It’s time for a standalone ‘Dobol B TV’ channel

The TV simulcast of DZBB Super Radyo deserves a channel of its own.

In 2011, programs of GMA’s AM radio station DZBB began airing on the network’s then-news channel GMA News TV. The block, titled Dobol B sa News TV, first aired between 6 and 9 in the morning, until it was cancelled in 2012. Five years later, the network was revived, with a five-hour block spanning from 6 to 11 a.m. Part of the revival’s initial slate were Saksi sa Dobol B, Super Balita Nationwide, Sino?, and Dobol A sa Dobol B.

Two years later, in 2019, GMA News TV ended its agreement with ZOE TV, the owner of its former home frequency — channel 11. Apart from shifting to channel 27, new programs also came. For Dobol B, it meant the block’s expansion into the weekends, with a simulcast of Super Radyo on News TV from 6 to 12 noon. The set-up was retained until March 2020.

Due to COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, GNTV’s in-house programming were put on hold. To maximize airtime while creating efficiencies, Dobol B sa News TV was extended from morning to the afternoon and even into primetime. At one point, GMA News TV’s entire broadcast day was dedicated to only broadcasting the AM network’s programs. That lasted until around September 2020, upon which, GNTV’s shows slowly returned to air and DBsNTV was shortened in phases. By 2021, the block almost returned to its pre-2017 length in weekdays, if not for the extra 30 minutes from 5:30am.

As GMA News TV rebranded to GTV, so did the block as it dropped ‘news’ to become Dobol B TV. It also became clear that Dobol B TV is a weak spot for the newly-refocused station. For one, GTV is primarily skewed to the young, while DBTV is more aimed at the older folks. True enough, in October, the Sunday block of Dobol B TV was removed from GTV in favor of an expanded Astig Authority anime block.

Now, with that first major change in two years, how could Dobol B TV thrive moving forward? Enter a standalone channel for it, at least on digital terrestrial TV (DTT).

To date, GMA has four exclusive digital channels: Heart of Asia, Hallypop, I Heart Movies, and DepEd TV. The first three are enterainment-heavy, while the last one is an educational-cum-entertainment channel. Slotting a standalone Dobol B TV channel should pose no harm to either channels, especially that it would lean more towards news and commentary. Aside from that, it would also help create a pinch of variety in GMA’s DTT bouquet.

Dobol B TV as a channel would also fill the void left by GMA News TV in some areas. Not only that, as it would also do the same for viewers of DZMM TeleRadyo, which went off free TV in June last year. As for potential competitions for DBTV, they would be CNN Philippines and One PH.

By moving towards that path, the slots currently occupied by Dobol B TV on GTV can still be either retained via a simulcast basis on selected times or entirely dropped in favor of more entertainment shows for channel 27.

During times of crises and of utmost importance, a standalone Dobol B TV service is of the essence. To be fair, GTV did break out of its normal programming during the wake of the death of former President Noynoy Aquino. However, that happened at the expense of some shows of the channel. Now, if something like that or Typhoon Rolly last year happens (knocks on wood), a channel fully committed to news is what’s needed. That’s how a Dobol B TV channel would greatly help not only the general public, but also ease the burden on other GMA channels.

GMA’s acclaimed news and public shows could also be added to Dobol B TV in the form of repeats or even simulcasts from other Kapuso channels.

Finally, if it doesn’t seem obvious already, Dobol B TV would basically be the second coming of GMA News TV. But DBTV should be more economically viable than GNTV, especially that it won’t be considered as the company’s spillover or second flagship channel. In GNTV’s case before, the channel could not totally lean into heavy news like its peers due to the fact that it occupied precious frequencies in both VHF and UHF. But with the advent of DTT, putting up a news subchannel should not pose much worry versus if it would be on the more mainstream side of things. Also, Dobol B TV would relatively be cheaper than GNTV in the sense that the channel would most likely be dedicated to broadcasting hook-ups from DZBB, reducing the need for other types of original programming (e.g. magazine and public affairs shows).

Dobol B TV as a block is great in helping radio news and commentary shows get a taste of the spotlight on TV. But a standalone channel for such cause should be ‘dobol’ the fun and excitement as most, if not all of the AM station’s programs would be able to get their share of that light.