The country’s longest-running noontime show, “Eat Bulaga”, will still be airing for another decade or until 2026 on GMA Network.
Eat Bulaga’s creator and producer, Television and Production Exponent (TAPE) Inc. , has renewed its contract with GMA Network on January 28. The top honchos of both TAPE and GMA Network were smiling from ear to ear as both parties look forward to better years ahead.
GMA’s online website quoted TAPE President and CEO Antonio P. Tuviera who said, “Gusto ko lang sabihin na exactly 21 years ago binigyan kami ng GMA ng isang tahanan at ‘yun ang naging dahilan para maipagpatuloy namin ang pagbibigay ng tuwa at saya sa aming mga manonood.” (I would like to say that exactly 21 years ago, GMA gave us a home and that’s the reason why we were able to continue giving joy and happiness to our viewers.).
According to GMA News Online published October 25, 2007, “Eat Bulaga” started airing on GMA Network in January 1995. The premiere telecast was held at the Araneta Coliseum.
Before GMA Network, “Eat Bulaga” was originally aired over Radio Philippines Network (RPN-9), where it stayed from 1979 to 1989. Therafter, the show moved to ABS-CBN in 1989.
But after TAPE Inc. rejected ABS-CBN’s offer to buy Eat Bulaga’s airing rights, the show was forced to look for another home network. ABS-CBN did not renew the contract with TAPE and removed “Eat Bulaga” from its program line-up, along with sister shows “Okay ka, Fairy Ko” and “Valiente”.
GMA had to move its then noontime show, “Salo-Salo Together”, to accommodate top-rated “Eat Bulaga”.
Since 1995, GMA Network and T.A.P.E. had a smooth partnership, which proved beneficial to both organizations.
Eat Bulaga’s main hosts Tito Sotto and Joey de Leon were at the contract signing. Also present were Kalyeserye’s phenomenal stars Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, more popularly known as AlDub. Of course, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo and Paolo Ballesteros attended in their “Lola” or the Explorer sisters’ costumes.
Tuviera promised loyal viewers that in addition to ‘Kalyeserye’, “Eat Bulaga” has a lot more in store in the near future. They will continue to innovate to keep the audience happy.
