The network has done a positive action lately.
Since last week, the Kapuso network has been drastically cutting back on the volume of channel 7 and GTV programs simultaneously airing on its digital channels.
First to feel the sweeping changes was the noontime newscast ‘Balita Ko,’ which upon its transfer to the 10:30 am slot last Monday, October 9, also became available only on GTV and Pinoy Hits. Ergo, ending its simulcast on Heart of Asia and I Heart Movies last October 5, or over a year after it was added on both channels when it was still known as ‘Balitanghali’.
‘All Out Sundays’ then followed suit on Sunday, October 15. Like ‘Balita Ko,’ it also aired was cut down to air on two platforms only: GMA and Pinoy Hits. Albeit, a GTV simulcast is said to be retained and will only air during non-NCAA game days.
Perhaps, the biggest change happened at the beginning of thid week. As per the new programming grid released I Heart Movies, its weekday line-up no longer includes the GMA Telebabad simulcast, which begins with ’24 Oras’ at 6:30 pm until ‘Unbreak My Heart’ ends at 10:20 pm.
Instead, the movie channel will revert to airing films on that time block, but with the exception of ‘Unbreak My Heart’ at 9:35 pm, which will continue to simultaneously air on IHM until its finale.
With that development, I Heart Movies is well on its way to returning as a full-fledged movie channel on digital TV.
As for sister DTT channel Heart of Asia, after dropping both ‘Balita Ko’ and ‘All-Out Sundays,’ it has reverted to a full-time Asian drama channel (besides the infomercials) on Monday, October 16.
With these changes, Pinoy Hits will be the only DTT channel of the network that will continue to simulcast both GMA and GTV shows moving forward.
Although, GTV itself will also likely keep select programs to air on a simulcast basis like “24 Oras” and its weekend edition. Other channel 7 shows, especially Telebabad dramas, will also continue to air on a delayed basis on the secondary Kapuso channel.
The ‘simulmania’
At the start of the year, this blog raised the issue regarding the Kapuso network’s apparent simulcast frenzy. That took a turn for the worse when Pinoy Hits launched with most of its airtime dedicated to airing shows from GMA-7 and GTV at the same time as they air on their respective channels.
That also led to the coining of the term ‘simulmania’ and further diluted the perceived identity of their DTT channels, as they struggle with their respective identity.
The toning down of the network’s “simulmania” (simulcast mania) that visibly manifested at the start of the year is one of the best decisions that GMA did in recent times. After all, the creation of additional channels on digital terrestrial television should mean more options for viewers.
When the addition of the rather nonsensical simulcasts happened, the choice for free-to-air viewers were reduced significantly. Hence, might have also led them to shifting to other channels, or worse, platforms like online.
Thus, putting an end to such practice and giving a more solid format to each of those is the best way forward. Which is a problem that persists in two other channels.
What’s next for GTV and Pinoy Hits
It may seem wishful thinking for now, but hopefully Pinoy Hits and GTV will also finally be able to break away from both the relay and delayed broadcast of GMA-7 shows entirely. This is to let them have a much more defined identity.
For GTV, aside from removing mirror broadcasts of most, if not all Kapuso entertainment programs, they can also explore the idea of dropping the delayed airing of shows like Telebabad on weekday evenings. Instead, that practice should be implemented by Pinoy Hits instead.
That would allow GTV to put a varied line-up aimed at a completely different set of audience, akin to what was done during its time as QTV. Meanwhile, Pinoy Hits, at its core, should also become a throwback and catch-up channel for the current Kapuso slate, or even an overflow channel, if needed.
A Schedule Suggestions piece on Pinoy Hits last July had already discussed that possibility.
As viewers, we can only hope that the recent decision to remove the unneeded simulcasts will remain in place and hopefully, be also rolled out on the remaining channels.
The drastically changing free television landscape badly needs more diversity in the programs that right now. This is to at least encourage those that are still clinging on to the medium to keep their sets on. Eventually, a better programming overall might also help entice those who have already tuned out to consider tuning in again.