'It's Showtime' to start broadcasting on GMA's GTV Channel in July
ABS-CBN's long-running noontime show It's Showtime will start airing on GTV on July 1.
GTV confirmed the show's transfer in a teaser posted on its social media pages on Tuesday, June 20. The post features the hosts of It's Showtime and a text that says, "Madalang People, G na G na ba kayo?"
"Madlang people, let's make some noise!" the network wrote in the caption.
Fans of the show, popularly dubbed as "Madlang People," were quick to express their support of the show's transfer to the network.
"This is it Madalang Pipol. Thank you GTV," one user wrote while another one said, "Welcome to GTV, It's Showtime."
Meanwhile, others noted how the move marks the union of ABS-CBN and its long-time rival, GMA Network.
"First time in the history of tv. Welcome Kapusong Kapamilya," one user wrote in reference to how GMA and ABS-CBN call their followers respectively.
"I'm finally witnessing the beginning of no network war. Let's continue this forever. Kapamilya love kapuso," another user quipped.
It's Showtime premiered on Oct. 24, 2009, as one of ABS-CBN's morning shows airing before the noontime program Wowowee. It was moved to 12 p.m. slot on October 2010, three months after Wowowee went off the air.
When ABS-CBN was shut down by Congress after the network's 25-year franchise expired in May 2020, It's Showtime began to air on pay television network Kapamilya Channel while being live-streamed on the network's YouTube channel.
In July 2022, It's Showtime resumed broadcasting on free TV via TV5, alongside other Kapamilya variety shows ASAP Natin 'To, Idol Philippines, and film anthology FPJ's Ang Probinsyano. Its contract with the MediaQuest-owned network is set to expire on June 30, 2023.
On the same day that GTV announced the transfer of It's Showtime to its network, ABS-CBN released a statement on social media, thanking TV5 for serving as the show's home for a year.
The statement reads, "ABS-CBN would like to extend its heartfelt appreciation to TV5 Chairman Manny Pangilinan for his support for ABS-CBN and for bringing 'It's Showtime' to a wider audience through our content partnership."
"With the new programming movement in TV5, we are sad to announce that 'It's Showtime' will no longer be seen on TV5 beginning 1 July 2023."
ABS-CBN said that the network offered to move the noontime show to a later timeslot of 4:30 p.m., but it declined the offer because it values "the meaningful relationship we have built and nurtured with our audience in the noontime slot."
With this, ABS-CBN has come to a decision to partner with GMA Network's GTV Channel in airing It's Showtime on its usual timeslot.
"We are very grateful to GMA's GTV Channel and happy to announce that 'It's Showtime' has found another home," the statement reads.
"Starting 1 July 2023, 'It's Showtime' will also be aired on GTV from Monday to Saturday at 12 noon. G na G na tayo, Madalang People!"
The announcements came after TV5 signed an agreement with Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon to produce and air their new variety show on its network soon.
The trio, popularly known as TVJ, were hosting GMA's long-running noontime program Eat Bulaga! until they left the show on May 31, following a feud with its producers, Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE Inc.).
The rest of Eat Bulaga's hosts followed suit by filing mass resignation from TAPE Inc. on the same day TVJ ceased hosting the show.
Eat Bulaga! continues to air on GMA with a new set of hosts led by Paolo Contis. Meanwhile, details of TVJ's new program on TV5 are yet to be announced by the trio in a press conference scheduled on June 20.