DWDG-TV

DWDG-TV is a television station operated by GMA Network, Inc. in Tuba, Benguet, Philippines. The station broadcasts from facilities on Mount Santo Tomas and serves the Benguet area through GMA's regional transmission network. In its current role, DWDG-TV carries GTV programming and is treated as a straight simulcast of GTV's Metro Manila flagship, DWDB-TV, rather than as a separately programmed local network outlet. The station's history reflects the changing strategy of Philippine television broadcasters in the UHF sector. GMA launched the Benguet outlet in 1995 under the Citynet Television 24 identity. Citynet was initially conceived as an independent-style service that would carry imported programming, particularly from the United States, while allowing GMA's main network schedule to concentrate more heavily on domestic productions. The operating model became difficult to sustain, and by 1999 the station was converted into EMC, or the Entertainment Music Channel. EMC was notable as one of the Philippines' first locally operated music television channels. Later in 1999, GMA entered into an arrangement with STAR TV under which the outlet carried selected programming associated with Channel V Philippines. The partnership ended in 2001. The station subsequently went silent for several years, reflecting both the commercial pressures affecting UHF television and the increasingly competitive music-channel market. DWDG-TV returned to operation in November 2005 as part of GMA's nationwide launch of QTV, a female-oriented channel known first as Quality Television and later as Q. The service combined lifestyle programming, imported and local drama, and other programming aimed principally at women. In 2011, GMA replaced Q with GMA News TV, repositioning the UHF network around news and public affairs. DWDG-TV carried the new service from its February 2011 launch and later moved to channel 22 in Benguet in 2015. GMA announced another major network change in February 2021. GMA News TV was replaced by GTV on February 22, 2021. GTV broadened the service proposition by combining news and public affairs with entertainment and sports. DWDG-TV became a GTV station and continues to relay the network feed. In digital television, the station's feed is carried through a digital subchannel associated with GMA's DZEA-TV facilities, alongside the broadcaster's other digital services. DWDG-TV is therefore best understood as a local broadcast asset and station identity within GMA Network's Philippine television infrastructure. Its role is primarily transmission and distribution: it extends GMA's current network programming into Benguet rather than operating as an autonomous content producer. Its successive identities—Citynet, EMC, Channel V Philippines, QTV/Q, GMA News TV, and GTV—illustrate the station's movement from an experimental UHF outlet toward a network relay serving a regional audience.

GMA Network established the Benguet station in 1995 as Citynet Television 24. The original concept treated the UHF outlet as an independent-style channel carrying imported programming, especially content from the United States, while GMA's principal network could reserve more of its schedule for locally produced material. The model became commercially difficult to maintain by 1999. GMA consequently shifted the station to a music format under the temporary EMC, or Entertainment Music Channel, identity. EMC was an early locally operated music television service in the Philippines. In December 1999, GMA reached an arrangement with STAR TV that allowed the station to carry selected Channel V Philippines content, including programming from the international Channel V service. The relationship did not continue. Competitive pressures in the music television market, together with corporate and ownership considerations involving GMA and entities connected to competing MTV operations, contributed to the end of the arrangement. The station signed off on July 25, 2001, and remained inactive for roughly four years. DWDG-TV resumed operations on November 11, 2005, when GMA launched QTV across a group of sister UHF stations. The service, initially meaning Quality Television and later shortened to Q, was positioned around programming for women. Its schedule included lifestyle shows, drama, and a mixture of domestic and imported programs. The station's return formed part of GMA's broader effort to use UHF capacity for a second television service in addition to its principal network. GMA subsequently replaced Q with GMA News TV. Q programming ended in February 2011, followed by a short transition period before GMA News TV formally launched on February 28. DWDG-TV carried the new channel as part of GMA News and Public Affairs' expansion onto free-to-air television. The station later adopted channel 22 as its Benguet assignment in 2015. On February 22, 2021, GMA News TV was rebranded as GTV. The new service combined news and public affairs with entertainment and sports, giving the network a broader general-interest profile. DWDG-TV has since functioned as a GTV transmitter in Benguet. Although it retains its own callsign and station identity, its programming is described as a direct simulcast of GTV's Metro Manila flagship, DWDB-TV. DWDG-TV shares transmitter facilities on Mount Santo Tomas with GMA's DZEA-TV, and its feed is also represented in GMA's digital television distribution infrastructure.

• 2021

  Rebrand as GTV

  [1]DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org

  DWDG-TV became a GTV station when GMA News TV was rebranded on February 22.

• 2015

  Move to channel 22

  [1]DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org

  GMA News TV Benguet moved its terrestrial channel assignment to channel 22.

• 2011

  Conversion to GMA News TV

  [1]DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station joined GMA's nationwide transition from Q to GMA News TV, which launched on February 28.

• 2005

  Return as QTV

  [1]DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org

  DWDG-TV resumed broadcasting on November 11 as a station of GMA's QTV network.

• 2001

  Station sign-off

  [1]DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station ended its Channel V-related operation and went off the air on July 25.

• 1999

  Conversion to EMC

  [1]DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station shifted from the Citynet format to EMC, a locally operated music television service.

• 1999

  Channel V Philippines carriage

  [1]DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org

  GMA entered an arrangement with STAR TV to carry selected Channel V Philippines programming.

• 1995

  Launch as Citynet Television 24

  [1]DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org

  GMA launched the Benguet UHF station as Citynet Television 24, initially emphasizing an independent-style schedule with imported programming.

A regional GMA Network television station and GTV relay serving viewers in Benguet.

• Television network service · 1995

  Citynet Television 24

  The station's original identity, launched in 1995 by GMA as an independent-style UHF service. Its schedule was intended to feature imported programming and reduce pressure on the main GMA network's schedule.

• Music television channel · 1999

  EMC

  The Entertainment Music Channel was introduced in 1999 after GMA abandoned the original Citynet operating model. It was described as one of the Philippines' first locally operated music television channels.

• Music television service · 1999

  Channel V Philippines

  Through a late-1999 arrangement with STAR TV, the station carried selected Channel V Philippines programming and material associated with the international Channel V service. The arrangement ended before the station's 2001 sign-off.

• General-interest television network · 2005

  QTV/Q

  DWDG-TV returned in 2005 as part of QTV, later shortened to Q. The channel targeted women with lifestyle programming, drama, and a combination of locally produced and imported content.

• News and public-affairs television channel · 2011

  GMA News TV

  From 2011 until 2021, DWDG-TV carried GMA News TV, a free-to-air channel centered on news and public affairs and developed as GMA's successor to Q.

• Television network service · 2021

  GTV

  GTV is the station's current network service. Launched in 2021 as the successor to GMA News TV, it combines news and public affairs with entertainment and sports and is relayed by DWDG-TV in Benguet.

• 2021

  Transition from GMA News TV to GTVGeneration change

  Background

  GMA announced a broader programming direction combining information, entertainment, and sports.

  Action taken

  GMA rebranded GMA News TV as GTV on February 22, with DWDG-TV carrying the new service.

  Aftermath

  DWDG-TV became a GTV simulcast station serving Benguet.

  Source

• 2011

  Replacement of Q with GMA News TVStrategy

  Background

  GMA planned to expand its news and public-affairs presence on free-to-air television.

  Action taken

  The company ended Q and relaunched the stations, including DWDG-TV, as GMA News TV.

  Aftermath

  DWDG-TV operated as a GMA News TV outlet until the network's 2021 rebrand.

  Source

• 2005

  Reactivation as QTVStrategy

  Background

  GMA sought to restore its UHF operations after the station had been silent for several years.

  Action taken

  DWDG-TV was relaunched as part of the QTV network.

  Aftermath

  The station resumed regular broadcasting with a female-oriented lifestyle and entertainment schedule.

  Source

• 1999

  Shift from Citynet to a music-channel formatStrategy

  Background

  The independent-style Citynet format had become costly to operate.

  Action taken

  GMA converted the station to EMC, an entertainment and music channel.

  Aftermath

  The outlet later carried selected Channel V Philippines programming before signing off in 2001.

  Source

1. 1DWDG-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2GMA Networkgmanetwork.com