DZBB-TV

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This article is about the flagship station of GMA Network in Metro Manila

For the radio station, see DZBB.

DZBB-TV

Metro Manila
Branding	GMA-7 Manila
Channels	7 (VHF) analog
Translators	Ch. 5 Baler, Aurora D13ZR 13 Occ. Mindoro
Affiliations	GMA Network
Owner	GMA Network
Founded	October 29, 1961
Call letters meaning	DZ Bisig Bayan
Former callsigns	None
Transmitter Power	100 kilowatts
Website	iGMA.tv

DZBB-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of Philippine television network GMA Network. Its studios are located at the GMA Network Center at the corner of Timog Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Quezon City.

1 History
- 1.1 Digitalization
2 References
3 See also

[edit] History

DZBB-TV traces its history to Metro Manila radio station DZBB, owned by Republic Broadcasting System of Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart. After the success of its radio station, the company ventured into television. On October 29, 1961, RBS DZBB-TV 7, the third television station in the Philippines, started operations with just 25 employees (other stations had 200), a surplus transmitter and two old cameras.

The station was always in the red and Stewart was about to give up when the program "Dancetime with Chito" became a big hit and advertising revenues rolled in. Canned programs from the United States further sustained its success.

In 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines and the station was forced to shut down. It was not until 1974 that the station went back on-air. RBS, including its TV and radio stations, were sold to a triumvirate composed of Felipe Gozon, Gilberto Duavit, Sr., and Menardo Jimenez who introduced a programming concept catering to the new audience. The new management acquired new equipment and introduced new programs, a new name, GMA (Greater Manila Area) Radio-Television Arts, and a new identity, "Where You Belong."

When democracy in the Philippines was restored in the People Power Revolution in 1986, other television stations began to air, some with their original owners. Rival network ABS-CBN also began broadcasting, September of that year, and in six months, took over the ratings, which ultimately started its hold on local broadcasting for years to come. The political instability of the country also added to the station's burden, when soldiers stormed into its studios for two days in a part of coup attempt to topple then President Corazon Aquino.

On November 7, 1988, the GMA Tower of Power, the tallest man-made structure in the country at that time was inaugurated. With its 50 kilowatt TV transmitter and a high-gain corner reflector antenna, GMA dramatically improved its reach and signal in Luzon. The tower's height is 777ft.

In 1998, Channel 7 greatly improved its TV signal after switching on their 100 kilowatt transmitter facility in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

[edit] Digitalization

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered that all analog TV broadcast transmission in the Philippines will be terminated by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2015, requiring television service providers to migrate to digital terrestrial television by that time. GMA Network is currently applying for a DTT license from the NTC.^[1]

[edit] References

^ Amojelar, Darwin (November 6, 2006). Regulator orders shift to digital television by 2015. The Manila Times. Retrieved on March 20.

"GMA Turns Gold", Manila Bulletin, 2000, June 14, pp. S1-S12.
Anastacio & Badiola. what's the story, pinoy tv?. Retrieved on August 21, 2006.

[edit] See also

v • d • e

Broadcast television in the Metro Manila market

DWWX 2 (ABS-CBN) - DWGT 4 (NBN) - DWET 5 (ABC) - DZBB 7 (GMA) - DZKB 9 (RPN) - DZOE 11 / DWDB 27 (Q) - DZTV 13 (IBC) - DWCP 21 (SBN) - DWAC 23 (Studio 23) - DWMJ 25 (Ind.) - DZRJ 29 (RJTV) - DZOZ 33 (Ind.) - DWAO 37 (UNTV) - DWBP 39 (ACQ-KBN) - DWVN 45 (3ABN) - DWDM 49 (Ind.)
Defunct and inactive stations
DWKC 31 (Ind./E!) - DWXI 35 (Ind.) - DZRU 41 (MTV) - DWBM 43 (Ind.) - DWDZ 47 (ABC) - DWBC 68 (Ind.)