The following is a list of events affecting Philippine television in 2008. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and carriage disputes.
Events
January January 1: All of Solar's channels have ceased to air on Sky Cable, the Philippines' largest cable company. An insider claims that these troubles with SkyCable started when boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, whose fights Solar Entertainment has the exclusive right to air and distribute, moved from ABS-CBN, a sister company of Sky, to rival GMA. However, Solar signed a deal with local terrestrial channels ABC, RPN, SBN and RJTV for block-time programming, ETC, 2nd Avenue and C/S programming are seen on terrestrial TV. Currently, ETC shows can be seen on SBN and 2nd Avenue on RJTV on a test broadcast basis, while C/S will be seen on RPN. ETC ceased to air over Sky Cable as a channel on its own right. However, as part of block-time agreements with various terrestrial channels, ETC carried some of its programs over Southern Broadcasting Network Channel 21, a terrestrial UHF TV Station in Metro Manila and selected cities in the Philippines. January 5: Comedian Ruben Gonzaga wins the second season of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition.
May May 5: The 4th originating station of Kapuso Network started airing is GMA Dagupan, which covers Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Benguet, La Union, Abra, Ifugao and Mountain Province after the establishment of Cebu, Iloilo and Davao together with the launching of Balitang Amianan (now One North Central Luzon). May 11: Miss Philippines Earth 2008, the 8th edition of Miss Philippines Earth pageant, was held at Crowne Plaza Galleria, Ortigas Center, Manila, Philippines. Miss Karla Henry of Cebu won the pageant.
June June 7: 18-year-old Ejay Falcon wins the second season of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition.
August August 8: After 16 years of broadcast, ABC 5 ended its commercial operations on Friday evening at 22:00 (10:00 pm). August 9: at 19:00 (7:00 pm) local time, ABC 5 was rebranded as TV5 and launched its new programs.Tony Boy takes a partner INQUIRER.net However, despite the name change, the corporate name will still be Associated Broadcasting Company and Tonyboy Cojuangco will remain its CEO. August 17: Gretchen Espina wins the first season of Pinoy Idol.
September September 14 - Laarni Lozada emerged as the Grand Star Dreamer of Pinoy Dream Academy season 2 September 25 – The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles clinched the UAAP Season 71 men's basketball title after defeating their archrivals De La Salle University Green Archers 2–0 in game 2 of the best-of-three finals series held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. This was their 4th basketball championship title since they last won in UAAP Season 65 in 2002.
October October 1 - ABS-CBN unveils the TV plug "Beyond Television", describing its transformation from a small television network in October 23, 1953 into a full-fledged media conglomerate with businesses beyond television. October 5 - Philip Cesar Nadela emerged as the Little Grand Star Dreamer of Pinoy Dream Academy: Little Dreamers. October 17: GMA Network opens their new studio complex which was known as the new GMA Network Studios Annex. The opening ceremony is in a red-carpet premiere. The new studio's inaugural is being part of the network's 58th anniversary, the presentation is titled Experience GMA: 58 Years of Glorious Television.
November November 3: Anthony Solis wins the 1 million pesos of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal. November 9: Miss Earth 2008 was hosted by the Philippines at Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles City, Philippines. Karla Henry of the Philippines won the pageant. November 17: Rey Beltran wins the 1.1 million pesos of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal. November 25: Aiko Melendez and Candy Pangilinan win the 1 million pesos of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal.
December December 1: Jhaphet Flordeliza wins the 1 million pesos of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal. December 11: Arnel Pineda of Journey wins the 1 million pesos of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal.
Premieres