ABS-CBN's "It's Showtime" to Air on GMA

In the years to come, March 20, 2024, will be remembered as a historic date in the chronicles of Philippine television. On that Wednesday afternoon, GMA Network Inc. executives played host to their counterparts from ABS-CBN Corp. to hold a contract signing ceremony. In this much-anticipated media event, a partnership to extend the simulcast of the noontime variety show It's Showtime to GMA Channel 7 was announced.

Image Credit: YouTube / ABS-CBN News

Under this partnership, It's Showtime will air on the Kapuso Channel from Monday to Saturday, 12:00 noon to 2:30 p.m. starting April 6, 2024 (Saturday). It can be recalled that It’s Showtime has been simulcast on GTV, GMA Channel 7's sister network, since July 1, 2023. The new deal could mean a wider reach for It's Showtime because GMA, the leader in Philippine broadcasting industry, has the most number of TV stations and transmitters in the country. The simulcast will also mark a new milestone for It's Showtime, which is going to celebrate its 15th year in October 2024.

The GMA Network executives who graced the occasion were Chairman Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, President and CEO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, and Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group and GMA Films President and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes.

Chairman Mark Lopez, President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, COO Cory Vidanes, and Group CFO Rick Tan attended the ceremony on behalf of ABS-CBN.

It’s Showtime hosts Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Kim Chiu, Ogie Alcasid, Karylle, Amy Perez, Teddy Corpuz, Jugs Jugueta, Darren, Ryan Bang, Ion Perez, Jackie Gonzaga, MC, Lassy, and Cianne Dominguez also witnessed the noteworthy moment. 

Iya Villania and Robi Domingo were fittingly chosen as the presenters of the extraordinary happening. Villania is a Kapuso (GMA) talent while Domingo is a Kapamilya (ABS-CBN) talent.

Contract Signing Ceremony 

Video Credit: YouTube / GMA Public Affairs

Prior to the It's Showtime deal, there have been instances in which GMA agreed to broadcast content from ABS-CBN. In 2022, the companies sealed a deal for the airing of Star Cinema productions on GMA's channels. Star Cinema is the movie production unit of ABS-CBN. In 2023, GMA aired Dreamscape Entertaiment's Unbreak My Heart. Dreamscape Entertainment is a television production division of ABS-CBN.

Several years ago, such an alliance was unthinkable. GMA and ABS-CBN used to be engaged with one another in an intense competition for ratings and audience share. Fast forward to 2024, the new collaboration between the industry giants has reinforced the notion that the network war has ended.