GMA Regional TV (RTV) takes pride in staying true to its “Local News Matters” campaign. With stations strategically located in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the regional arm of GMA Network consistently enables viewers to access local news in various communities outside Metro Manila.
Its unparalleled commitment to producing local news programs and specials that are more attuned to stories, voices, and viewership in the regions has earned the trust of Filipino viewers all over the country.
In 2020, GMA RTV’s regional morning shows and local newscasts tallied a combined reach of about 64 percent of all TV households throughout the country, with an estimated total of 46.8 million viewers, based on Nielsen Phils. TV Audience Measurement’s Total Philippines data (January to December 2020).
Further, in the last two years, GMA RTV posted increased viewership for all of its regional news programs based on 2019 and 2020 Nielsen Phils. Metro Cities TV Audience Measurement (MCTAM) data. And amid the challenges brought about by the pandemic in 2020, GMA RTV launched pioneering morning programs in key regional hubs in the Philippines.
In GMA RTV’s North Central Luzon hub, GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan remains as the leading local newscast. In 2020, the award-winning unified weekday newscast registered an enormous viewer growth of 170 percent in Metro Dagupan. Balitang Amianan is co-anchored by seasoned broadcast journalists CJ Torida, Joanne Ponsoy, and Jasmin Gabriel-Galban with Ivy Hernando, King Guevarra, Russel Simorio, and Claire Lacanilao as regional correspondents, and a wide network of local news stringers all over North Central Luzon. GMA RTV also introduced the unified weekday morning show in North Central Luzon, Mornings with GMA Regional TV, last September, co-hosted by Ralph Guieb with Ara Hanesh.
Meanwhile, in GMA RTV’s Central and Eastern Visayas hub, the unified weekday newscast GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak continues to be the viewers’ top choice since 2019. MCTAM’s data even showed that Balitang Bisdak grew its average number of viewers in Metro Cebu by 48 percent in 2020 relative to 2019.
Balitang Bisdak is bannered by tri-media personality Bobby Nalzaro and co-anchored by award-winning broadcast journalists Alan Domingo and Cecille Quibod-Castro. Reporting from different parts of Metro Cebu are regional correspondents Lou-Anne Mae Rondina, Nikko Sereno, Fe Marie Dumaboc, and local news stringers based in different parts of Central and Eastern Visayas. Morning viewers in Central and Eastern Visayas are also treated to GMA Regional TV Live!, which was launched in April last year, and co-hosted by Sereno and Quibod-Castro.
In GMA RTV’s Western Visayas hub, flagship weekday unified Hiligaynon newscast GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas continued to increase its viewership in the span of two years since its launch. It recorded a 165-percent viewership growth in Metro Bacolod, while earning 174 percent viewership increase in Metro Iloilo from 2019 to 2020. One Western Visayas is co-headlined by broadcast journalists Sedfrey Cabaluna, Adrian Prietos, and Kaitlene Rivilla. Together with them are award-winning regional correspondents Zen Quilantang, Darylle Marie Sarmiento, and John Sala along with news stringers across Western Visayas. In August 2020, GMA RTV pioneered the first-ever unified weekday Hiligaynon TV morning show in Western Visayas dubbed GMA Regional TV Early Edition co-hosted by Cabaluna, Prietos, and Rivilla.
Further, in Mindanao, pioneering unified weekday local newscast GMA Regional TV One Mindanao more than doubled its viewership reach in 2020 compared to 2019. The program, produced by Mindanaoans for Mindananoans, recorded a remarkable 137 percent viewership growth in Metro Davao. Similarly in Metro Cagayan de Oro, One Mindanao posted a 110 percent increase in viewership.
GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is co-anchored by Gandingan Awards’ Best Anchor Tek Ocampo, seasoned broadcast journalists Sarah Hilomen-Velasco and Real Sorroche with regional correspondents Sheillah Vergara-Rubio, Rgil Relator, Jandi Esteban, and Cyril Chavez as well as various local news stringers based across North, Central, South Central, and Southern Mindanao. Last June 2020, GMA RTV launched the first and only unified weekday morning program in Mindanao via At Home with GMA Regional TV co-hosted by Relator and Chaves.
At the same time, GMA RTV’s flagship national newscast GMA Regional TV Weekend News was awarded the Catholic Mass Media Awards’ Special Citation as Best News Program, as it continues to make the top stories from the regions available to more viewers nationwide every Saturday on GMA News TV. Launched in 2019, GMA Regional TV Weekend News airs news and other special features delivered by no less than the roster of award-winning broadcast journalists from RTV’s local newscasts.
This year, viewers can be assured that GMA RTV is committed to bring relevant news and stories from the regions to the local and national levels as it launches its sixth flagship newscast — GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia on Feb. 1.
“Since day one, we have taken to heart our campaign ‘Local News Matters,” said GMA Regional TV and Synergy Vice President and Head Oliver Victor Amoroso. “It has been our driving force in every program and every initiative we come up with. The past few years saw the need for more news and information on and from the regions and GMA Regional TV is committed to work harder to consistently deliver this.”
“Amid the ever-changing landscape of community journalism and challenging times, our Kapuso viewers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao can be assured that GMA Regional TV will be there for them, bringing them relevant news, features, and other initiatives that they need the most,” he added.
With 2020 being one of the most challenging years to date, GMA RTV remained committed to providing Serbisyong Totoo—being at the forefront of delivering the biggest news all over the regions. During calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes, these local news teams are on their feet, reporting directly from ground zero. Regular news updates are also provided to viewers through GMA RTV’s series of special coverage such as “Coronavirus Pandemic Alert,” “Bantay Bagyo,” “ASF Watch,” “Linog sa Mindanao,” and “Baha Update.”
GMA RTV also rolled out its “Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels,” providing families from different barangays with food packs, rice, and groceries, as well as locally produced vegetables. The campaign has been able to reach more than 6,000 families since it was launched in May 2020.
It is no surprise that GMA RTV initiatives and efforts have been recognized by various award-giving bodies.
In 2020—for the fourth time in a row—GMA RTV was named the “Best Regional TV Network” at the Platinum Stallion National Media Awards. At the 42nd Catholic Mass Media Awards, its programs and initiatives received Special Citation merits: GMA Regional TV Weekend News (Best News Program category); GMA Regional TV's Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels (Best TV Ad-Public Service), and Byaheng DO30, which airs on GMA Regional TV Channels in Mindanao (Best News Magazine Program).
Online, GMA RTV has been strengthening its presence as well thru its official website: www.gmaregionaltv.com. Its official YouTube channel has been a recipient of the Silver Play Button Award after having reached the 100,000-subscriber mark on the online video platform last year.
In the coming years, expect GMA RTV to remain steadfast in its commitment to delivering local news that matters and stories that inspire—enriching the lives of Filipinos in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao every step of the way.
