Bilyonaryo Felipe Gozon now sees ABS-CBN of the Lopez family not as a bitter competitor but just a content provider of his GMA Network.
This is the reason why the GMA chairman and CEO signed a deal on April 5 with ABS-CBN Film Productions (Star Cinema) to air the latter’s vast film library on the Kapuso network’s free-to-air channels.
PASAVOGUE!
GMA X ABS-CBN
Ang mga pelikula ng Star Cinema, mapapanood na sa Kapuso Network!
Abangan ang buong detalye ngayong gabi sa 24 Oras. #ABSCBN#GMA pic.twitter.com/oDiBCdqL4f
— Osam-mah Siao (@osammah_siao) April 5, 2022
Two years after losing its franchise, ABS-CBN is now a shadow of the media titan which dominated the industry for three decades.
ABS-CBN has struck deals with TV5 of bilyonaryo Manny V. Pangilinan and A2Z channel of Bro. Eddie Villanueva to air the Kapamilya channel’s top-rating shows like “Ang Probinsyano” and “Showtime” on free TV channels.
Present during the virtual signing were GMA Network president and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.; executive vice president and CFO Felipe S. Yalong; GMA Network Films, Inc. president and programming consultant to the chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes; first vice president for program management department Jose Mari R. Abacan; vice president for corporate affairs and communications Angel Javier-Cruz; assistant vice president for program management department Mitzi Garcia; and assistant vice president for corporate communications Jojo Aquino.
In attendance from ABS-CBN were chairman Mark Lopez; president and CEO Carlo L. Katigbak; COO for broadcast Cory V. Vidanes; group CFO Ricardo B. Tan, Jr.; managing director of ABS-CBN Films Productions Olivia Lamasan; head of international sales and distribution Pia B. Laurel; and vice president of corporate communications Kane Errol C. Choa.
Duavit called the partnership mutually beneficial for both companies. “The partnership today ushers in the possibility of a far broader set of conversations, potential partnerships and cooperation,” Duavit said.
Katigbak hoped to bring Star Cinema movies to more viewers through this partnership, “Because of the kindness of our friends at GMA, we have the special opportunity to bring our Kapamilya stories to a new audience. We hope the Kapusos find joy and inspiration in viewing our Star Cinema movies and we also look forward to a new era of friendship and cooperation within our small industry,” said Katigbak.
Some of the Star Cinema classics that will air on GMA-7 include ‘Alone/Together,’ ‘How to Be Yours,’ ‘Till My Heartaches End,’ ‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,’ ‘Ang Cute ng Ina Mo!,’ ‘It Takes a Man and a Woman,’ ‘Just The Way You Are,’ ‘Fantastica,’ ‘Can We Still Be Friends?,’ ‘Finally Found Someone,’ ‘No Other Woman,’ ‘Won’t Last A Day Without You,’ ‘Must Be…Love,’ ‘The Panti Sisters,’ ‘Isa Pa With Feelings,’ ‘James & Pat & Dave,’ ‘Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay,’ ‘Feng Shui,’ ‘Suddenly It’s Magic,’ and ‘I Love You, Hater.’