October 29, 1961, by American journalist Robert Stewart under the name Republic Broadcasting System (RBS), it was the fourth television station launched in the Philippines. The network was shut down on September 23, 1972, due to martial law but returned in December of the same year after it was allowed by the government. In 1974, RBS changed its name to GMA Radio-Television Arts after the takeover by the new management by the triumvirate composed of Gilberto Duavit Sr., Menardo Jimenez, and Felipe Gozon. It eventually became one of the top stations in the country. The network was rebranded as GMA Rainbow Satellite Network in 1992 before it adopted its current name GMA Network in 1995.
• TV5: Launched on July 1962,^[9] by Chino Roces of The Manila Times as ABC, it was the seventh television station launched in the Philippines. On September 23, 1972, ABC was one of the networks forcefully shut down by then-President Ferdinand Marcos due to the implementation of martial law. On February 21, 1992, ABC returned to television and became the fastest-growing network. On August 9, 2008, the network was relaunched as TV5. The network is currently owned by PLDT's media arm, MediaQuest Holdings of Manny V. Pangilinan.
• GTV: is a Philippine free-to-air television network owned and operated by Citynet Network Marketing and Productions Inc. It was launched on February 22, 2021, replacing GMA News TV on its flagship station, UHF Channel 27 Metro Manila, and its provincial relay stations.
• RPTV: is a Philippine free-to-air television channel operated by TV5 Network, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. media arm of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund; on behalf of Nine Media Corporation, the controlling owner of Radio Philippines Network (RPN), a subsidiary of the ALC Group of Companies. It was launched on February 1, 2024, replacing CNN Philippines on its flagship station.

Government-owned television networks

• Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC): is a Philippine-based media company and VHF television network of the Government Communications Group under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). IBC, along with sister stations Radio Philippines Network and sister media companies People's Television Network and Philippine Broadcasting Service, forms the media arm of the PCO. Its studios, offices, and broadcast facilities are located at the IBC Compound, Lot 3-B, Capitol Hills Drive cor. Zuzuarregui Street, Barangay Matandang Balara, Diliman, Quezon City.
• People's Television Network (PTV): is the flagship state broadcaster owned by the Government of the Philippines. Founded in February 2, 1974 by Lito Gorospe and Francisco Tatad, PTV is the main brand of People's Television Network, Inc. (PTNI), one of the attached agencies under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). PTV, along with sister media companies Radio Philippines Network (minority-owned) and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, and radio network Philippine Broadcasting Service, forms the media arm of the PCO. Its head office, studios, and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Barangay Vasra, Diliman, Quezon City.
• Radio Philippines Network (RPN) (20% minority share; currently carries RPTV): is a Filipino-based media company based in Quezon City. It is the flagship media property of Nine Media Corporation of the ALC Group of Companies; along with the Government Communications Group under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and Far East Managers and Investors Inc., owned by the family of company founder Roberto Benedicto under the name Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS), among others, as major shareholders. RPN, along with sister stations Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation and sister media companies People's Television Network and Philippine Broadcasting Service, forms the media arm of the PCO. The network's main offices and transmitter are located at RPN Compound, Panay Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle, Diliman also in Quezon City.

Minor television networks

• Southern Broadcasting Network (SBN) (currently carries SolarFlix): is a Filipino-owned media company based radio and television network based in Metro Manila. SBN is a subsidiary of Solar Entertainment Corporation, a Filipino-owned television company managed by the Tieng family.
• Net 25: is a television network owned and operated by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation (EBC). EBC is owned by the key members of the independent Christian church, the Iglesia ni Cristo. The network is named for its flagship station in Metro Manila, DZEC-DTV, which is carried on UHF channel 28 on digital terrestrial TV and has carried by major cable operators in the country. The station's broadcast facilities are located at EBC Building #25 Central Ave., Barangay Culiat, New Era, Quezon City.
• RJTV: is a Philippine television and radio network owned by guitarist-singer-businessman Ramon "RJ" Jacinto. The network's studio headquarters is located at Ventures I Bldg., Makati Ave. cor. Gen. Luna St., Makati.
• BEAM TV: is a telecommunications company in the Philippines with a primary focus on UHF broadcasting and digital terrestrial television for the convergence of multimedia.^[11] It is owned by Bethlehem Holdings, Inc., a media investment company of Globe Telecom through its Retirement Fund group.^[12]
• UNTV: is the flagship television network of the Progressive Broadcasting Corporation (known on air as UNTV-PBC). Together with Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (known on air as UNTV-BMPI), the network's content provider and marketing arm and Christian religious organization Members Church of God International (MCGI), its major blocktimer. DWAO-TV is one of very few NTSC-System M stations in the world that broadcast on Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Channel 37. In 2019, UNTV transferred its studios from the old UNTV Building at 907 EDSA Quezon City to La Verdad Christian College (LVCC) Caloocan Building, 351 EDSA, Brgy. Bagong Barrio West, Caloocan. UNTV transmitter is located at Emerald Hills, Sumulong Highway in Antipolo, Rizal. The 16-storey UNTV Broadcast Center, also referred to as The Millennial Tower and now called The Philippine Broadcast Hub along EDSA Philam is currently under construction to serve as its new headquarters.
• All TV: is a TV station owned and operated by Advanced Media Broadcasting System of businessman and former senator Manny Villar. Its broadcast facilities and studios are located at the Starmalls EDSA Complex, EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.^[13]
• Aliw Channel 23: is a Philippine television network owned and operated by Aliw Broadcasting Corporation. The network broadcasts on UHF Channel 23 via digital terrestrial television in Metro Manila.

Specialty channels

• One Sports: is a television station of TV5 Network Inc. with Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as its primary content provider and was launched on March 8, 2020. One Sports serves as a sports channel for The 5 Network with its programs primarily produced by its sports division of the same name. It was formerly called 5 Plus, when it was launched on January 13, 2019, and AksyonTV, a Filipino-language news channel launched by TV5 in 2011–2019.
• Heart of Asia Channel: known on-air as Heart of Asia, is a Philippine free-to-air television channel owned by GMA Network Inc. The channel was on test broadcast from June 12–28, 2020;^[14] and was officially launched on June 29, 2020.^[15]
• I Heart Movies: is a Philippine free-to-air television channel owned by GMA Network Inc. The channel was on test broadcast from March 22, 2021, until March 31, 2021, and was officially launched on April 5, 2021.^[16][17][18]
• TeleRadyo Serbisyo: is a Philippine pay television channel owned by MediaSerbisyo Corporation, a joint venture between Prime Media Holdings (through subsidiary Philippine Collective Media Corporation) and ABS-CBN Corporation, with ABS-CBN News as its main content provider, it was launched on June 30, 2023 coinciding with DWPM Radyo 630 under the joint venture of Prime Media and ABS-CBN.

Religious television networks

• Light TV (Jesus Is Lord Church): is a UHF digital television station of ZOE Broadcasting Network. DZOZ-DTV studios are located on the 22nd Floor, Strata 2000 Bldg., Emerald Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig. Its transmitter is located at ZOE Compound Center, Crestview Heights Subdivision, Barangay San Roque, Antipolo, Rizal.
• Hope Channel Philippines (Seventh-day Adventist Church, Gateway UHF Television Broadcasting): is a religious network of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Philippines. Its TV stations are owned by Gateway UHF Television Broadcasting, while its radio stations are owned by Digital Broadcasting Corporation.^[19] Founded and launched on September 26, 2010, in the South Philippines (its main service broadcast provider),^[20] and in January 2011 in Luzon and Visayas.^[21][22]
• INC TV (Christian Era Broadcasting Service International): is the flagship UHF television station of Christian Era Broadcasting Service International, a broadcast ministry of the independent Philippine Christian church,^[23] the Iglesia ni Cristo. INC TV studios and transmitters are located at Redeemer Street, Milton Hills Subdivision, Brgy. New Era, Quezon City.
• Truth Channel (formerly known as Ang Dating Daan Television or ADDTV) is a Philippine religious television network founded in 2014 as ADDTV and then launched on September 3, 2017 as Truth Channel. It is the flagship television network of the Members Church of God International (MCGI), together with UNTV News and Rescue, the network's carrier on free-to-air digital terrestrial television (DTT). It is known for its broadcast of Itanong mo kay Soriano and Ang Dating Daan hosted by International Televangelist Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya Daniel Razon. It broadcasts 24 hours a day on Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Channel 38 in Metro and Mega Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, and some parts of Tarlac.
• TV Maria: is a national Catholic television channel broadcasting from Manila, Philippines. Owned by TV Maria Foundation Philippines (a non-profit, non-stock organization under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila), it airs 24 hours a day and is currently available on major and provincial cable operators, on digital terrestrial television broadcasts via RJ Digital TV's DTT subchannel in Mega Manila and GNN's DTT subchannel.

Regional television networks

Defunct/Inactive television network(s)

• ABS-CBN: Before its shutdown, ABS-CBN was the first, oldest, and largest television network in the country and it is owned and controlled by the Lopez Group of Companies. The network was launched on October 23, 1953, as Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) on DZAQ-TV Channel 3 by Antonio Quirino and James Lindenberg. ABS was soon acquired by the owner of Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN), Don Eugenio Lopez Sr. on February 24, 1957, with CBN launching its TV station on DZXL-TV Channel 9 a year later. In 1961, ABS and CBN merged to form ABS-CBN and became the Philippines' largest network. On May 5, 2020, the network was ordered to stop broadcasting by the National Telecommunications Commission after its franchise expired. On July 10, 2020, the Philippine Congress rejected its franchise renewal due to alleged violations in their franchise and other legal issues such as failure to regularize employees,^[24] using pay-per-view channels in the free-to-air franchise,^[25] and alleged political meddling and bias during 2016 elections.^[26][27] Before this, President Rodrigo Duterte himself accused ABS-CBN of allegedly being biased against his administration and vowed to block the renewal of their franchise. But critics of his administration, human rights groups, and several media unions said that the shutdown of ABS-CBN is an attack on press freedom and democracy in the country.^[28][29] The network operations were also stopped by then-President Ferdinand Marcos on September 23, 1972, when he declared martial law until its return on the airwaves on September 14, 1986 (a few months after the ousting of Marcos during the People Power Revolution).^[28]
• Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• 5 Plus
• AksyonTV
• Studio 23
• GMA News TV
• ABS-CBN Sports and Action (S+A)
• CNN Philippines: is a free-to-air, commercial broadcast, cable and satellite television network in the Philippines. It is owned and operated by Nine Media Corporation, together with Radio Philippines Network (RPN) as the main content provider, under license from Warner Bros. Discovery. Replacing 9TV, CNN Philippines was launched on March 16, 2015.^[30] CNN Philippines is the fifth local franchise of CNN in Asia, after CNN Indonesia, CNN Türk, CNN Arabic, and CNN-IBN (now CNN-News18 in India).
• SMNI: is a news and public affairs television network based in Makati City. It is owned and operated by Swara Sug Media Corporation , the parent company of Sonshine Media Network International, a religious broadcasting arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) led by Filipino televangelist and church leader pastor Apollo Quiboloy.^[31]
• Salaam TV: was a Philippine government-owned Islamic channel owned by the Presidential Communications Office through the People's Television Network (PTV). The channel's main programming is solely focused on Filipino Muslims and other Islamic communities in the Philippines.
• Hallypop
• Pinoy Hits: is a Filipino digital television channel owned by GMA Network Inc. The channel conducted a test broadcast on January 2, 2023, and officially launched on January 16.
• QTV/Q
• C/S 9