GMA teases ‘STARt’ of a new era in television

In a surprise announcement theat coincided with no less than the first day of April or what is popularly known as April Fools’ Day.

On Friday, April 1, GMA Network released a video showcasing its partnership with several local film outfits, which collectively composes the network’s library of movies. The list included its own GMA Pictures, Regal, Viva, and OctoArts Films. The said part is underscored by the voice-over with the lines “[a]ng mga pinapanood ninyong pelikula sa GMA, madadagdagan pa.”

In the latter half, the VO stated the reason for the expansion, saying “[d]ahil ang dating imposible, mangyayari!” Onscreen, the words appear to be “the STARt of a new age of television,” which will happen this April.

With the letters S,T,A, and R highlighted, several viewers speculate that this might refer to ABS-CBN’s film production arm Star Cinema and the possible team-up between them and GMA to screen SC movies on channel 7.

Neither of the two camps have released a concrete statement regarding such. Thus, it remains to be seen whether this promo is an April Fools’ joke (as the teaser was dropped today) or is indeed the mark of the beginning of closer ties between the two rivals from South Triangle.

Last year, Star Cinema movies also became available on another erstwhile rival of the Kapamilya network — TV5. The showcasing of SC films came as the Kapatid network, its sister pay TV operator Cignal TV, and ABS-CBN Entertainment forged a deal that also saw the addition of several Kapamilya TV shows on 5 every weeknight and Sunday afternoon.