The following is a list of events affecting Philippine television in 2016. 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 Charo Santos-Concio retired as president and CEO of the ABS-CBN Corporation and is succeeded by its COO, Carlo L. Katigbak, although she retains her role as chief content officer, president of ABS-CBN University, and executive adviser to the chairman Gabby Lopez. S+A launched in high-definition as S+A HD on Sky Cable, Destiny Cable and Sky Direct. It became the second high-definition cable channel of ABS-CBN Corporation after ABS-CBN HD on October 3, 2015 and also served as the replacement of Balls HD that closed on December 31, 2015. GMA Network Inc. formally unveiled the newest version of Lupang Hinirang (Philippine national anthem) aired during sign-on and sign-off of GMA and GMA News TV and the first screening and last full show of films in selected SM cinemas. January 2 – Tawag ng Tanghalan officially returned as a segment of ABS-CBN's noontime variety show, It's Showtime which also used as first and second iterations from 1953 to 1972 and from 1987 to 1989. January 7 – Netflix was launched in the Philippines along with 130 countries, as part of the streaming service's global expansion. January 8 – Janine Tugonon wins the 1 million pesos of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal. January 25 – President Benigno Aquino III approved the privatization plans of the government-sequestered television network Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) thru public bidding.
February February 1 ABS-CBN's primetime series On the Wings of Love apologizes to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on a complaint of using a police uniform on James Reid's character in a striptease scene with Nadine Lustre's character in the January 11 episode of the drama series. GMA Network's Wowowin returned to the airwaves now as a daily afternoon program. February 4 – FITE TV, a streaming service owned by Flipps Media Inc., was launched and became available in the Philippines. February 7 – Lucky Aces was named the first-ever Dance Kids grand champion held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World Manila. February 12 – ABS-CBN's noontime variety show, It's Showtime launched its all-female dance group known as the GirlTrends consisting of 21 talents from Star Magic, Pinoy Big Brother and other programs. February 13 – After 19 years and a month of its broadcast programming run, Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman aired its final episode as the original host, German Moreno died on January 8, making the longest-running variety show on Philippine television. February 21 – The first leg of the PiliPinas Debates 2016, a COMELEC-organized presidential debate held at the Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro and aired on GMA Network. February 26 – TV5 and Radio Mindanao Network joined forces for comprehensive election coverage for the 2016 Presidential Elections signed by TV5 President & CEO Emmanuel Lorenzana and RMN Chairman & President Eric Canoy of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) together of TV5's for Bilang Pilipino 2016 Election Coverage of RMN for the widen reach audiences in Visayas and Mindanao TV5 and RMN Networks join forces alliance for the 2016 Presidential Debate on March 20 in Cebu City after ABC 5–Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Election Coverage The Vote '98, Bilang Bayan 2004 and Bilang Bayan 2007 in 1998, 2004 and 2007.
March March 1 – WWE Network, a streaming service owned by WWE, became available in the Philippines. March 15 – ABS-CBN News Channel launched in high-definition as ANC HD on Sky Cable and Destiny Cable. It is the third high-definition cable channel of ABS-CBN Corporation after ABS-CBN HD and S+A HD. March 16 – ABS-CBN Corporation forged a partnership with Viva Films and Regal Entertainment for the broadcast rights of their respective films in ABS-CBN's free-to-air networks, cable channels, video on demand, and global assets. At the same time, ABS-CBN also signed a deal with Artikulo Uno Productions for the broadcast rights of Heneral Luna. March 18 – Sky Direct was launched as the third direct-to-home satellite provider in the Philippines. March 20 – The second leg of the PiliPinas Debates 2016, a COMELEC-organized presidential debate held at the Performing Arts Hall of the University of the Philippines, Cebu City and aired on TV5.
April April 10 – The Metro Manila leg of the PiliPinas Debates 2016, a COMELEC-organized first vice presidential debate held at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila and aired on CNN Philippines. April 17 Maxine Medina, a graduate of the Philippine School of Interior Design with experience in designing residential condominiums and a model, is crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2016 during the coronation night of the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The Harapan ng Bise: The ABS-CBN Vice Presidential Debate, a televised debate created and organized by ABS-CBN held at the ABS-CBN Compound. April 23 – Yohan Hwang, a Korean tourist based in Manila, won the first Grand Touristar title of the reality competition show I Love OPM at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila in Pasay. April 24 The third leg of the PiliPinas Debates 2016, a COMELEC-organized presidential debate held at the University of Pangasinan, Dagupan and aired on ABS-CBN. "Dalawang Letra", a song entry composed by Pinoy Dream Academy alumnus Davey Langit and interpreted by Itchyworms band was named as Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs grand winner held at Kia Theater. This was aired on ABS-CBN's Sunday's Best. April 30 – The DLSU Lady Spikers wins the UAAP Season 78 women's volleyball championship title after defeating the Ateneo Lady Eagles 2–1 in a best-of-three series. This was their 9th championship title since they won their last title in 2013.
May May 1 – The ABS-CBN News Channel celebrated its 20th anniversary. May 9–10 – All Philippine TV networks (including ABS-CBN, GMA & TV5) had its special coverage of the 2016 elections. May 22 – Power Duo, composed of couple Anjanette and Gervin from Angono, Rizal, wins the fifth season of Pilipinas Got Talent, the grand finals of which were held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. May 27 – The Walt Disney Company, through its partner Globe Telecom, launched three separated video entertainment streaming service apps dedicated to Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD, replacing the three "Watch" apps of the same channels. May 29 – Shanne Dandan was hailed as Born to Be a Star Season 1 grand winner.
June June 13 – ABS-CBN Corporation celebrated its 70th anniversary of original establishment in 1946. June 20 - Dan-ag sa Dakbayan Broadcasting Corporation of Ozamiz City launched DXDD Radio-Television on Fil Products Ozamiz. Later, the channel launched on Misamis Cable TV. June 30 – Jessy Mendiola, a television actress, is hailed as The Nation's Sexiest Woman in FHM Philippines' 2016 100 Sexiest List. June 30 – James Reid, a television actor, leads as Sexiest Man in the Philippines in Sexiest Male in the Philippines' 2014 & 2016 100 Sexiest List.
July July 11 – Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza were declared as The Most Beautiful Stars of 2016 of YES! magazine. July 17 – The all-male group Tres Kantos, of Bugoy Drilon, Jovit Baldivino, and former Tawag ng Tanghalan contestant Dominador Aviola, mentored by Erik Santos, were named the first winner as Grand Celebriteam of We Love OPM during the show's live finale at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.
August August 21 – Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, collectively known as AlDub, and Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, collectively known as KathNiel, and other Kapamilya and Kapuso personalities and programs were among the winners at the 2016 PEP List Awards night held at the Crown Plaza Hotel. August 28 – Joshua Oliveros, coached by Lea Salonga, won the third season of The Voice Kids, the grand finals of which were held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.
September September 2 – Abigail Abion was hailed as KemboTitas grand winner on It's Showtime. September 3 – Sonshine Media Network International is added to Cignal TV Channel 186 on their channel lineup. September 14 – ABS-CBN Corporation celebrated its 30th anniversary of re-establishment following the People Power Revolution. September 26 – Jodi Sta. Maria and Bridges of Love were nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Actress for her work in Pangako Sa 'Yo and an International Emmy Award for best telenovela respectively at the 2016 International Emmy Awards.
October October 4 – During the 30th anniversary celebration held recently at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay, DZMM announced the launch of the noontime national newscast Headline Pilipinas, airing exclusively on DZMM TeleRadyo anchored by Tony Velasquez, together with ABS-CBN Cebu's Leo Lastimosa and ABS-CBN Davao's Melanie Severino. October 15 – Names Going Wild from Halo Halloween 2015 was hailed as Clash of Champions grand winner on It's Showtime. October 22 Team Anne, Amy and Joey hailed as the seventh anniversary (Magpasikat 2016, haPITOgether) champion on It's Showtime. Turbo Zone celebrated its 5th anniversary in Philippine television. October 29 – Joj & Jai Agpangan was hailed as COC - Clash of Celebrities Round 2 grand winner on It's Showtime.
November November 7 – ABS-CBN launches the Christmas song Isang Pamilya Tayo Ngayong Pasko, after the news program TV Patrol. November 15 – Following the success of the Fight of the Century between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May 2015, Solar Entertainment announced its broadcast of the 65th Miss Universe pageant on January 30, 2017. As stated in a press conference that day, it was broadcast live on three major television stations in the Philippines, ABS-CBN (who waived its contract with Solar to allow its free-to-air coverage of the pageant), GMA Network, and TV5 (who also broadcast the preliminary events and will handle the digital rights exclusively), with ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV and CT as its main content provider for this historic pageant. Star World Philippines, the Philippine cable broadcast holder of the pageant (which sub-licensed the cable rights to the pageant with the over-the-air rights holder ABS-CBN), passed on the rights on that year's pageant to Solar, the 66th edition of the pageant eventually returned to the channel in November 2017, 1 month after its rebranding to Fox Life in October. November 19 – John Carlo Cruz emerged as the Ultimate Tough Model on It's Showtime. November 21 – The World Tonight celebrated its 50th anniversary of the longest-running English news program in the Philippines since its premiered in 1966. November 29 – Viu, a streaming service owned by PCCW Media Group, was launched and became available in the Philippines.
December December 7 – The De La Salle Green Archers clinched the UAAP Season 79 men's basketball title after defeating the archrivals Ateneo Blue Eagles 2–0 in game 2 of the best-of-three finals series held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. This was their 9th basketball championship title since they last won in 2013. December 10 – Lil Jay was hailed as the first Christmas Rapper Grand Winner on It's Showtime. December 11 – Niel Murillo, Russell Reyes, Ford Valencia, Tristan Ramirez and Joao Constancia were named as the winners of Pinoy Boyband Superstar, and they will officially be called BoybandPH. December 14 – Amazon Prime Video, a streaming and video on-demand service owned by Amazon, was expanded to over 200 countries and territories, including the Philippines.