GMA 7 gears up for 3-way battle royal

GMA 7 is seriously gearing up for a three-cornered fight in the local television industry.

The Kapuso channel will offer at least 20 new programs, across the different platforms (GMA 7 and QTV), divisions (Entertainment and News and Public Affairs) and genres (comedy, drama, variety, game).

The station has also beefed up its equipment in preparation for the digital migration, according to Felipe Gozon, GMA 7 chair, CEO and president.

“Going digital might take a long time, but we started acquiring new equipment five years ago. We’re ready,” Gozon told the Inquirer during the trade launch held at the SMX Convention Center on Thursday.

It’s a “billion-peso” investment, he explained. “If ever the digital shift pushes through, we would need only an additional P300 million because we’ve already built the foundation.”

Gozon clarified that he didn’t consider TV5 as the Kapuso network’s main rival: “We are not competing with TV5, but they are competing with us. We are competing with ABS-CBN.”

He recalled that competition had benefited viewers and the industry as a whole.

“Before, there was only one station. When GMA 7 started competing with ABS-CBN, shows improved and viewers were given more choices. People were better entertained,” Gozon said in a mixture of English and Filipino.

Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., executive vice president and COO, said that more than competing with other stations, “we are training our sights inward. We are looking at our other opportunities in the different regions, as well as internationally. That’s where we can make greater strides.

“We are cognizant of TV5’s entry and we welcome competition. It serves as a challenge for us to perfect our offerings,” said Lizelle Maralag, president and COO for Marketing.

For the trade launch, GMA 7 pulled out all the stops—with its top stars, led by Michael V., Carmina Villaroel and Eugene Domingo, mingling freely among the guests.

It was only coincidental that the trade party, which gathered over 1,200 representatives from the advertising community, was held two weeks after the TV5’s grand relaunch.

Wilma Galvante, senior vice president for Entertainment TV, said that GMA 7’s annual trade party had been planned in advance—long before news of Manny V. Pangilinan’s acquisition of TV5 hit the papers.

“It’s usually set after the first quarter of the year, which is the best time to introduce our new shows to our trade partners,” said Galvante.

The trade launch also served as the taping for the station’s new flagship show “Party Pilipinas,” aired on Sunday.

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