DWDB-TV
 "Keeping it Good" | |
| |
|---|---|
| City | Quezon City |
| Channels | |
| Branding | GTV-27 Manila |
| Programming | |
| Subchannels | See list |
| Affiliations | GTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | GMA Network, Inc. |
| History | |
First air date | August 27, 1995 |
Former call signs | As QTV/GMA News TV: DZOE-TV (2005–19) |
Former channel number(s) |
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| |
Call sign meaning | DWDouble B (the written spelling of BB, the callsign for DZBB-TV and DZBB-AM) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | NTC |
| Power | 30,000 watts |
| ERP | 120,000 watts |
| Transmitter coordinates | 14°40′12″N 121°3′0″E / 14.67000°N 121.05000°E |
| Links | |
| Website | gmanetwork |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mass media |
| Founded | August 27, 1995 |
| Founder | Menardo Jimenez |
| Headquarters | GMA Network Center, EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle, Diliman, , Philippines[1] |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
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| Products |
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| Services | Television production and distribution; design, construction and maintenance of sets for TV, stage plays and concerts; transportation and manpower services |
| Parent | GMA Network Inc. |
| Subsidiaries | Script2010 Inc. |
| Website | gmanetwork |
DWDB-TV (channel 27) is a television station in Metro Manila, Philippines, serving as the flagship of the GTV network. It is owned and operated by GMA Network, Inc. alongside GMA flagship DZBB-TV (channel 7). Both stations share studios at the GMA Network Center, EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, while DWDB-TV's hybrid analog and digital transmitting facility is located at the GMA Tower of Power, Charles Conrad Street, Barangay Culiat, Quezon City (sharing facilities with sister stations GMA 7, Barangay LS 97.1 and Super Radyo DZBB 594) and it's alternate analog and digital SFN transmitter is located at #23 Sumulong Highway, Brgy. Santa Cruz, Antipolo, Rizal.
History
[edit]Citynet 27: GMA's Foray into Independent Programming (1995-2001)
[edit]
DWDB-TV, broadcasting as Citynet Television 27 (or simply Citynet 27), officially launched on August 27, 1995. Operated by GMA Network, Citynet 27 was designed to function as an independent station, primarily serving as a platform for imported programming, especially from the United States. This strategic move allowed GMA Network to allocate more prime-time slots on its main channel for domestic productions.[2]
While heavily reliant on international content, Citynet 27 did feature a limited number of local productions. Notable among these were Citynet Television News, a flagship news program produced by GMA News and Public Affairs, and Citycourt, an anthology series that dramatized significant court cases from Philippine history, including the trial of national hero José Rizal.[3] The station also notably aired the Venezuelan telenovela Ka Ina, making it one of the few Hispanic TV series locally dubbed in English at the time.
Citynet 27's run as an independent station continued until 2001 when it underwent a rebranding
From Independent to EMC 27 / Channel [V] Philippines (1999–2001)
[edit]By 1999, Citynet 27's initial independent programming model proved financially unsustainable for GMA Network. The operational costs were soaring, exacerbated by stiff competition from Studio 23 (now known as S+A, and later IZTV/Aliw 23), a UHF rival operated by ABS-CBN Corporation through AMCARA Broadcasting Network.
In response, DWDB-TV pivoted, transforming into a music channel under the temporary brand EMC, the Entertainment Music Channel. This made EMC the Philippines' first locally operated music channel. Just a few months later, GMA struck a deal with Asian broadcaster STAR TV, leading to DWDB becoming the local carrier for Channel V Philippines starting December 19, 1999. This wasn't entirely new territory for GMA, as they had already aired select programming from Channel V's international version since Citynet 27's inception in 1995, introducing viewers to VJs like Filipino descended Trey Farley and Joey Mead.
However, this partnership was short-lived. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) acquired a stake in GMA. This presented a significant conflict of interest, as PLDT already owned MTV Philippines through its subsidiary Nation Broadcasting Corporation and parent company MediaQuest Holdings. This conflict, coupled with the escalating competition from the MTV-affiliated network, ultimately led to Channel V Philippines, and by extension DWDB-TV, signing off on July 25, 2001.[4]
From Relay to QTV to Digital Testing Ground (2004-2007)
[edit]After a period off-air, programming returned to DWDB-TV in 2004, serving as a relay of GMA-7 Manila. Interestingly, the GMA logo was covered by the Citynet logo, a nod to its past.
A significant shift occurred in November 2005 when DWDB became a repeater for DZOE 11, the flagship station for GMA's new secondary national network, QTV (Quality Television, later simply Q). This arrangement stemmed from an agreement between GMA and ZOE Broadcasting Network, DZOE 11's owner. In exchange for handling QTV's programming, GMA committed to providing ZOE Broadcasting with upgraded facilities and airing ZOE-produced content within QTV's schedule. DWDB's UHF signal offered a distinct advantage, providing easier reception in the southern areas of Metro Manila, particularly in Makati and Pasay.
However, this role was short-lived. In 2007, DWDB's channel number was vacated to facilitate trials for digital television, marking another transition for the station
DWDB-TV and GMA Network's Digital Transition
[edit]GMA commenced its digital test broadcasts in February 2013, utilizing the Japanese ISDB-T digital TV platform on DWDB's UHF Channel 27 frequency. These initial tests simulcast both GMA-7 (the main channel) and GMA News TV-11, indicating GMA's early steps into the digital realm.
On May 15, 2019, a significant development occurred as GMA Network's digital test broadcasts transitioned to UHF Channel 15 (479.143 MHz).[5] This frequency was designated as the primary digital feed for GMA Network. The move also coincided with the original Channel 27 frequency reverting to analog broadcast, specifically for GMA News TV, following the termination of GMA's agreement with ZOE Broadcasting Network in early June 2019, which led to GMA News TV's former Channel 11 becoming silent. This strategic allocation allowed GMA to continue its analog broadcast feed.[6]
Analog Resurgence through GMA News TV and Digital Transition Hurdles (2019–2021)
[edit]On April 24, 2019, ZOE Broadcasting Network and GMA/Citynet formally announced the impending conclusion of their 14-year blocktime agreement, effective end of May 2019. This decision marked the end of GMA News TV's long-standing lease on VHF Channel 11.
While initial reports suggested ZOE Broadcasting Network would subsequently simulcast its sister station, Light TV 33, ZOE offered no official statement on its immediate future plans. However, ZOE Broadcasting Network would later reactivate Channel 11 on June 22, 2020, following a landmark deal with former rival ABS-CBN, leading to the launch of A2Z Channel 11 on October 10, 2020.
In anticipation of GMA News TV's departure from Channel 11, GMA Network swiftly planned to re-utilize DWDB-TV's UHF Channel 27. The intention was to cease the existing digital test broadcast on Channel 27 by May 27, 2019, and subsequently re-purpose the frequency to broadcast GMA News TV in analog by June 3, 2019, marking the station's return to analog television after 17 years of inactivity. This strategic move aimed to ensure continuity for GMA News TV's viewership.
However, GMA Network needed to allocate time for digital television viewers to re-scan their digital set-top boxes in order to continue accessing its channels under a new frequency assignment. As a result, the network postponed its official relaunch from June 3 to June 4.
The station successfully resumed analog broadcasting at 6:00 a.m. (PHT) on June 4, following a series of test transmissions conducted during the off-air hours of its digital signal in the days leading up to the relaunch. With this return, the station also became the originating outlet of GMA News TV in Manila, serving as the primary feed station for its nationwide broadcast, alongside regional counterparts such as those in Cebu and Davao.[7]
Meanwhile, the former channel missed the scheduled shut-off, leading to a temporary broadcast conflict between the two channels on that day. To mitigate the issue, the former channel gradually reduced its signal strength until it officially signed off on June 5, 2019.
Rebranding to GTV (since 2021)
[edit]After a 20-month separation from ZOE TV Channel 11, its original channel assignment since 2011, and nearly a decade of broadcasting as GMA News TV, the channel was officially relaunched as GTV on February 22, 2021. The rebranded network shifted to a broader format, encompassing news, entertainment, and sports programming, drawing similarities to the earlier models of Citynet Television and QTV. However, GTV retained select news programming from its predecessor, maintaining a strong news presence within its new identity.
The station signed on for the first time on February 22, 2021, using the familiar GMA News TV sign-on and sign-off notices. Just a few days later, on February 27, 2021, GTV began airing its own original sign-on and sign-off sequences, marking the official beginning of its new chapter.
Digital television
[edit]Digital channels
[edit]DWDB-TV's feed is transmitted via the DZBB-TV digital subchannel, operating on UHF channel 15 (479.143 MHz). The station broadcasts across the following subchannels:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | Short name | Programming | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.01 | 480i | 16:9 | GMA | GMA (Main DZBB-TV programming) | Commercial broadcast (15 kW) |
| 7.02 | GTV | GTV (Main DWDB-TV programming) | |||
| 7.03 | HEART OF ASIA | Heart of Asia Channel | |||
| 7.04 | I HEART MOVIES | I Heart Movies | |||
| 7.05 | (UNNAMED) | Reserved Channel | Black screen | ||
| 7.06 | |||||
| 7.07 | |||||
| 7.31 | 240p | GMA 1-Seg | GMA | 1seg broadcast |
According to a December 2017 press release, the station’s upgraded signal transmission expanded its coverage to include Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and parts of Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Batangas.
On April 24, 2019, GMA/Citynet announced that it would terminate its blocktime agreement with ZOE Broadcasting Network by the end of May 2019. The decision came after the release of GMA's 2018 financial report, which revealed a significant increase in lease payments to ZOE over the past three years, rising from ₱899.89 million in 2016 to nearly one billion pesos by 2018. Third-party sources speculated that Channel 11 would begin simulcasting ZOE's sister station, DZOZ-DTV Channel 33, following the termination of the agreement. However, ZOE had yet to issue an official statement regarding its future plans. Meanwhile, GMA News TV Manila’s intellectual property, including master control, sales operations, and employees, was successfully transferred to DWDB-TV on June 4, 2019, for the remainder of the analog broadcast period.
On May 15, 2019, GMA Network began transmitting its digital test broadcast on UHF Channel 15 (479.143 MHz), which was officially assigned as its permanent frequency by the National Telecommunications Commission.
Starting February 27, 2023, DWDB-TV’s feed, along with GMA Network’s other digital stations, began broadcasting in 16:9 widescreen format. This update marked the transition from the previous fullscreen resolution (4:3), improving reception across both analog and digital signals via free TV and various cable and satellite providers. This shift followed nearly 28 years of utilizing the older video picture resolution.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Formerly located in 21st Floor Unit 2104 The Peak Bldg., 107 L.P. Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City.
- ^ "About GMA Network - History". GMANetwork.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2008.
- ^ "'Citycourt' preem highlights Rizal trial". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. December 30, 1996. p. 27B. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Channel V's Philippines deal off". bNet Business Network. July 2001. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009.
- ^ Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas (May 15, 2019). "GMA Network Starts Digital TV Transmission using permanent frequency". GMA Network.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ JM Meligrito (April 28, 2019). "ZOE Broadcasting to end blocktime agreement with GMA Network". dtvpilipinas.org. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ "Dobol B Sa News TV will begin airing on Channel 27 starting June 3". GMANetwork.com. April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.[permanent dead link]
External links
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