DWHB-DTV

DWHB-DTV is a television station serving Baguio City and surrounding areas in northern Luzon, Philippines. The station operates on channel 26 and maintains a transmitter facility on Mount Santo Tomas in Tuba, Benguet. Its primary service area includes Baguio, Benguet, Dagupan, Pangasinan, and La Union, while its signal has also been identified as reaching parts of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Ilocos Sur. The station's history reflects the changing structure of Philippine free-to-air television. During the 1990s, Radio Mindanao Network launched Cinema Television 26, commonly known as CTV-26, as a movie-oriented UHF service. The channel combined Filipino and Hollywood films with programming associated with E!, making it an early Philippine example of a UHF station modeled on a cable movie channel. Regulatory issues and questions surrounding the station's programming rights contributed to the discontinuation of CTV-26 in September 2000. CTV-26 was subsequently relaunched as E! Philippines 26 through a partnership between Radio Mindanao Network and E! in October 2000. The service initially operated around the clock, but later reduced its free-to-air schedule to a six-hour evening block. It carried selected E! programs and locally adapted formats, including Wild On! Philippines. Radio Mindanao Network ended its television operations on June 1, 2003, citing financial pressures and weak ratings, and returned its focus to radio. The channel then remained off the air in the Baguio area for several years. The frequency returned to operation in 2011 after Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media Inc., generally known as BEAM, assumed control of former Radio Mindanao Network UHF assets. Following test transmissions in July, the station was branded BEAM Channel 26 Baguio. Its early programming arrangements included a partnership with Solar Entertainment Corporation. The Game Channel began airing on the station in August 2011, while the evening schedule later made room for CHASE. CHASE became the station's principal 24-hour service in February 2012 after The Game Channel moved to a cable platform. Further programming changes followed. CHASE was replaced by Jack City in October 2012, with the new service intended to broaden the channel's audience beyond CHASE's heavily male-oriented profile. In 2014, Jack City ended its free-to-air partnership with BEAM as BEAM prepared for digital migration and Jack City concentrated on cable distribution. The station then increasingly relied on blocktimed programming, including religious content, home-shopping services, telenovela programming, and services such as O Shopping, TVShoppe, and Shop Japan. BEAM later moved the station toward digital-only broadcasting. Analog transmission ended with the final sign-off on December 31, 2021, ahead of the announced transition to full digital operation on January 1, 2022. Digital service on the channel 26 assignment was subsequently placed into operation, with the station using digital transmission arrangements during the transition. The station's digital platform is multiplexed into multiple BEAM subchannels. In 2022, BEAM announced a co-ownership and operating relationship involving Pinoy Interactive Entertainment, or PIE, with ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures. PIE conducted test programming in April and May before its formal launch on May 23, 2022. DWHB-DTV therefore functions not only as a local transmitter but also as part of BEAM's broader digital multiplex and channel-distribution infrastructure.

DWHB-DTV is the Baguio-area channel 26 station associated with BEAM TV. Its transmission facility is located on Mount Santo Tomas in Tuba, Benguet, giving the station coverage across Baguio and nearby parts of northern Luzon. The frequency was first used in the 1990s by Radio Mindanao Network for Cinema Television 26, or CTV-26. The service focused on Filipino and Hollywood movies and also carried programs linked to the American entertainment channel E!. This made it an early Philippine UHF service designed around a cable-style movie-channel concept. CTV-26 ceased broadcasting in September 2000 amid regulatory and programming-rights issues. In October 2000, E! and Radio Mindanao Network announced E! Philippines 26, a relaunch that initially offered a 24-hour schedule. By 2001, the service had reduced its free-to-air operation to evening hours, carrying selected E! programs and local adaptations such as Wild On! Philippines. Radio Mindanao Network discontinued its television operations on June 1, 2003, citing financial constraints and poor ratings. The company subsequently concentrated on radio, leaving the Baguio television frequency silent for several years. BEAM assumed the former Radio Mindanao Network UHF assets after an acquisition involving Bethlehem Holdings, which was funded by Globe Telecom's Group Retirement Fund. Test transmission resumed on July 3, 2011, and the channel was branded BEAM Channel 26 Baguio. BEAM's initial programming relationship with Solar Entertainment Corporation brought The Game Channel to the station in August 2011. Later that year, CHASE was introduced as an evening service, eventually becoming the channel's continuous primary schedule after The Game Channel departed in February 2012. CHASE ended on October 19, 2012, and Jack City launched the following day. The reformat was intended to address the perception that CHASE was too strongly male-oriented. Jack City later ended its BEAM partnership in August 2014 while BEAM prepared for digital migration and Jack City expanded its cable presence. The channel then relied on blocktimed schedules, carrying religious programming, home-shopping services, entertainment, and other third-party content. Examples included O Shopping, TVShoppe, Shop Japan, TBN Asia-related programming, and locally produced religious programs. BEAM announced a full migration away from analog broadcasting. DWHB-DTV's analog service signed off on December 31, 2021, and the station subsequently operated as part of BEAM's digital terrestrial television system. The digital platform is multiplexed into several subchannels and serves both the local Baguio market and broader northern Luzon coverage areas. In 2022, BEAM announced co-ownership of Pinoy Interactive Entertainment, or PIE, alongside ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures. PIE test programming appeared on the channel beginning April 25, including interactive question segments and a launch countdown. The service officially launched on May 23, 2022. The station consequently became part of BEAM's wider digital distribution network rather than functioning solely as a conventional analog local broadcaster.

• 2022

  PIE launches on the channel

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Pinoy Interactive Entertainment began test programming in April and formally launched on May 23 through a BEAM, ABS-CBN, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures arrangement.

• 2021

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station completed its analog sign-off on December 31 as BEAM moved toward digital-only service.

• 2014

  BEAM shifts toward blocktiming and digital preparation

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  After Jack City ended its BEAM relationship, the station expanded religious, shopping, and other blocktimed programming while preparing for digital transition.

• 2012

  CHASE becomes the main channel service

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The Game Channel left the station in February and CHASE became its principal 24-hour programming service.

• 2012

  Jack City launches

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Jack City replaced CHASE in October as the channel adopted a broader entertainment format.

• 2011

  BEAM Channel 26 resumes transmission

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Test broadcasting resumed in July, followed by the BEAM Channel 26 Baguio branding and the arrival of The Game Channel.

• 2003

  Radio Mindanao Network ends television operations

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station ceased television operations as the network cited financial constraints and weak ratings.

• 2000

  CTV-26 is relaunched as E! Philippines 26

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  E! and Radio Mindanao Network relaunched the service with locally adapted and imported entertainment programming.

• CTV-26 begins operation

  [1]DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1990s, Radio Mindanao Network launched Cinema Television 26, a movie-oriented UHF service in the Baguio area.

A regional television transmission platform serving Baguio and northern Luzon, with a history of carrying national network affiliations, syndicated entertainment, religious programming, shopping services, and digital subchannels.

• Television station · 2011

  BEAM Channel 26 Baguio

  The station's principal local identity after BEAM resumed operation in 2011. It served Baguio and surrounding northern Luzon markets through a mixture of affiliated, syndicated, religious, shopping, and blocktimed programming.

• Digital broadcasting platform · 2022

  Digital terrestrial television multiplex

  DWHB-DTV operates as part of BEAM's digital television infrastructure. The platform multiplexes several digital services and replaced the station's analog operation after the December 2021 sign-off.

• Interactive television service · 2022

  PIE Channel 26 Baguio

  Pinoy Interactive Entertainment was introduced through BEAM's partnership with ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures. The service combines television programming with interactive participation and began formal broadcasting in May 2022.

• 2022

  Launch of PIEProduct launch

  Background

  BEAM sought to develop digital and interactive television services with major media and technology partners.

  Action taken

  BEAM joined ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures in launching Pinoy Interactive Entertainment after a test period beginning in April.

  Aftermath

  PIE became a major service associated with the channel's digital-era programming.

  Source

• 2021

  Migration from analog to digital broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  BEAM prepared its stations for the Philippine digital television environment.

  Action taken

  DWHB-DTV ended analog broadcasting with its December 31 sign-off and transitioned to digital terrestrial transmission.

  Aftermath

  The station became part of BEAM's multiplexed digital service structure.

  Source

• 2014

  Expansion of blocktimed programmingStrategy

  Background

  BEAM was preparing for digital television while Jack City moved away from the station's free-to-air platform.

  Action taken

  The station expanded the use of religious, home-shopping, entertainment, and other third-party programming blocks.

  Aftermath

  The channel continued operating as a flexible regional platform while BEAM developed its digital transmission network.

  Source

• 2012

  Replacement of CHASE by Jack CityGeneration change

  Background

  BEAM and its programming partners determined that CHASE's positioning was overly male-centric.

  Action taken

  CHASE ended on October 19, 2012, and Jack City began occupying the channel from October 20, with full broadcasting established in November.

  Aftermath

  Jack City later ended its BEAM partnership in 2014 as the service concentrated more heavily on cable distribution.

  Source

• 2011

  BEAM reactivates the Baguio channelStrategy

  Background

  The channel had been silent since Radio Mindanao Network ended its television operations in 2003.

  Action taken

  Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media resumed test transmissions and relaunched the service under the BEAM Channel 26 Baguio identity.

  Aftermath

  The station entered a new period of affiliations and blocktimed programming, beginning with Solar Entertainment-related services.

  Source

1. 1DWHB-DTVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2BEAM TV official websitebeam.com.ph