DWKC-TV

"BEAM Channel 31" redirects here. for the article about the television network, see RMN and BEAM Inc..
For radio, see DWKC-FM.
DWKC-TV (BEAM Channel 31)
Metro Manila
City of license Pasig City
Branding BEAM Channel 31-Manila
Channels Analog: 31 (UHF)
Digital: 32 (UHF/under test broadcast) (ISDB-T)
Affiliations Independent (2014–present)
TBN Asia (2014–present)
O Shopping (2014–present)
TVShoppe (2015–present)
Owner Radio Mindanao Network
(Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc.)
Founded October 31, 1992 (RMN TV)
July 3, 2011 (BEAM)
Former affiliations CTV-31 (1992-2000)
E! Entertainment (2000-2003)
Silent (2003-2011)
The Game Channel (2011-2012)
CHASE (2011-2012)
Jack City (2012-2014)
Transmitter power 50 kW TPO/4,050 kW ERP
Website RMN.ph Website / GLOBE Corporate

BEAM Channel 31 (DWKC-TV), is the flagship television station of Radio Mindanao Network and Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc. in the Philippines. Its broadcast facilities are located at the Unit 507 Taipan Place, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, and the transmitter is located at Palos Verdes Subdivision, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City, province of Rizal.[1]

Formerly an affiliate of Solar Entertainment, BEAM TV 31's blocktimers is the Essential Broadcasting Network owned by the Greg Durante Ministries and O Shopping of ABS-CBN Corporation and CJ Group of Korea. (ABS-CBN is an affiliate of BEAM-TV's indirect co-owner, Globe Telecom).

History

As CTV-31

On October 31, 1993, Radio Mindanao Network became the second radio-based network to launch a TV station called CTV 31. It is also the first UHF station to be inspired by the format of a cable movie channel.[2] But recently CTV-31 acquired and aired E! (the American-cable network channel in the US) in mid-1997. Because of the broadcasting rules assigned by National Telecommunications Commission and the matter that they acquired the broadcast rights from E!, CTV-31 stopped its broadcast on August 2000.

E! Philippines 31 and ceased transmission

E!31 logo from 2000-2003

In mid-1997, it acquired rights to broadcast shows from the E! channel, a U.S. cable TV channel, which broadcast together with RMN's CTV-31. On September 2000, CTV-31 leased the entire channel block and changed its name to E! Philippines. Originally broadcasting 24-hours a day, in 2001 it reduced its broadcasts to 6pm-12mn.[3] However on June 1, 2003, RMN had to cease their operations on TV due to financial constraints and poor television ratings, and somehow decided to focus only on their 2 radio networks (which is 93.9 iFM and DZXL 558 AM). There were several religious groups who had wished to acquire block programming of CTV but the RMN refused to accept their offers. Some programs of E! were broadcast to QTV Channel 11 via "E! on Q" (now known as GMA News TV), ETC (aired over SBN 21), Solar News Channel (now CNN Philippines and aired over RPN 9), and Velvet (now defunct).

Since July 2011, E! has been available on most major cable/satellite systems in the Philippines distributed by Universal Networks International (a subsidiary of NBCUniversal).[4]

As BEAM Channel 31

Initial Broadcast & The Game Channel

Logo of The Game Channel from August 15, 2011-February 15, 2012. The logo was continually used until August 13, 2012 on the cable network.

Recently, after 8 years of being silent in Metro Manila & Antipolo, Rizal television, on July 3, 2011, UHF 31 returned its operations as a test broadcast.[5] The station was affiliated and occupied by Globe Telecom, as the partner of Betlehem Holdings, Inc. via Altimax Broadcasting Co. Inc., which decided that Radio Mindanao Network retains as the owner of the entire UHF 31 facilities.[6] And as the first broadcast TV operations of Globe Telecom, they have decided to have an affiliation partnership with Solar Entertainment Corporation. The network was branded on July 13 as BEAM Channel 31. On August 15, 2011, it started its initial broadcast carrying The Game Channel.[7] This network also plans to apply for the digital broadcast as the part of Globe Telecom and Radio Mindanao Network acquisition of this channel.[8] However, on December 24, The Game Channel limited its broadcast every morning and afternoon, to give way to its new sister network station CHASE, which is used its evening block.

CHASE Channel

In the later part of February, while CHASE started its programming on night, there is an investigator notebook that appear on the lower-left of the TV screen saying that "CHASE goes 24". After that event, on February 15, 2012, after its 7 months of broadcasting on BEAM Channel 31, The Game Channel bid-goodbye to the viewers and move its operations on Global Destiny Cable (which currently aired on Channel 89), while CHASE remained on this channel and took its 24-hour permanent broadcast. Recently it ended its operation on October 19, 2012.

Jack City

On September 7, 2012, when they aired 24 on CHASE, an animation signage plugged and written like this: "Another Jack TV is rising, coming soon on this channel". This was the part of Solar TV Network, Inc. plans to use this channel assignment to air the said network. The network is planned and it was launched as the secondary Jack TV network named Jack CITY on October 20, 2012.[9][10] CHASE ended its operation on October 19, 2012, although some of its programs was still carried over by this channel. The full broadcast was initiated on November 11, 2012. The main reason of reformatting/rebranding is due to CHASE which is find out that is too much male-centric. Recently, on June 28, 2013, BEAM Channel 31 limited its operation from 24 hours a day on Cable TV to 18 hours a day from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM on Free TV prior to National Telecommunications Commission rules on affiliated free TV stations.

On July 16, 2014, the day that Metro Manila was crippled by "Typhoon Glenda", the station became inactive. It was later found out that the transmitter located in Palos Verdes in Antipolo City, Rizal received a total damage to some of its facilities done by the said typhoon. As a result, the station shuts down temporarily for another maintenance, and continued its telecast on cable networks. Somehow it resumed telecast on August 10, 2014 at 9:00 PM, but still under observation.

Blocktiming Hours

On September 1, 2014, Jack City was no longer aired and affiliated on BEAM Channel 31 and its provincial affiliates, as BEAM prepares its digital transition. However, Jack City continues to broadcast on cable networks until March 21, 2015; when the channel were rebranded as CT.

After its closure, it aired O Shopping (of ABS-CBN Corporation and CJ Group of Korea, which aired at that time; on the network's mother company (ABS-CBN, which already aired on that area on this flagship station) every late night slots, and 24/7 on SkyCable (which also only available on digital platform)) and several programs from TBN Asia including The 700 Club Asia, Praise the Lord, Great Day to Live, Ang Tugon, among other local and religious programming produced by the Essential Broadcasting Network under the leadership of Bro. Greg Durante of Greg Durante Ministries which its started from its regular signing-on (6:00 AM) of the date mentioned above.

Effective November 15, 2014, the channel is now carried on SkyCable and Destiny Cable subscribers (per compliance with NTC's "must-carry" basis), with BEAM's former affiliation, Jack City changing channel assignments (however, both cable networks only available on digital platform for BEAM TV and Mega Manila for Jack City).

On March 1, 2015, TVShoppe (also known as revival of Value Vision) began airing on this channel during afternoon (the second time aired on free-to-air television and third in full-time after they're first aired on Telenovela Channel (on cable; and which also added on the channel followed afterwards on the same date) and first time on free-to-air television on IBC-13 (and also in second full-time, and both were currently airing on those channels).

On March 9, 2015, the channel also added Shop Japan during morning hours (at that time, Shop Japan aired first time on TV5 every late night hours, then to National Geographic Channel every during weekend late night timeslots, and also then recently - before - to TV5's then-sister (and rival UHF) station, AksyonTV every weekend from 12-12:30nn timeslot; the latter were currently airing also on those channels). Three days after, on March 12; the channel is regaining 24 hours a day on cable television (since at the time during the Solar Entertainment affiliation days), and still continues to air 18 hours a day on free TV.

Transition to digital television

According to BEAM president Steve Macion, the station is expected to replace the 60kW (4.05 million watt ERP) analog transmitter with a new, DTT-ready transmitter which is currently under transition and will be complete by the end of 2015. Cebu and Davao stations are also expected to upgrade to digital broadcast.[11][12]

Slogans

RMN/BEAM TV stations in the Philippines

Further information: RMN/BEAM TV Stations

References

  1. ↑ "RMN TV Station Networks". Asiawaves. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  2. ↑ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LpUVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2QoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6592%2C5297183
  3. ↑ Vanzi, Sol Jose. "RMN Joint Venture for E! Philippines". PHNO: Showbiz Center. Philippine Headline News Online. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  4. ↑ The launch of E! Entertainment Television in the Philippines PEP.ph. Retrieved 07-06-2011.
  5. ↑ DWKC-TV BEAM Channel 31 Test Broadcast retrieved via www.youtube.com 08-10-2011
  6. ↑ Lectura, Lenie. "Globe buys into two broadcast firms". Business Mirror. ABS-CBNnews.com. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  7. ↑ THE GAME CHANNEL commercials retrieved via www.youtube.com 10-27-2011
  8. ↑ Iglesia, Myla. "NTC favors Japan digital TV". Business Insight. Business Insight. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  9. ↑ Sallan, Edwin. "Solar launches new free channel JackCITY". News5. InterAksyon.com. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  10. ↑ Redefining Drama Solar Entertainment Corporation Launches 'JackCity' ClickTheCity.com. Retrieved 12-01-2012.
  11. ↑ http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/tech-biz/08/05/14/beam-upgrades-transmitters-support-digital-tv
  12. ↑ http://www.globe.com.ph/press-room/beam-supports-ntc