'Kapusong Kapamilya': ‘It’s Showtime’ officially signs contract with GTV
It's Showtime officially has a new home on GMA's GTV.
ABS-CBN's long-running noontime show has inked a contract with the free-to-air television network wholly owned by GMA Network in a signing event held on Wednesday, June 28.
Hosted by Iya Villania and Robi Domingo, the event was graced by top executives of GMA and ABS-CBN, including Felipe Gozon, Gilberto Duavit Jr., Felipe Yalong, Annette Gozon-Valdes, Mark Lopez, Carlo Katigbak, Cory Vidanes, and Paul Piedad.
It's Showtime hosts Anne Curtis, Jhong Hilario, Kim Chiu, Ogie Alcasid, Amy Perez, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Ryan Bang, Jackie Gonzaga, Ion Perez, Cianne Dominguez, MC and Lassy, and Vice Ganda were also at the affair.
"On behalf of the Showtime family, I would like to say thank you very much for your kindness in welcoming It’s Showtime on GTV. Maraming, maraming salamat for giving us a venue to continue our journey in making the madlang pipol happy and keeping our noontime habit in their homes," Anne told GMA executives at the media conference. "On this day, I can say na G na G na po talaga kaming lahat as we celebrate this remarkable day of becoming a Kapamilyang Kapuso."
"Ang dami nang pinagdaanan ng Showtime, ups and downs, and minsan, hindi namin alam kung saan kami mapupunta pero nagpapasalamat kami sa mga boss namin na patuloy na lumalaban para maghatid ng saya sa lahat ng mga tao," added Kim.
Vice, for her part, called the partnership a huge and beautiful moment for both networks. "Hindi ko makita kung saan ito mapupunta, kung saan dadalhin ang programa, kung ano ang kahihinatnan nitong araw na ito, pero alam ko, ang pangyayaring ito ay magiging susi o magiging simula ng napakaraming magaganda pang susunod na pangyayari," she said.
Speaking about the partnership, Katigbak said that when they learned that the noontime show's timeslot was about to be changed, they called Gozon-Valdes to talk about the possibility of giving It's Showtime a new home.
"Lahat ng ito ay para sa inyo, mga madlang pipol. Natutuwa kami na tuloy ang saya tuwing tanghali, na magkakasama muli ang mga Kapuso at Kapamilya sa Showtime," he said.
Felipe, for his part, said this moment puts an end to the so-called "network war" between the two networks.
"Lahat ng 'yan, eh siguro pwede na nating sabihin ngayon, without any fear of contradiction, na 'yung competition o 'yung sinasabi ng mga media practitioner na 'TV war' is finally over," he said.
He also said that there will be more collaborations between them, which will be beneficial for both media companies.
It's Showtime first premiered in 2009 as one of ABS-CBN's morning shows before moving to the noontime slot in 2010.
The variety show began to air on pay television network Kapamilya Channel while being live-streamed on the network's YouTube channel following ABS-CBN's failed bid for a new franchise in 2020.
In July 2022, It's Showtime resumed broadcasting on free TV via TV5. The network, however, has signed an agreement with Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon to produce and air their new variety show soon, which prompted It's Showtime's to move to GTV.
The show was reportedly offered a 4:30 p.m. slot on TV5 in favor of TVJ, but "respectfully declined" the offer as it wanted to keep its usual timeslot.
It's Showtime will start airing on GTV on Saturday, July 1 at an 11:30 am timeslot.
