DZBB-TV
Encyclopedia
DZBB-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of Philippine
television network
GMA Network, Inc.
Its studios are located at the GMA Network Center
, at the corner of Timog Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue
in Quezon City
. Its transmitter station is located at Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora in Quezon City
.
radio station DZBB
, owned by Loreto F. de Hemedes, Inc., later renamed Republic Broadcasting System, Inc. of Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart
. After the success of its radio station, the company ventured into television. On October 29, 1961, RBS Channel 7, the third television station in the Philippines, started operations with just 25 employees (other stations had 200), a surplus transmitter
, two old cameras and no lighting equipment and props.
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. 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 100,000 Watts TV transmitter and a high-gain corner reflector antenna, GMA dramatically improved its reach and signal in Luzon. The tower's height is 777 ft (236.8 m).
In 1998, Channel 7 greatly improved its TV signal after switching on their 100,000 Watts transmitter facility in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
GMA Network, Inc.
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
Its studios are located at the GMA Network Center
GMA Network Center
The GMA Network Center is the headquarters of the GMA Network, a major radio and television network in the Philippines. It is located at EDSA corner South Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the network's main television and radio production center, and its main transmission facility for most of...
, at the corner of Timog Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue , formerly known as Highway 54, is the main circumferential road and highway of Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is an important commuting artery between the northern and southern parts of the metropolitan area...
in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
. Its transmitter station is located at Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
.
History
DZBB-TV traces its history to Metro ManilaMetro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
radio station DZBB
DZBB
Super Radyo DZBB 594 is the flagship AM station of GMA Network, Inc. in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the GMA Network Center in Quezon City, while its transmitter is located at Obando, Bulacan...
, owned by Loreto F. de Hemedes, Inc., later renamed Republic Broadcasting System, Inc. of Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart
Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart
Robert La Rue Stewart , popularly known as "Uncle Bob", was an American entrepreneur, TV personality, radio and TV producer in the Philippines. He was the founding father of Republic Broadcasting System in the country....
. After the success of its radio station, the company ventured into television. On October 29, 1961, RBS Channel 7, the third television station in the Philippines, started operations with just 25 employees (other stations had 200), a surplus transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
, two old cameras and no lighting equipment and props.
The station was always in the red
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
further sustained its success.
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
declared martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the 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
Triumvirate
A triumvirate is a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir . The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case...
composed of Felipe Gozon
Felipe Gozon
Felipe Gozon is the current chief executive and chair of GMA Network Inc., one of the largest media networks in the Philippines.A lawyer by profession, the Yale-educated Gozon is seen as the network executive who has successfully turned-around GMA from its state as the one of the leading television...
, 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. 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
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
.
On November 7, 1988, the GMA Tower of Power
Tower of Power (transmitter)
Tower of Power is a , 100,000 Watt TPO transmitter of GMA Network located in Tandang Sora, Barangay Culiat, Quezon City. It was inaugurated on November 7, 1988, the tallest man-made structure in the Philippines in 1988. The transmitter is currently the second tallest structure in Quezon City after...
, the tallest man-made structure in the country at that time was inaugurated. With its 100,000 Watts TV transmitter and a high-gain corner reflector antenna, GMA dramatically improved its reach and signal in Luzon. The tower's height is 777 ft (236.8 m).
In 1998, Channel 7 greatly improved its TV signal after switching on their 100,000 Watts transmitter facility in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
See also
- GMA NetworkGMA NetworkGMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
- List of GMA Network affiliate stations