“The Philippines’ number 1 news channel,” no more?
In the past, GNTV served as the biggest risk that GMA Network took in news broadcasting. Hourly news updates, coupled with newscasts and public affairs programs filled the schedule. Entertainment and sports were partially relegated to the outskirts of the broadcast day, but was still somehow given an ample time.
It was clearly a risk as its nearest free TV competitor AksyonTV was only a week old when News TV launched. In essence, no one knew whether it would be a profitable venture or not.
But as the novelty worn off, both news stations languished and suffered heavily from cuts. Budgetary issues that led to the cancelation of many shows and non-news releated shows started to fill up the vacancies. Ratings might have also indicated that news channels were clearly not meant for the free-to-air audience, at least during slow days.
Because during times of calamities and other developing stories, updates are clearly what viewers want. A vivid example would be the recent backlash GMA News TV got during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.
As it seems, though, GMA News TV is at the brink of being discontinued almost ten years into its life.
On November 20, GMA announced the inking of a five and a half-year broadcast deal with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Most of the coverage will take place on GMA News TV and its sister outlet on radio and digital.
If this development sounds madness for news channel purists, the fact of the matter is that there are now reports of an impending rebrand of the channel. GMA News TV is allegedly going to be retired in favor of a new sports and entertainment channel. However, no confirmation has been made yet by the Kapuso network.
But should GMA decide to finally end or morph the decade-old brand, what would take its place or where it would go? Surely, no one knows what it would be, but it’s fun to ponder on.
Rebrand to ‘GMA Plus’
For one, GMA might consider naming it simply as GMA Plus. Why? With several reprogramming that has happened during the course of GMA News TV’s life, it must be a lesson that the channel’s format is constantly evolving. With the digital transition well underway, a format-neutral name is a safe bet. No one knows for sure how long would it take before the need for a new lineup is deemed necessary.
As GMA Plus, they might be able to experiment freely as they should (similar to the QTV days), and without any issues as they could go sporty one season, news-y in the other.
Move as a DTT-exclusive channel
Moving GMA News TV as a digital terrestrial TV-only station is not a bad idea either. Currently, TV5 has One PH and ABS-CBN (before June 30) had TeleRadyo. Should GMA do this, it would also be better off simulcasting much of DZBB during its downtime and finally make News TV a full-fledged news station.
During the time when breaking news is the name of the game, a stronger GNTV on DTT is what’s badly needed. Apart from that, it should also help create variety to the Kapuso DTT channel list as (in this imaginary scenario) there are now four entertainment-heavy channels. Namely, GMA, the sports-entertainment channel, Heart of Asia, and Hallypop.
Whatever the case may be, change is what’s badly needed at GMA News TV. With the network’s senses finally awakened, it would only take a matter of time when the news channel might either bite the dust or have its life extended by evolving elsewhere.