“This is ABS-CBN DZOE-TV channel 11 …”
For the past few weeks, several articles sprung up left, right, and center about the possibility of ABS-CBN blocktiming a currently vacated frequency in local television, channel 11 – which is owned by Zoe Broadcasting Network, a company controlled by Bro. Eddie Villanueva and the Jesus Is Lord Church.
For beginners, DZOE TV was first launched in the nineties as a consortium led by JIL and El Shaddai of Bro. Mike Velarde. However, the partnership ultimately folded in soon after and resulted to Villanueva taking over the entire channel space. As a result of that event, ZOE TV 11 was born in 1998, carrying primarily religious programs. The ZOE 11 would run independently for the next 7 years.
By 2005, ZOE and GMA Network’s Citynet forged a blocktime agreement to broadcast the latter’s lifestyle and women-oriented programs on the former’s frequency. QTV or Quality Television was the byproduct and ran from November of that year until February 2011. By the time it ceased broadcasting, GMA had already began relaunching the lineup of channel 11 by airing news and public affairs programs, with variety of entertainment shows on top of those. For the next 8 years, GMA News TV was the official affiliation of the station.
However, in a shock move by GMA Network in 2019, it announced that they will end ties with Zoe by June of that year. The reason primarily given by GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon is that the fees demanded by Zoe to them has increased over the years. Instead of continuing to use Zoe’s frequency, the Kapuso network opted to revitalize their own channel 27 after they were permanently assigned to channel 15 by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for digital TV broadcasting in May.
On June 4, 2019, the inevitable happened as after 14 years of Kapuso affiliation, DZOE went dark and remained silent. ZOE Broadcasting Network then concentrated on Light TV on channel 33 during this period.
But last June, reports surfaced that TV 11 is once again open. However, this reopening only lasted for a few days and served as a ‘test broadcast’ of sorts on what might be coming soon to the channel.
This activity sent minimal shockwaves as the shutdown of ABS-CBN on free TV and the franchise application hearing (then ongoing) were the talk of the town. But on July 10, the unthinkable happened and the Kapamilya network’s request for a new 25-year franchise to broadcast was denied by the Congress. This effectively spelled the end of the network’s use of channel 2, among other frequencies assigned to them.
Just as the d-day of the Kapamilya mass retrenchment on August 31 was looming, rumors about ABS renting or even buying DZOE-TV 11 already began circulating among forum groups on social media. The story was later picked up by Bilyonaryo, Pilipino Star Ngayon and PEP. It was even mentioned that an unnaamed source had spilled the beans and stated that the agreement would be made public soon as ABS-CBN on free TV 11 will begin on September 28.
The question now lies on where and how could ABS-CBN possibly fit on channel 11?
First up, during the GMA-ZOE days, the JIL programming were placed during the off-peak hours of 5:00-6:00 a.m. and 12:00-1:00am, everyday. If ABS-CBN, does go with them, they have to place shows only in between those times. Well, that could still change should they have a different agreement.
Speaking of programs, as a Christian broadcaster, ZOE TV is keeping a good image for itself. This is evident in their previous iterations, where it was mostly family-friendly and seemingly prevents the broadcast of controversially obscene and overly sexual shows. To be fair, GMA News TV despite this notion, had shown violence in many news reports and were not apprehensive to show it to viewers on channel 11.
If that’s true, however, Kapamilya teleseryes would be toned down. Meaning, as viewers, we would less kabit-seryes, violence, and other programs deemed ‘graphic’ as per ZOE TV’s standards.
Next, we have to talk about reach of channel 11. First, it should be noted that ZOE TV’s permanent digital TV frequency is 20. Sofor DTT viewers, there would not be much of a problem finding it because it’s not as far as BEAM’s channel 50. The roadblock here is the fact that since ABS-CBN is no longer allowed to broadcast on channel 2 – with the NTC recalling all of its previously held frequencies – the reach it had during those days would be impossible to recover or be emulated in the near future. The plan B, though, could be that of ZOE stepping up to buy some of the key regional stations and make them as a provincial relay of the Manila TV 11 feed. If there are any more options, however, we’ll just leave that to them.
Finally, what could possibly be the branding of the channel if everything pushes through. One hypothetical guess is by simply converting it as a free TV feed of Kapamilya Channel. This way, it might also be a safe way of preventing people from thinking that it is a fully-owned frequency of ABS-CBN and not that of ZOE. Also, the use of “ABS-CBN” as a brand can be reserved should they consider reapplying for a fresh legislative license to broadcast in the near future. One can also infer that ABS will no longer insist using their own transmitter to prevent the channel 43 debacle from happening again. Unless, ZOE will be buying the transmitter and technically have their own engineering people stationed there.
DZOE TV 11 is the only VHF frequency that sits vacant right now. Its position on the channel list is also lucrative. Should ABS-CBN restart their free TV journey with them, it would definitely be one heck of a ride as the South Triangle duopoly would now have to face an ever-increasing competition from the likes of TV5 and Net 25.
Without any confirmation from the parties involved, these possibilities are definitely something exciting and fun to ponder on.
Trendrod is open to any comments or reactions from ABS-CBN and ZOE TV.