Kapamilya Channel
| File:Kapamilya Channel.png | |
| Type | Pay television network |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Network | ABS-CBN |
| Headquarters | ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Diliman, Quezon City |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Filipino (main) English (secondary and primary for The World Tonight and Movie Central Presents) |
| Picture format | 1080p (HDTV) (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | ABS-CBN Corporation |
| History | |
| Launched | June 13, 2020 |
| Replaced |
|
| Links | |
| Website | kapamilyachannel |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Kapamilya Online Live (selected programs only) | Facebook YouTube |
| iWantTFC | Watch Live |
Kapamilya Channel (lit. 'Family Channel', stylized as Kapamilya channel) is a 24-hour Philippine pay television network owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation, a company under the Lopez Group. The network is headquartered at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City where it started broadcasting on June 13, 2020 at 5:30 a.m. with Kapamilya Daily Mass as its first program.[2] The network serves as the replacement of the main terrestrial ABS-CBN network after ceasing its free-to-air broadcast operations as ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on May 5, 2020 due to the expiration of its legislative franchise. It carries most of programs that ABS-CBN aired prior to the shutdown.[3]
Overview
The channel is available through most of the cable providers who are members of the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association (PCTA) (including ABS-CBN's Sky Cable) and through direct broadcast satellite television service providers Sky Direct (until June 30, 2020), G Sat, and since October 21, 2020 through Cignal and SatLite. This allowed ABS-CBN Corporation to continue producing and distributing content while the outcome of their congressional franchise application was still pending at that time since the NTC's cease and desist order for ABS-CBN only covers Channel 2 and all of its free-to-air television and radio stations.[4][5][2] The network's franchise renewal has since rejected by the House of Representatives on July 10, 2020, voted 70–11 to deny.[6] The network also streams live and makes most of its shows available on the streaming service iWantTFC.[7] On August 1, 2020, the network officially launched the Kapamilya Online Live, which livestreams some of contents from Kapamilya Channel and Jeepney TV on the online video-sharing platforms Facebook and YouTube.[8] Although the network itself is available only in the Philippines, most of its local programs are available on ABS-CBN's international subscription service The Filipino Channel via cable, online and IPTV.
Unlike the main terrestrial ABS-CBN that signs off during the overnight hours, Kapamilya Channel airs 24 hours daily, with Movie Central Presents shown during the overnight slots.[2]
The channel, along with TeleRadyo, only broadcasts the daily Three O'Clock Prayer (Filipino: Panalangin sa Ikatlo ng Hapon) at 3:00 pm (PST) in the Philippines similar to the main terrestrial ABS-CBN.
Programming
Kapamilya Channel features shows that have aired or were slated to air on ABS-CBN whose productions were suspended due to the Luzon enhanced community quarantine in March 2020 as well as the ensuing uncertainty following the NTC's cease and desist order.[9] These include the variety shows It's Showtime (with three new segments)[10] and ASAP Natin 'To; the second season of singing competition The Voice Teens;[9] teleseryes Ang Probinsyano, A Soldier's Heart, and Love Thy Woman; and morning talk show Magandang Buhay.[3] Three new locally-produced programs, Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan? hosted by Judy Ann Santos, Iba 'Yan hosted by Angel Locsin and The World of a Married Couple, the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history made their debut in the Kapamilya Channel.[9]
Contrary to earlier news reports,[3] ABS-CBN's primary news program, TV Patrol, as well as several news and current affairs programs, was not initially aired on the Kapamilya Channel (as it did through the free-to-air channel) until after July 24; the program did air exclusively on TeleRadyo, ANC, and Cine Mo! and streamed through the ABS-CBN News' Facebook page and YouTube channel until the said date. The delayed telecast of ANC's The World Tonight also began to air at 10:00 pm on the following Monday, July 27, making the two longest-running Filipino and English language evening newscasts in the country airing on the same channel once again since 1999. The morning simulcast of TeleRadyo's programming (which was also aired on ABS-CBN as a provisionary morning program prior to the shutdown) on the schedule remained the same. An evening 30-minute News Patrol program was aired on the Kapamilya Channel until July 24.[2]
New offerings such as the Thai hit 2gether: The Series premiered on July 27, 2020. It is the first Thai boy's love series to be acquired by ABS-CBN; this comes after a partnership of Dreamscape Entertainment and GMMTV. Still 2gether, the sequel of the said show, will start airing on August 15, 2020 with a one-day delayed telecast from Thailand.[11][12] Other upcoming shows such as the Thai dramas Come To Me and I'm Tee, Me Too are also expected to air as part of the acquired foreign programs. On September 12, 2020, the network launched the Just Love Kids, a children's programming block focusing on educational programs and animated series that have previously aired on ABS-CBN, Knowledge Channel, and the now-defunct Yey! channel.[13] The children's show Team Yey! premiered its new fifth season for the first time on Kapamilya Channel.
On October 10, 2020, selected programs from Kapamilya Channel will be also aired on A2Z Channel 11, a free-to-air television channel joint-venture between ABS-CBN and ZOE Broadcasting Network through a blocktime agreement.
On October 21, 2020, Kapamilya Channel became available on Cignal which was owned by MediaQuest Holdings, the owner of ABS-CBN's rival TV5 to expand more viewers of the said channel.[14]
Online streaming on their channel's official website (until November 13) and Kapamilya Online Live (with the exception of iWantTFC) does not include contents such as acquired programming, movie blocks and overnight programming, as the live streaming itself only airs original programming due to the copyright restrictions.
References
- ^ "Kapamilya Channel: List of Cable Providers". ABS–CBN. June 11, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Guide: Everything airing on Kapamilya Channel starting June 13". ABS-CBN News. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ a b c Hallare, Katrina (June 4, 2020). "'Ang Probinsyano,' other ABS-CBN programs to return as new channel set to emerge". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Which ABS-CBN businesses can still operate after NTC's cease and desist order?". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Mercurio, Richmond (June 7, 2020). "Top ABS-CBN shows returning on new channel". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ^ Cervantes, Filane Mikee (July 10, 2020). "Several issues led to denial of ABS-CBN franchise bid: House body". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ "It's Showtime returns to provide entertainment, relief, and livelihood opportunities to Filipinos". ABS-CBN. June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
Livestreaming of the Kapamilya Channel and on-demand viewing of its programs are available on the iWant app and on iwant.ph
- ^ "Kapamilya Online Live: ABS-CBN programs to stream on YouTube, Facebook starting August 1". ABS-CBN News. July 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Ang Probinsyano, KimXi teleserye to return to TV via Kapamilya channel". Philippine Entertainment Portal. June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ^ "'New normal? New saya!': 'It's Showtime' to return with new segments". ABS-CBN News. June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ^ "ABS-CBN announces partnership with Thailand's GMMTV". ABS-CBN News. June 15, 2020.
- ^ "(Still) 2gether to have simulcast release on Thailand's GMMTV and Philippine's iWant". ABS-CBN News. July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ "ABS-CBN rolls out new children's TV block, online portal Just Love Kids". ABS-CBN News. September 7, 2020.
- ^ "Kapamilya Channel is now available on Cignal". ABS-CBN News. October 22, 2020.
