GMA Network Center

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
Country	Philippines
Coordinates	14°38′00″N 121°02′38″E / 14.6334°N 121.0440°E / 14.6334; 121.0440Coordinates: 14°38′00″N 121°02′38″E / 14.6334°N 121.0440°E / 14.6334; 121.0440
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]

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 GTV-27.

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 weekday afternoon variety 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[]