GMA 7, Meet your Match for December 31!!

Photo courtesy of newyearseveblog.com

It's been more than ten years since GMA 7 gave us the most exciting New Year's Countdown party in Philippine television, and it becomes simply unstoppable. But this year is different. Because now the worst television station in the country has reasons to make this year's party better than the usual, considering that another major network is preparing for its own New Year's Countdown party.

The Happy Network Becomes a Very Healthy Network

One of the new shows to be launched on TV5 for 2015 is Happy Wives, Happy Life featuring the wives of well-known PBA players. (Photo courtesy of News5 Everywhere)

TV5, dubbed as the happy network, continues to break boundaries and change the landscape in the Philippine television industry as the fastest-growing broadcasting company in the Philippines has gained unprecedented and unexpected success so far throughout the year.

Getting Hooked to the Happy Network

The hit primetime mini-series Wattpad Presents, based on stories popularized on Wattpad, has become a popular viewing habit for Filipino teenagers since it began airing last September 2014. (Courtesy of pinoyshowbizphotos.blogspot.com)

I was surprised to see that more and more Filipino viewers are beginning to get hooked up to the highly engaging and innovative programs on TV5, the fastest-growing broadcasting network in the Philippines. And it did not disappoint me since I have been supporting the network since Philippine business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan started to take over the station back in 2010. The happy network has indeed redefined Philippine television with its own brand of programming.

A Bandwagon of Filipino-Dubbed Blockbuster Movies

Tagalized Movie Channel is a 24/7 movie channel that features the biggest Hollywood and Asian movies dubbed in Filipino. (Logo courtesy of Wikipedia)

When TV5 rebranded itself in 2010 as the Kapatid network, it introduced a new growing trend in Philippine television - airing big blockbuster movies but dubbed in Filipino. This would seem to be the case, as it efforts to provide understanding to many Filipino households while watching dubbed movies paid off as Viva Communications Inc. launched its newest pay TV channel, TMC or Tagalized Movie Channel.

Revisiting What TV5 Did Last Year

Photo courtesy of Starmometer.com

In September 2013, under the guidance of its new president Noel Lorenzana, TV5 has started relaunching itself by having a weekend primetime block filled with entertaining and engaging shows, known as the Weekend Do It Better block. This is what the network did first last year to reassert itself as the fastest-growing network in the country. And that does not stop there.

The State of the Primetime TV Wars

The historical drama Ilustrado debuted last October 20, 2014 on GMA 7 with a not-so-good performance in the ratings game. (Poster courtesy of Starmometer.com)

The respective launches of the historical drama Ilustrado and the Korean period drama Empress Ki is a strong and valid statement that GMA 7 is more desperate and very serious about conquering primetime in Philippine television over its rival network ABS-CBN. So far throughout the year, GMA has been known for its groundbreaking and heartwarming primetime shows that captivate many Filipino viewers. However, despite the success, many of its programs are still no match for the world-class, high-quality lineup of primetime dramas aired on the true number one television station in the Philippines.