GMA Network Center
The GMA Network Center is the headquarters and broadcast complex of the GMA Network, a major radio and television network in the Philippines. It is located at EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the network's main television and radio production center, and its main transmission facility for most of Metro Manila. The building houses Super Radyo DZBB 594 AM, Barangay LS 97.1 FM, GMA-7, and GMA News TV-27.
GMA Network Center | |
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General information | |
Type | High-rise |
Architectural style | Modernism |
Location | EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines |
Coordinates | 14.6334°N 121.0440°E |
Construction started | 1996 |
Completed | 2000 |
Opened | June 14, 2000 |
Inaugurated | June 14, 2000 |
Cost | US$46 million[1] |
Owner | GMA Network |
Height | 64.39 meters |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 17 |
Design and construction | |
Architect | Roger Villarosa[2] |
GMA inaugurated the facility on June 14, 2000, the birthdate of GMA Network, as part of the kick-off of its year-round celebration of its 50th golden anniversary. While the first phase of the project has already been completed with the completion of the 17-storey high-rise building, the center has an option to upgrade the older, existing facilities in the GMA compound, as originally planned.
The center is equipped with MARC (Multiple Automated Recorder Cassette) System with a D3 format digital video recorder and a Broadcast Automation System that allows the network to manage live feeds and international feeds that will be carried out to GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and, GMA News TV International subscribers around the world.
Although the Network Center was inaugurated in 2000, GMA has held office in its current EDSA headquarters since 1957 with its television broadcasts started in 1961, having moved from the Calvo Building in Escolta, Manila (where the network, then known as Loreto de F. Hemedes, Inc., later renamed Republic Broadcasting System, had its first studios and corporate offices since its inception in 1950).
GMA Network Studios
The GMA compound has seven studios, three of which (Studios 1, 2 and 3) are in the network center, two (Studios 6 and 7) in the new GMA Network Studio Annex, and two (Studios 4 and 5, formerly Studios A and B) in the old GMA Building, Studios 4 and 5 are one of the oldest GMA Studios, However, Studio 5 serves as the main headquarters of GMA News. The Center serves as the Corporate Headquarters for the network and also houses radio stations Super Radyo DZBB 594 AM and Barangay LS 97.1 FM, as well as the newsroom. A convenience store and a coffee shop services the employees who work in the center. Meanwhile, the Kapuso Center, located along the GMA Network Drive (11th Jamboree Street) entrance of the compound, serves as the offices for the GMA Kapuso Foundation, the "Action Center" of Mike Enriquez's Imbestigador, and the public service program Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko. On the building's courtside is a sculpture titled Beyond Broadcasting, by artist Eduardo Castrillo.[3]
GMA Network Studio Annex
GMA Network Studio Annex is a 4-storey television facility that is part of the 18,404-square meter complex. It was built in a 4,308-square meter land beside the old network complex. The construction was begun in 2006 and completed in 2008.
GMA Network Studio Annex | |
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General information | |
Status | Active |
Location | Diliman, Quezon City |
Country | Philippines |
Groundbreaking | 2006 |
Construction started | 2006 |
Opened | October 17, 2008 |
Inaugurated | October 17, 2008 |
Cost | Php1 billion |
Owner | GMA Network Inc. |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 4 |
The structure houses two state-of-the art soundstages, one of which can accommodate up to 1,000 studio audience. The new building, dubbed the GMA Network Studios, also houses studio support and set construction facilities, technical equipment for broadcast and theater systems, props storage, garage areas, rehearsal rooms, talent dressing and makeup rooms, as well as administrative and production offices. A bridge also connects the new building to the rest of the compound. The new structure costs as much as PhP1 billion.[4]
The new GMA Network Studios was unveiled on Friday, October 17, 2008 with a red carpet event. The red carpet event was attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the country's president at that time and network's big stars. And the tour of the new studio was shown in GMA Pinoy TV, worldwide by the Bubble Gang characters Angelina and Yaya, played by Ogie Alcasid and Michael V., respectively. They were shown the features of the studio, where the audience, including Felipe Gozon, watched them dance.
German Moreno Studio
The German Moreno Studio (formerly Studio 6) is a 638-square-meter studio that can accommodate an audience of 600. It was inaugurated by renaming the studio 6 after the late German "Kuya Germs" Moreno in his 85th birthday, on October 4, 2018.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] It currently houses the daily afternoon game show Wowowin.
Studio 7
Studio 7 is a 1,020-square-meter studio that houses All-Out Sundays. It can accommodate an audience of 1,000, and is currently the network's largest studio.
GMA Network's Walk of Fame
On March 24, 2014, GMA Network launched its own version of "Walk of Fame" outside Network Center, over 190 celebrities and news & public affairs personalities received the plaque. The concept of this "Walk of Fame" was done by the late German "Kuya Germs" Moreno who was also behind the Eastwood City's Walk of Fame.[12][13][14][15]
Future
GMA Network plans to construct a new building and state-of-the-art studios within the complex.[16]
In popular culture
The building was featured on the 2019 musical-comedy film, The Mall, The Merrier.
References
- Suh, Sangwon; Lopez, Antonio Lopez (February 13, 1998). "'We'll Be Number One' How a Manila TV station finds profit in values". Asiaweek.
- Roger G. Villarosa Archived 2007-03-19 at the Wayback Machine, Mapúa CareerLink. Retrieved on May 26, 2007.
- President joins GMA's 50th anniversary rites today, Manila Bulletin. June 14, 2000.
- Daxim Lucas. GMA Network spending P1B for studio expansion, Inquirer News Service. Retrieved on May 26, 2007.
- Geli, Bianca. "IN PHOTOS: GMA Network unveils German Moreno Studio". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- "ON HIS BIRTHDAY: German Moreno Studio unveiled in honor of well-loved Master Showman". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- "IN PHOTOS: GMA Network hails Kuya Germs' legacy with German Moreno Studio". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- PEP.ph (October 4, 2018). "Studio ng GMA Network, ipapangalan kay German Moreno". Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- "BUKAS NA! | 'The German Moreno studio', pormal nang binuksan". RMN Networks. October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- "GMA inaugurates new German Moreno studio". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- "Studio named after German Moreno". Manila Bulletin. October 8, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- "GMA honors Kapuso personalities with Walk of Fame". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- "Kapuso Walk of Fame". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- "Kuya Germs launches Walk of Fame at GMA Network | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- "German Moreno realizes 'Walk of Fame' dream". ph.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- "GMA Network allocates over P20-B for CAPEX, 2021-2023 content cost". SunStar Bacolod. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.