2008 in Philippine television
The following is a list of events affecting Philippine television in 2008. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and carriage disputes.
Events
January
- January 1:
- Effective January 1, 2008, all of Solar's channels will cease to air on SkyCable, the Philippines' largest cable company. An insider claims that these troubles with SkyCable started when boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, whose fights Solar Entertainment has the exclusive right to air and distribute, moved from ABS-CBN, a sister company of Sky, to rival GMA. However, Solar has inked a deal with local terrestrial channels ABC, RPN, SBN and RJTV for block-time programming, ETC, 2nd Avenue and C/S programming are seen on terrestrial TV. Currently, ETC shows can be seen on SBN and 2nd Avenue on RJTV on a test broadcast basis, while C/S will be seen on RPN.
- ETC will cease to air over SkyCable as a channel on its own right. However, as part of block-time agreements with various terrestrial channels, ETC will carry some of its programs over Southern Broadcasting Network Channel 21, a terrestrial UHF TV Station in Metro Manila and selected cities in the Philippines.
- January 5: Comedian Ruben Gonzaga wins the second season of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition.
May
- May 5: The 4th originating station of Kapuso Network started airing is GMA Dagupan, which covers Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Benguet, La Union, Ifugao and Mountain Province after the establishment of Cebu, Iloilo and Davao.
- May 11: Miss Philippines Earth 2008, the 8th edition of Miss Philippines Earth pageant, was held at Crowne Plaza Galleria, Ortigas Center, Manila, Philippines. Miss Karla Paula Henry of Cebu won the pageant.
June
August
- August 8: After 16 years of broadcast, ABC-5 ended its commercial operations on Friday evening at 22:00 (10:00 pm).
- August 9: at 19.00 (7:00 pm) local time, ABC-5 was rebranded as TV5 and launched its new programs.[1][2][3] However, despite the name change, the corporate name will still be Associated Broadcasting Company and Tonyboy Cojuangco will remain its CEO.[4]
- August 17: Gretchen Espina wins the first season of Pinoy Idol.
September
October
- October 8: ABS-CBN celebrates its 55th anniversary and unveils the TV plug "Beyond Television", describing ABS-CBN's transformation from a small television network in 1953 into a full-fledged media conglomerate with businesses beyond television.
November
Premieres
Unknown
Programs transferring networks
Finales
Specials
- February 15–March 2: 2007–08 PBA Philippine Cup Finals on ABC 5
- March 14: Sergio & MariMar The Wedding: MariMar Farewell TV Special on GMA
- March 16: Unfinished Business: Pacquiao vs Marquez II Fight on GMA/C/S (RPN 9)/Solar Sports/Solar All Access
- March 22: The Misadventures of Maverick & Ariel Show Special on GMA
- April 24–27: 2008 PBA All-Star Weekend on ABC 5
- April 25: Ang Daigdig Ni Diyesebel: Behind The Scenes Special on GMA
- June 6–18: 2008 NBA Finals on C/S (RPN 9)/Basketball TV
- June 22: Kapusolympics Watermania: The GMA 58th Anniversary Special on GMA
- June 29: Lethal Combination: The Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz Fight on GMA/C/S 9/Solar Sports/Solar All Access
- July 11: Joaquin Bordado Farewell TV Special on GMA
- July 19: Eat Bulaga L.A. Grand Fiesta on GMA
- July 26: Laban Na Banal Boxing Coverage on ABS-CBN
- August 6–20: 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals on ABC 5/TV5
- August 8–24: 2008 Beijing Olympics on ETC (SBN 21)/2nd Avenue (RJTV 29)/Jack TV/C/S (RPN 9)/Solar Sports/Basketball TV
- September 28: Newsmakers – A GMA News & Public Affairs Documentary Special on GMA
- October 12: Ogie Twenty-Twenty: The Ogie Alcasid 20th Anniversary Concert TV Special on GMA
- October 23: Isang Mundo, Isang Estasyon, Isang Kapamilya: ABS-CBN @ 55 (2-Part Special) on ABS-CBN
- October 26: Experience GMA Today & Beyond: 58 Glorious Years of Television on GMA
- December 7: The Dream Match: Pacquiao Vs. De La Hoya Fight on GMA/C/S 9/Solar Sports/Solar All Access
- December 14: Have Yourself A Funny Merry Christmas: The 2008 GMA Christmas Special on GMA
- December 14 and 21: Skechers Streetdance Battle : Year 4 on ETC (SBN 21)
- December 21:
- Pasko Na, Kapamilya: The ABS-CBN Christmas Special on ABS-CBN
- Sunsilk's Gaganda Ang Pasko Kapuso Grand Draw TV Special on GMA
- December 26: Nuts Entertainment Holiday Drama Special on GMA
- December 28: 2008 Upload: The ABS-CBN Yearend Special on ABS-CBN
- December 31: The Big TEN: The Evening News Yearender Special 2008 on TV5
- December 31, 2008 - January 1, 2009:
- Lucky' 09: The GMA New Year's Countdown on GMA
- Bandila New Year Countdown 2009 on ABS-CBN
Ratings
Networks
Launches
Unknown dates
Unknown
Stations changing network affiliation
The following is a list of television stations that have made or will make noteworthy network affiliation changes in 2008.
Rebranded
The following is a list of television stations that have made or will make noteworthy network rebranded in 2008.
| Date | Rebranded from | Rebranded to | Channel | Source |
| August 9 | ABC 5 | TV5 | 5 | |
Closures
Cable Channel are Moving
Births
Deaths
- March 8: Carol Varga, 80, FAMAS-award winning actress (born 1928)
- April 27: Marcos Mataro, 40, former member of Iglesia Ni Cristo and ex-host of D'X-Man (born 1968)
- May 16: Henry Canoy, 74, founder of Radio Mindanao Network; grandson of ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy (born 1923)
- May 26: Dolly Aglay, 32, journalist with Reuters and Philippine Star (born 1966)
- June 7: Rudy Fernandez, 56, Filipino actor (born 1952)
- July 22: Gilbert Perez, 49, movie and TV director (born 1959)
- August 28: Zorayda Sanchez, 56, film and TV comedian (born 1952)
- September 1: Dely Magpayo, 88, radio host best known as "Tia Dely" (born 1920)
- September 21: Roger Mercado, 69, adoptive father and uncle of Jennylyn Mercado (born 1939)
- October 13: Khryss Adalia, 62, film and television director (born 1946)
- December 4: Manuel Yan, 88, former AFP Chief of Staff and diplomat; grandfather of the late Rico Yan (born 1920)
- December 7: Marky Cielo, 20, StarStruck 3's Ultimate Male Survivor and Ultimate Soul Survivor (born 1988)
- December 31: Rosendo delas Alas, 88, father of comedian Ai-Ai de las Alas (born 1920)
See also
References