“Itong nangyayaring ito ay sadyang Pinoy na Pinoy, Pinoy na Pinoy, Pilipinong-Pilipino itong nagaganap ngayon,” he said, clearly overwhelmed by the gesture extended by GMA Network.
Since its premiere on October 24, 2009, ‘It’s Showtime’ has captivated audiences with its electrifying performances and hilarious segments. Originally replacing ‘Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba?’ as a talent competition program, the show quickly gained popularity.
However, the show faced unexpected challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Determined to keep the show going, ‘It’s Showtime’ aired a mix of episode replays and live episodes via Zoom.
The struggles continued for ABS-CBN, the home network of ‘It’s Showtime.’ On May 5, 2020, the network’s broadcast operations were abruptly halted due to the National Telecommunications Commission’s cease and desist order, resulting from the expiration of ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise.
However, the show made a triumphant return on June 13, 2020, albeit with a shortened 150-minute timeslot on pay television network Kapamilya Channel.
Finally, on October 10, 2020, ‘It’s Showtime’ celebrated its return to free-to-air television through a block time agreement between ABS-CBN and religious broadcaster ZOE Broadcasting Network. Fans rejoiced as the show reclaimed its original timeslot at 12:00 noon.
In July 2022, ‘It’s Showtime’ went on a back-to-back airing with TV5’s ‘Tropang LOL.’ When the TV5 show concluded its run after nine months, ‘It’s Showtime’ returned to its full three-hour airtime at 12 noon on May 1, 2023.
However, changes were on the horizon. TV5 announced a co-production venture with Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, which would occupy the noontime slot previously held by ‘It’s Showtime.’ Despite an offer for a new time slot, ABS-CBN Entertainment respectfully declined and decided to end its simulcast on TV5 by June 30, 2023.
But the show’s journey continued. On June 20, 2023, ABS-CBN and GMA Network announced that ‘It’s Showtime’ will be seen on GMA’s sister network, GTV, starting July 1, 2023.
