Bitter Rivals No More? Deal Reached for GMA to Air Star Cinema Movies

Something akin to hell freezing over or the proverbial pig learning how to fly just happened. 

Bitter rivals GMA and ABS-CBN have signed a deal that will see the Kapuso channel airing classic Star Cinema movies on GMA’s local channels, according to a report on GMA News Online.

Top executives of both GMA and ABS-CBN came together during the official signing ceremony held on Tuesday (April 5).

"We're very pleased because the significance of our partnership today ushers in possibility of a far broader set of conversations, potential partnerships and cooperation that will have the benefit not only mutually to GMA and ABS-CBN but as importantly, if not perhaps more importantly, the benefit of the public we both serve—the Filipino viewer," said GMA Network President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.

"Every storyteller's dream is to have as many people as possible experience their creations,” added ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo L. Katigbak. “And now, because of the kindness of our friends at GMA, we have the special opportunity to bring our Kapamilya stories to a new audience.”

Star Cinema, which is the film unit of ABS-CBN, is one of the country’s largest film studios, producing and distributing many of the country’s highest-grossing movies over the years. GMA has its own film production unit called GMA Films. Traditionally, Star Cinema films were only aired on the TV channels under the ABS-CBN Group just as GMA Films were only aired on GMA Network and its local VHF and UHF channels.

But since the denial of the renewal of its broadcasting franchise by Congress in 2020, ABS-CBN has hammered out deals with multiple institutions that were once its rivals, including blocktime arrangements with Manny Pangilinan-owned TV5 and Zoe Broadcasting Network (A2Z). The network’s deal with GMA is only the latest in its attempt to keep reaching new audiences as it is forced to explore newer platforms for its content and programming.

Besides Duavit, also present at the signing representing GMA Network were Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong; GMA Network Films, Inc. President and Programming Consultant to the Chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes; First Vice President for Program Management Department Jose Mari R. Abacan; Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier-Cruz; Assistant Vice President For Program Management Department Mitzi Garcia; and Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Jojo Aquio. 

Representing ABS-CBN, besides Katigbak were Chairman Mark Lopez; Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory V. Vidanes; Group Chief Financial Officer Ricardo B. Tan, Jr.; Managing Director of ABS-CBN Films Productions Olivia Lamasan; Head of International Sales and Distribution Pia B. Laurel; Vice President of Corporate Communications Kane Errol C. Choa; PR Director Christelle Belmonte; and PR Manager Tonichi Tataro. 

According to the report, the movies will start being shown on GMA this April 2022. Some of the titles that fans can look forward to seeing: Alone/Together, How to Be Yours, Till My Heartaches End, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Ang Cute ng Ina Mo!, It Takes a Man and a Woman, Just The Way You Are, Fantastica, Can We Still Be Friends?, Finally Found Someone, No Other Woman, Won't Last A Day Without You, Must Be…Love, The Panti Sisters, Isa Pa With Feelings, James & Pat & Dave, Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, Feng Shui, Suddenly It's Magic, and I Love You, Hater.