GMA sets up regional hub in ilocos norte

Broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. has established its fifth regional station in Luzon as it expands its reach nationwide to tighten its grip as the free TV leader.

The listed company said its regional arm GMA Regional TV launched a local station in Ilocos Norte to strengthen its news coverage in the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon.

GMA Ilocos Norte serves as the fifth regional station of the network giant in Luzon and the 12th of its kind in the Philippines.

As part of its expansion to the north of Luzon, viewers could access GMA Ilocos Norte through free TV, GMA Affordabox and GMA Now.

With this, the channel expects its viewership in the region to grow as availability becomes wider within and outside of free TV.

Oliver Amoroso, first vice president and head of regional TV and synergy at GMA, said the creation of GMA Ilocos Norte supports the network’s intent to enhance news coverage across the country.

GMA Network wants its Ilocos Norte branch to focus on stories that matter to the communities.

“With the launch of GMA Ilocos Norte Station as one of the key hubs of GMA Regional TV, this strengthens our local news coverage in (Ilocos Region) and Central Luzon, and solidifies GMA Integrated News’ position as the news authority of the Filipino,” Amoroso said.

Amoroso said that GMA Regional TV has introduced a morning news program that reports about stories across the regions, complementing its afternoon newscast GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon.

According to Amoroso, GMA Network would keep on improving its news presence in the provinces, picking up confidence from its sustained dominance in regional reporting.

Based on the Metro Cities TV Audience Measurement, GMA Network reached 99 percent of Metro Dagupan last year.

The broadcast leader also gained 96 percent of Metro Davao and 93 percent of Metro Cebu.

It currently maintains five regional stations in Luzon, three in Visayas, as well as four in Mindanao. In Luzon, it operates provincial hubs in Batangas, Bicol, Dagupan and Ilocos Sur, on top of the new one in Ilocos Norte.

The GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon, on the other hand, reaches multiple cities and municipalities in the northern half of Luzon to as far as Batanes.

GMA Network has enjoyed its dominance in free TV since its rival ABS-CBN Corp. was denied a fresh franchise in 2020.