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. 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. The company started with the launching of its first AM radio station in Manila through DZBB. 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.GMA Gold: Fifty Years of Broadcast History, Chelo Banal Formoso (ed.), GMA Network. 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. In 1963, DYSS Television was launched in Cebu. On May 28, 1974, the company was renamed as Republic Broadcasting System Inc. A triumvirate composed of Gilberto Duavit Sr., Menardo Jimenez and Felipe Gozon took over the company from Stewart at the same year.
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. 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. GMA Network Inc., Management
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.
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.
I Heart Movies
I Heart Movies is a movie channel owned by GMA Network Inc. Its programming consisting of films produced and distributed by GMA Pictures. The channel was initially launched on March 25, 2021, and officially launched on April 5, 2021.
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. GMA Pinoy TV is available in cities in the United States, Canada, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Morocco, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Zambia and some parts of Asia and Europe. Inquirer.Net, Business Stories
GMA Life TV
On February 16, 2008, GMA International launched its second international channel, GMA Life TV. It carries programming from GMA Network and its former lifestyle channel in the Philippines, Q. It also carries new programs broadcast by the news channel, GMA News TV. GMA Life TV is available through cable and satellite television providers worldwide.
GMA News TV
On July 1, 2011, GMA International launched its third international channel, GMA News TV (formerly GMA News TV International). Its programming consisting of news and public affairs programs produced by GMA Integrated News and GMA Public Affairs. The channel is available through cable and satellite television providers worldwide. It is the third international channel of GMA Network Inc. after GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV.https://web.archive.org/web/20110717141654/http://www.gmapinoytv.com.ph/ver1/article.php?aid=328
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 +Branding and CallsignFrequencyBroadcast LocationSuper Radyo DYSP909 kHzPalawanSuper Radyo DYSS999 kHzCebuSuper Radyo DYSI1323 kHzIloiloSuper Radyo DXRC1287 kHzZamboangaSuper Radyo DXGM1125 kHzDavao
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.
Provincial FM Stations +CallsignBrandingFrequencyBroadcast LocationDWWQBarangay LS 89.389.3 MHzTuguegaraoDWRABarangay LS 92.792.7 MHzBaguioDWTLBarangay LS 93.593.5 MHzDagupanDWQLBarangay LS 91.191.1 MHzLucenaDYHYBarangay LS 97.597.5 MHzPalawanDWQWBarangay LS 101.5101.5 MHzNagaDWCWBarangay LS 96.396.3 MHzLegazpiDYRUBarangay RU Super Radyo 92.992.9 MHzKaliboDYMKBarangay LS 93.593.5 MHzIloiloDYENBarangay LS 107.1107.1 MHzBacolodDYRTBarangay LS 99.599.5 MHzCebuDXLXBarangay LS 100.7100.7 MHzCagayan De OroDXRVBarangay LS 103.5103.5 MHzDavaoDXCJBarangay FM Super Radyo 102.3102.3 MHzGeneral Santos
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.P168m for GMA-7's transmission upgrade. Manila Standard Today, October 6, 2006. 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.GMA Network H1 profit P934M, dips a bit on high operating, expansion costs. GMANews.tv, Accessed April 30, 2007. 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 Davao, Cebu, Guimaras, Bacolod, Iloilo, Batangas, Dagupan, Cagayan de Oro and Benguet.
GMA Network Center
GMA Network, Inc. inaugurated its state-of-the-art GMA Network Center on June 14, 2000, as part of the year-round celebration to commemorate its 50th anniversary. GMA Network Center supports GMA Network, Inc.'s thrusts towards digitization and media convergence. While the first phase of the project has already been completed with the construction of the 17-storey corporate complex, the center has an option to upgrade the older, existing facilities in the GMA compound, as originally planned.
GMA Kapuso Center GMA Kapuso Center is a 3-storey building located on Samar Avenue cor. GMA Network Drive in Quezon City, inside the GMA Complex. It is the main office of GMA Kapuso Foundation, as well as Kapuso Action Center.
GMA Network Studios The GMA Network Studios consist of seven studios and are named Studios 1-7 (except German Moreno Studio) based on their size. Studio 1 and Studio 4 (formerly known as Studio A and Studio B, respectively) were the first two old studios of GMA Network which is located in the old compound (formerly known as the RBS compound), which is being demolished as of April 2023 to make way for the construction of a new studio building. Studio 2, 3, and 5 are located in GMA Network Center building. The German Moreno Studio (formerly Studio 6) and Studio 7, the largest studios of GMA Network, are located in the GMA Network Studio Annex. Studio 1 was the network's oldest studio which housed the programs of GMA News TV (formerly QTV/Q, now GTV), along with Radio-Television Arts-era programs such as Student Canteen and Weekend with Velez.