“Better days are here.”
Recently, a blocktime deal between ZOE Broadcasting Network and ABS-CBN was forged. Out of that, A2Z on free TV 11 was born. The channel carries programs from content partners like the Kapamilya network, Knowledge Channel, CBN Asia, and ZOE’s Light TV 33.
The network officially signed on last October 10, with an opening salvo from “It’s Showtime”. Primetime teleseryes “Walang Hanggang Paalam”, “Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin”, and “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” also screened marathons of their previous episodes. The following day saw the return of “ASAP Natin ‘To” on free TV after 5 months.
By Monday, October 12, regular programming was enforced with a mix of religious and children-oriented shows, teleseryes, and movies. However, A2Z clarified through a social media post that this is only the beginning as more programs produced by ABS-CBN will also be making their way to eleven within the next few weeks.
In this article, we’ll be basing some of our suggestions on the presumed timeslots of shows that are yet to be available on the channel as of press time. Moreover, expect also some who aren’t part of the lineup like news programming to appear. The complete lineup that we’ll be using as a guide is published on A2Z’s Facebook page.
Weekdays
Here’s how we reimagined the A2Z weekday schedule.
5:00am – Bro. Eddie Classics
6:00am – School at Home
8:30am – Zinema sa Umaga
10:00am – Love In Sadness
10:30am – Magandang Buhay
12:00nn – It’s Showtime
2:30pm – Bagong Umaga
3:15pm – Cartoons
5:00pm – Love Thy Woman (recap)
5:45pm – A Soldier’s Heart (recap)
6:30pm – TV Patrol
8:00pm – FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano
8:45pm – Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin
9:30pm – Walang Hanggang Paalam
10:15pm – Asianovela
11:00pm – The World Tonight
11:30pm – News and Current Affairs (rerun)
12:00mn – Bro. Eddie Classics
Currently, neither ABS-CBN and ZOE has confirmed how much of the day will the former lease on the latter, but let’s assume that it stands at around 18 hours on weekdays, the same length that GMA Network acquired during their time.
As of now, no programs from ABS-CBN News or even ZOE’s in-house News Light are carried by A2Z. But if one would check on social media right now, solid Kapamilyas are clamoring for the return of the Philippines’ longest running Filipino primetime newscast, “TV Patrol” on free TV. The additional twist here is that even top of the hour news updates from “News Patrol” remain essentially exclusive only on cable and digital. By adding the triumvirate of the said news bulletin, “TVP” , and “The World Tonight” – the lattermost is exclusive to cable for over 21 years now – A2Z’s news component will be competitive and even rival those of GMA and TV5.
Apart from the news, A2Z will also be gaining by basically simulcasting most of the original and acquired (beyond repetitive movies) shows curremtly exclusive to the Kapamilya Channel. Shows that have recently made their finale on the cable channel like “Love Thy Woman” and “A Soldier’s Heart” can be reaired on eleven and give free-to-air viewers the chance to watch those “quarantine episodes”.
As for the weekend, A2Z is yet to release the complete timetable and list of programs that will air over the weekend. However, as per news release, several shows like “Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan” and “Iba ‘Yan” will be making their debut on free TV this month. It’ s also unsure if “I Can See Your Voice” will return with fresh episodes or only reruns of previous seasons.
Nevertheless, here’s how we can visualize the ideal A2Z weekend schedule.
Saturdays
5:00am – Bro. Eddie Classics
6:00am – Simulcast of Kapamilya Channel’s Just Love Kids block
10:00am – Zinema sa Umaga
12:00nn – It’ s Showtime
3:00pm – Ipaglaban Mo
4:00pm – Cartoon block / Zinema
6:00pm – TV Patrol Weekend
6:45pm – Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan?
7:45pm – I Can See Your Voice
8:45pm – MMK
10:15pm – Primetime Zinema
12:00mn – Bro. Eddie Classics
Sundays
5:00am – Bro. Eddie Classics
6:00am – My Puhunan
6:30am – Swak na Swak
7:00am – Simulcast of Kapamilya Channel’s Just Love Kids
10:00am – Zinema sa Umaga
12:00nn – ASAP Natin ‘To
2:00pm – Zinema (back-to-back)
5:30pm – TV Patrol Weekend
6:15pm – Iba ‘Yan
7:15pm – I Can See Your Voice
8:15pm – Wansapanataym (reruns)
9:00pm – Primetime Zinema (back-to-back)
12:00mn – Bro. Eddie Classics
A2Z is barely a week old. The channel and the partnership of ABS-CBN and ZOE still have a long way to go. For now, viewers could only “sit back, relax, and enjoy the show”.
In reference to the channel’s slogan, “[m]akukumple2 din ito balang araw.”