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A2Z (Philippine TV channel)

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A2Z
A2Z Channel 11.png
TypeBroadcast commercial television network
CountryPhilippines
Broadcast areaGreater Manila Area, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao (terrestrial)
Nationwide (cable and satellite)
NetworkABS-CBN
ZOE TV
AffiliatesPRTV (Eastern Visayas)
HeadquartersFor ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., corner Mo. Ignacia Ave, Diliman, Quezon City
For ZOE
22nd floor, Strata 2000 Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig
Programming
Language(s)Filipino (main)
English (secondary)
Picture format480i SDTV
Ownership
OwnerZOE Broadcasting Network (under blocktime agreement with ABS-CBN Corporation)
Sister channelsUnder ZOE
Light TV
Under ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
Cine Mo!
Jeepney TV
Kapamilya Channel
Knowledge Channel
History
LaunchedOctober 6, 2020; 17 months ago (2020-10-06) (test broadcast)
October 10, 2020; 17 months ago (2020-10-10) (official launch)
Replaced
Former namesZOE TV/Light TV (1998–2005; 2020)
Q and GMA News TV (2005–2019)
Availability
Terrestrial
ZOE TV
  • Mega Manila:
    Channel 11 (Analog)
    Channel 20 (Digital)
  • Cagayan de Oro and Metro Iloilo:
    Channel 20 (Digital)
PRTV
(Tacloban)		Channel 12 (Analog)
Channel 50 (Digital)
Streaming media
Cignal PlayWatch live (Philippines only)

A2Z, is a Philippine free-to-air blocktime broadcast television network that serves as a flagship property of ZOE Broadcasting Network in partnership with ABS-CBN Corporation through a blocktime agreement. A2Z's flagship television station is DZOE-TV which carries the VHF Channel 11 (analog broadcast) and UHF Channel 20 (digital broadcast; since November 12, 2020).[1][2] The network's name is an abbreviation derived from the first letter of the names of two parent companies, ABS-CBN and ZOE, the number of the now-recalled channel frequency of the former, and English alphabet letters from the first letter A to the last letter Z.

Background

ZOE TV-11

DZOE-TV Channel 11, also known as ZOE TV-11 was launched in 1998 after being acquired from Delta Broadcasting System. It served as the television arm of Jesus is Lord Church led by Eddie Villanueva. In 2005, ZOE TV-11 was leased by Citynet Network Marketing and Productions, subsidiary of GMA Network, to serve as originating station for its secondary television networks QTV and GMA News TV (now GTV).[3] However, on April 24, 2019, GMA/Citynet announced that it will terminate its blocktime agreement with ZOE Broadcasting by the end of May 2019. The split comes after the release of GMA's 2018 financial report which declared the increasing lease payments that the network contributes to ZOE for the past three years (from ₱899.89 million in 2016 to almost a billion pesos in 2018).[4] GMA News TV disaffiliated from ZOE TV-11 on June 4, 2019 before the channel signed off the next day.

On June 22, 2020, ZOE TV-11 returned on air and carried the feed of Light TV as part of its test broadcast operations, but on June 26 the simulcast was replaced by Hillsong Channel, which is owned by Trinity Broadcasting Network, before reverting to Light TV feed on July 11. It is rumored to be part of marketing the channel for either possibly continuing the analog simulcast of their sister station UHF 33 or for blocktime / channel leasing.

ABS-CBN shutdown and blocktime rumors

Main article: ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy

On May 5, 2020, the broadcast operations of ABS-CBN Corporation, including Channel 2, S+A, Radyo Patrol, My Only Radio, and all digital television channels of ABS-CBN TV Plus and Direct broadcast via satellite of Sky Direct and AMCARA (on June 30) was put off the air after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Solicitor General Jose Calida issued a cease-and-desist order demanding ABS-CBN to immediately cease all of its free TV and radio broadcasting upon the expiration of its legislative broadcast franchise.[5][6] The Congress later rejected ABS-CBN's application for franchise renewal on July 10, and the NTC recalled all the broadcast frequencies (including its now-defunct sister networks S+A, Yey! and Asianovela Channel) assigned to ABS-CBN on September 10. Since 2017, ABS-CBN was subjected to disputes with the government of President Rodrigo Duterte due to several issues such as campaign advertisement controversies during the 2016 election, political meddling, biased reporting, and the legality of the operations of digital television channel Kapamilya Box Office, among others.

ABS-CBN partially resumed its programming through the launch of its cable and satellite television network Kapamilya Channel on June 13, where it carried ABS-CBN's dramas and live entertainment shows, educational and current affairs programming before the May 5 stoppage.[7][8]

Since 2017, ZOE Broadcasting Network and ABS-CBN Corporation were reportedly held talks for possible airtime lease of Channel 11 or acquisition of the network itself if the issues regarding ABS-CBN's now-expired broadcast franchise were ever floated.[9][10] Reports of a blocktime agreement between ABS-CBN and ZOE begins to surface after the Congress rejected ABS-CBN franchise renewal in July 2020, with a tentative schedule offering for broadcasting 20 hours of airtime on Channel 11, and ABS-CBN programs such as Ang Probinsyano, ASAP Natin 'To!, It's Showtime, and TV Patrol were being shopped to air on ZOE TV.[11][12][13][14] Eventually, all ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs programs are declined to air on Channel 11 by the ZOE management due to editorial concerns until January 1, 2022, ABS-CBN News' TV Patrol officially began the simulcast of its regular edition on Channel 11, marking its return to free-to-air television, almost two years since the newscast made its last broadcast on the original ABS-CBN Channel 2 (DWWX-TV).[15]

Launch and broadcasting

On October 6, 2020, through separate statements, ABS-CBN and ZOE TV publicly announced their blocktime partnership and the rebranding of Channel 11 to A2Z, more than a year after being disaffiliated from GMA News TV (now GTV) and five months after the Channel 2 shutdown.[16][17] The announcement came a day after Sky Cable, ABS-CBN's cable television arm, added ZOE TV 11 to the channel lineup.[18]

Meanwhile, after a month of launching of the said new channel, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) were reported to investigate ABS-CBN and ZOE Broadcasting Network to determine if the said blocktime agreement of the two stations were processed in legal ways.[19][20]

On November 12, 2020, A2Z started its broadcast on digital terrestrial television. The channel is available on most digital TV boxes, including ABS-CBN TV Plus, GMA Affordabox and Sulit TV.[21]

Partnership with Philippine Collective Media Corporation

On September 18, 2021, A2Z entered a partnership agreement with Philippine Collective Media Corporation for affiliation to broadcast the network via Channel 12 in selected parts of Eastern Visayas.[22]

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by A2Z (Philippine TV channel)

As part of the blocktime agreement between ABS-CBN and ZOE TV, A2Z Channel 11's programming primarily includes selected ABS-CBN programs and movies from Kapamilya Channel and its other sister television networks. In addition, similar to its previous airtime lease with GMA/Citynet for Channel 11, A2Z also features content from ZOE TV's sister station Light TV and its content partners CBN Asia and Trinity Broadcasting Network.

The programming is divided into various programming blocks:

  • School at Home – the channel's educational block featuring Knowledge Channel programs for Grades 1 to 3. It airs every weekdays from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m.
  • Kidz Toon Time – the channel's cartoon block featuring cartoons produced by CBN Asia. It airs every weekdays from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. This cartoon block is similar to the Fam-Time block of the now-defunct Yey! channel.
  • A2Z Zinema – the channel's movie block divided into various blocks:
    • Zinema sa Umaga – featuring Tagalized foreign movies. It airs everyday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Afternoon Zinema – featuring local movies on Mondays to Thursdays and Eastern foreign movies on Fridays. It airs every weekdays from 4:00 to 5:45 p.m.
    • Zine Aksyon – featuring local action movies. It airs every Saturday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
    • FPJ: Da King – featuring films starred by Fernando Poe Jr. It airs every Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
    • Zine Love – featuring local romance movies. It airs every Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
  • Kidz Weekend – the channel's children block featuring cartoons and kid-oriented shows. It airs every Saturday from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and Sunday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

References

  1. ^ "ABS-CBN shows return to free TV after ZOE deal". Rappler. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Aguilar, Krissy (October 6, 2020). "Zoe TV rebrands as A2Z to feature ABS-CBN Shows". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  3. ^ "GMA Network partners with Zoe Broadcasting Channel 11". The Philippine Star. April 28, 2005. Retrieved April 28, 2005.
  4. ^ ZOE Broadcasting to end blocktime agreement with GMA Network Accessed April 28, 2019.
  5. ^ Gutierrez, Jason (May 5, 2020). "Leading Philippine Broadcaster, Target of Duterte's Ire, Forced Off the Air". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "NTC to issue alias shutdown order vs ABS-CBN after getting SolGen advice". ABS-CBN News. June 29, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "Which ABS-CBN businesses can still operate after NTC's cease and desist order?". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Mercurio, Richmond (June 7, 2020). "Top ABS-CBN shows returning on new channel". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  9. ^ "ABS-CBN, ililpat ng ibang channel?!". PhilStar.com. June 14, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Channel 2 no more: ABS-CBN eyes buying Eddie Villanueva's ZOE TV to solve franchise deadlock - Abante". September 18, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "ABS-CBN, magba-blocktime sa ZOE TV ni Bro. Eddie Villanueva?". Philippine Entertainment Portal. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  12. ^ "Light at end of tunnel? ABS-CBN close to sealing block time deal with Bro Eddie's CH-11 as MVP-TV5 fears backlash". Bilyonaryo. July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "It's Showtime at ASAP maaari ng magbalik sa Telebisyon?". Kapamilya Online World. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "When 2 become 11: Brother Eddie welcomes 'TV Patrol', 'Ang Probinsyano' on Zoe". Bilyonaryo. August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  15. ^ "'Sa wakas': TV Patrol is back on free TV via A2Z Channel". interaksyon.philstar.com. January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "ABS-CBN shows, movies return to free TV via Zoe deal - ABS-CBN News". October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  17. ^ "Zoe TV confirms ABS-CBN blocktime deal". October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  18. ^ "Is ABS-CBN coming back to free television via Zoe TV?". October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  19. ^ "Solon calls for investigation into ABS-CBN-A2Z Channel 11 blocktime deal". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  20. ^ "House told NTC, BIR to investigate ABS-Zoe blocktime deal". The Asian Affairs. Retrieved October 23, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "A2Z now available on digital TV boxes". ABS-CBN News. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  22. ^ "A2Z expands reach, aims to conquer the Eastern side of the Philippines!". LionHearTV. September 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
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