If you’re looking forward to watch your favorite shows on the Kapuso network’s online live stream on your smart TV, you may have to keep your remote control within reach.
Earlier this year, GMA Network has succumbed to the ever-growing clamor of online live streaming via social media platforms, like Facebook and YouTube, through their own ‘service’ named Kapuso Stream. Initially, standalone streams for select programs like 24 Oras, Family Feud, and Magpakailanman were put up. However, with KS, the live streaming mode expanded to Afternoon Prime and Telebabad shows, and more weekend programs.
But what was thought to be a single stream, which will run throughout the day — similar to what ABS-CBN has been doing with Kapamilya Online Live since 2020 — turned out to be a subdivided and distributed stream across GMA’s channels.
For example, GMA Network’s official channel on YouTube will broadcast Afternoon Prime’s three dramas via a single live stream. However, as soon as the last of the three bows out for the day, instead of going to an ad loop or alternative programming (in lieu of the 5:00 pm Asianovela affair on the linear channel), KS will stop streaming. Viewers waiting for Family Feud will then have to wait for at least 25 to 30 minutes before the game show’s own live stream on its own channel gets underway.
On weekends, another example is YouLol airing Pepito Manaloto and Running Man Philippines back-to-back, but viewers who’d like to watch Magpakailanman would have to switch back to the GMANetwork YouTube channel to stream the drama anthology.
Perhaps, the most baffling move in Kapuso Stream’s history is the exclusion of Maria Clara at Ibarra from the main Telebabad block stream beginning last Monday, October 31. Instead, viewers will have to click on the link pinned to the supposed singular stream of Telebabad and head over to GMA Network’s website. A plot twist though, once you’re there, you will get to stream MCI via… a YouTube unlisted live stream.
Yes, you read that right. MCI was “removed” from the YouTube live stream of Telebabad because GMA had to redirect viewers to their own website. Only for them to be brought back to YouTube. Ingenious, innit?
With the messy situation that Kapuso Stream is in right now, how could it be improved from here?
The answer lies in how the Kapamilya camp is doing their own thing. Unite the shows under a single umbrella and stream daily from morning til’ night. It is the better option as one, the momentum built up between shows will be present for longer than usual, and two, the convenience that that kind of set-up will bring to the audience could help boost the shows’ viewership and ultimately, the network’s footprint online.
Here’s a sample schedule (for Kapuso Stream) for clarity of idea. The one above will be Monday to Thursday, while the one below will be Fridays.
- 5:30am – Unang Hirit
- 8:00am – GMA Classic shows and Digital originals
- 11:15am – TikToclock
- 12:00nn – GMA Classic shows and Digital originals
- 2:30pm – Afternoon Prime block
- 5:00pm – GMA Classic show or Digital original
- 5:40pm – Family Feud
- 6:30pm – 24 Oras
- 8:00pm – Telebabad block
- 10:20pm – GMA Classic show or Digital original
- 10:50pm – Saksi
- 5:30am – Unang Hirit
- 8:00am – GMA Classic shows and Digital originals
- 11:15am – TikToclock
- 12:00nn – GMA Classic shows and Digital originals
- 2:30pm – Afternoon Prime block
- 5:00pm – GMA Classic show or Digital original
- 5:40pm – Family Feud
- 6:30pm – 24 Oras
- 8:00pm – Telebabad block
- 10:35pm – GMA Classic show or Digital original
- 11:30pm – Saksi
There you have it. Putting up a singular live stream broadcast will help viewers seam into the next program with ease and keep their interests high for the those. Fillers and other Kapuso Stream-exclusive programming shall be included in the line-up to prevent dead-air once the linear channel switches to acquired shows.
Gap shows can also help hype up viewers that would otherwise see loops of ads and other episodic clips. Right now, only ‘marquee’ shows like Start-Up PH and Abot-Kamay na Pangarap, as well as Apoy sa Langit, were given this treatment. Perhaps, a consideration to expand it to other shows should be on the table.
Let’s continue now by seeing how Kapuso Stream weekends could become. Above is the Saturday schedule, while the one below will be for Sundays.
- 9:00am – Pinoy MD
- 10:00am – Sarap ‘Di Ba?
- 10:45am – Pera Paraan
- 11:30am – GMA Classic shows / Digital exclusive
- 2:30pm – Abot-Kamay na Pangarap
- 3:15pm – Tadhana
- 4:00pm – Wish Ko Lang!
- 4:45pm – Imbestigador
- 5:30pm – 24 Oras Weekend
- 6:15pm – Pepito Manaloto
- 7:15pm – Running Man Philippines
- 8:15pm – Magpakailanman
- 9:30pm – Daddy’s Gurl / Digital exclusive
- 10:30pm – I Witness
- 8:15am – AHA!
- 9:00am – Born To Be Wild
- 9:35am – iBilib
- 10:00am – GMA Classic shows / Digital originals
- 12:00nn – All-Out Sundays
- 2:00pm – GMA Classic shows / Digital originals
- 3:35pm – The Wall Philippines / Digital exclusive
- 4:35pm – Regal Studio Presents
- 5:20pm – Amazing Earth / Digital exclusive
- 6:05pm – 24 Oras Weekend
- 7:00pm – Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko
- 7:50pm – Running Man Philippines
- 8:50pm – Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho / Digital exclusive
- 10:30pm – The Boobay and Tekla Show
But wait, how about GTV programs, which are also part of the Kapuso Stream, be formatted?
With majority of GTV’s hours filled by either movie blocks or acquired entertainment show, setting up a singular stream for GTV shows is only optional. But if that does get considered, here’s how could it pan out.
- 5:30am – Dobol B TV
- 9:00am – Dobol B TV (online-only)
- 10:00am – Regional TV News
- 10:30am – GTV replays / digital exclusive
- 11:00am – Balitanghali
- 12:00nn – NCAA / Dobol B TV (online-only)
- 5:30pm – Dapat Alam Mo!
- 6:30pm – NCAA / GTV replays / digital exclusives
- 8:00pm – Dobol B TV (online-only)
- 10:20pm – State of the Nation
- 5:30am – Dobol B TV
- 10:00am – Regional TV News
- 10:30am – Dobol B TV
- 11:30am – GTV replays / digital exclusive / Dobol B TV (online-only)
- 12:00nn – NCAA / Dobol B TV (online-only)
- 5:30pm – GTV replays / digital exclusives
- 6:15pm – Pinas Sarap
- 7:00pm – Dobol B TV (online-only) / GTV replays / digital exclusives
- 9:00pm – Good News
- 9:45pm – Brigada
- 5:30am – Dobol B TV (online-only)
- 12:00nn – NCAA / Dobol B TV (online-only)
- 5:30pm – GTV replays / digital exclusives
- 7:00pm – Farm To Tabel
- 7:45pm – iJuander
- 8:30pm – Biyahe ni Drew
- 9:15pm – Reporter’s Notebook
Taking up a lot of hours on the ‘GTV Kapuso Stream’ will be Dobol B TV, which is basically a video simulcast of DZBB Super Radyo — which is now on Facebook outside of the GTV linear channel broadcast. That, coupled with GMA Public Affairs shows and the NCAA, can become vital components of the GTV version of KS, should it become a reality.
With digital viewership steadily increasing, the pressure is now on GMA to make its own product work and eventually, stand out, as it finds its way to old and new audience alike. Making Kapuso Stream a cohesive, streamlined online broadcast experience — more or less becoming an equivalent of the linear channel in the process — will make it a breeze and pleasant to watch. On top of that, a singular broadcast will also help keep the momentum in between shows, a factor that is clearly absent in the set-up that it has right now.
Moreover, lessening the hurdles before being able to watch should also be a must too. Removing the redirection to the network’s website should be considered, instead, a simple embed of the day’s live stream can be put up. After all, convenience is an ingredient that will help win over the digital audience that is much fickle-minded than those watching TV.
Kapuso Stream is barely a year-old and one could only hope that when it reaches that milestone, the service could be at least stable, streamlined, and more coordinated than what it is right now.