DWNX-TV

DWNX-TV, identified in Wikipedia under the canonical article title DWHC-DTV, is a UHF television station based in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines. The station is owned and operated by Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc. (BEAM), and maintains a transmitter facility at the Globe Cellsite on Roxas Avenue in Barangay Triangulo, Naga City. Its terrestrial service reaches Naga City, much of Camarines Sur, and portions of Camarines Norte. The station’s history reflects the changing structure of Philippine free-to-air television. In the 1990s, Radio Mindanao Network launched the frequency as Cinema Television 32, commonly branded CTV-32. The service was designed as a movie-oriented UHF channel, carrying Filipino and Hollywood films as well as selected programming associated with the American cable network E!. It was an early Philippine example of a free-to-air service modeled on the format of a cable movie channel. CTV-32 stopped broadcasting in September 2000 amid regulatory and rights-related issues. In October 2000, Radio Mindanao Network and E! announced a partnership to revive the service as E! Philippines 32. The relaunch expanded the station toward a 24-hour schedule, although the operation was later reduced to a six-hour evening block. It carried selected E! programs and locally adapted formats, including Wild On! Philippines. Radio Mindanao Network closed its television operations on June 1, 2003, citing financial constraints and weak ratings, and returned its attention to radio broadcasting. The Naga frequency then remained silent for several years. The station returned to the air in July 2011 after BEAM acquired the relevant UHF network assets through a transaction involving Bethlehem Holdings and Radio Mindanao Network. BEAM initially partnered with Solar Entertainment Corporation, and the Naga outlet was branded BEAM Channel 32. Its first major programming arrangement was The Game Channel, which began airing in August 2011. Later that year, the channel also carried CHASE during evening hours. CHASE became the principal service in February 2012, when The Game Channel left the terrestrial outlet and moved to cable distribution. CHASE ended on October 19, 2012. On October 20, 2012, the station transitioned to Jack City, a secondary entertainment-oriented service associated with Solar. The complete Jack City schedule was introduced in November. BEAM subsequently reduced its free-to-air operating hours in June 2013 in response to rules governing Philippine terrestrial stations, while some cable distribution continued. Jack City ended its BEAM partnership on August 31, 2014, as BEAM prepared for digital broadcasting. From September 2014 through 2015, the station adopted a block-timed programming model. Its schedule included home-shopping services such as O Shopping, TVShoppe, and Shop Japan, alongside religious programs from TBN Asia and locally produced religious content associated with Essential Broadcasting Network. This period illustrates the station’s use of leased or partner programming while its owner prepared the network for digital migration. BEAM shut down its analog transmission at the end of December 31, 2021, completing the transition to digital-only terrestrial broadcasting. Digital operations on UHF channel 32 resumed during January 2022 while transmission arrangements were being maintained and migrated. In 2022, BEAM announced a co-ownership and operating relationship involving ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures for Pinoy Interactive Entertainment, or PIE. The service conducted test programming in April and May and officially launched on May 23, 2022. The station therefore represents both a local transmission outlet and a platform used by BEAM and its content partners during the Philippines’ transition from analog broadcasting to digital, interactive television.

The Naga City UHF frequency was first associated with Radio Mindanao Network’s Cinema Television 32, or CTV-32, during the 1990s. The service specialized in Filipino and Hollywood films and also carried selected programs connected with E!, making it an early Philippine free-to-air station influenced by cable movie-channel formats. CTV-32 ceased transmission in September 2000 after regulatory and broadcast-rights issues. In October 2000, RMN and E! announced a plan to relaunch the outlet as E! Philippines 32. The service initially contemplated round-the-clock broadcasting, but its schedule was later reduced to six evening hours. It carried imported E! material and Philippine adaptations, including Wild On! Philippines. RMN discontinued its television activities on June 1, 2003, attributing the decision to financial pressure and poor ratings. The company subsequently focused on its radio business in Naga, while the television frequency remained inactive. After roughly eight years off the air, the frequency resumed test broadcasting on July 3, 2011. The station had become part of Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc. after BEAM acquired assets connected with Bethlehem Holdings and RMN. BEAM’s initial television programming relationship was with Solar Entertainment Corporation. The outlet was branded BEAM Channel 32 and began carrying The Game Channel in August 2011. By the end of that year, CHASE was also using the channel during evening periods. CHASE became the dominant service in February 2012 after The Game Channel moved from the terrestrial station to cable distribution. CHASE continued until October 19, 2012. It was replaced the next day by Jack City, another Solar-affiliated entertainment service. Full Jack City programming followed in November. In June 2013, BEAM stations reduced their terrestrial operating hours to comply with free-to-air broadcasting requirements, although cable distribution could continue on a different schedule. Jack City ended its relationship with BEAM in August 2014. The station then relied increasingly on blocktimers and partner programming. From September 2014 onward, the schedule included O Shopping, TVShoppe, Shop Japan, TBN Asia material, and religious programs produced by Essential Broadcasting Network. These arrangements filled the terrestrial schedule while BEAM prepared its digital television infrastructure. BEAM’s analog service ended on December 31, 2021. Digital transmission on UHF channel 32 resumed in January 2022, with the network continuing technical work associated with its digital rollout. In April 2022, BEAM announced a co-ownership and content partnership for Pinoy Interactive Entertainment with ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures. PIE conducted test programming before its official launch on May 23, 2022. The station’s modern identity is consequently tied less to a single long-running channel format than to its role as BEAM’s Naga City digital broadcast outlet and multiplex platform.

• 2022

  Digital transmission resumes

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station’s digital broadcast begins operating on UHF channel 32 in January, during ongoing technical migration.

• 2022

  PIE officially launches

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Pinoy Interactive Entertainment officially launches on May 23 following test programming and a launch countdown.

• 2021

  Analog shutdown

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  BEAM’s analog broadcast makes its final sign-off on December 31.

• 2014

  Jack City leaves BEAM

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The Jack City and BEAM partnership ends on August 31 as BEAM prepares for digital transition.

• 2012

  Jack City replaces CHASE

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Jack City takes over the terrestrial channel on October 20 after CHASE ends its operation the previous day.

• 2011

  BEAM Channel 32 returns to air

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The Naga City UHF outlet begins test broadcasting in July and is subsequently branded BEAM Channel 32.

• 2003

  RMN ends television operations

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  RMN closes its television operation on June 1 and concentrates on radio.

• 2000

  CTV-32 ceases broadcasting

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The original CTV-32 service stops transmission in September following regulatory and rights-related issues.

• 2000

  E! Philippines 32 is announced

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  RMN and E! announce a partnership to revive the former CTV-32 service.

• 1990

  CTV-32 launches in Naga City

  [1]DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Radio Mindanao Network establishes Cinema Television 32 as a movie-oriented UHF station. The exact launch year is not specified in the source and is placed here only as the 1990s period.

A local UHF broadcast platform whose programming identity has changed through affiliations, blocktime arrangements, and digital multiplex services.

• Television station

  CTV-32

  The station’s original identity under Radio Mindanao Network. CTV-32 was structured as an all-movie UHF service, combining Filipino and Hollywood films with selected programming associated with E!.

• Television station · 2000

  E! Philippines 32

  A short-lived relaunch developed by RMN and E! in 2000. It carried selected E! programs and local adaptations, including Wild On! Philippines, but RMN ended its television operation in 2003.

• Digital and analog television station · 2011

  BEAM Channel 32

  BEAM’s Naga City UHF outlet, relaunched in 2011 after several years of inactivity. Its programming passed through The Game Channel, CHASE, Jack City, and later block-timed services before the analog shutdown and digital migration.

• Interactive television service · 2022

  PIE

  Pinoy Interactive Entertainment is an interactive television service developed through a relationship among BEAM, ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures. It conducted test broadcasts in April and May 2022 and officially launched on May 23, 2022.

• 2022

  PIE partnership and co-ownershipM&A

  Background

  BEAM sought to develop digital and interactive television offerings.

  Action taken

  BEAM announced a relationship with ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures for Pinoy Interactive Entertainment.

  Aftermath

  PIE tested programming in April and May and launched officially on May 23, 2022.

  Source

• 2021

  Transition to digital-only terrestrial broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  BEAM was preparing its stations for the Philippine digital television era.

  Action taken

  The station ended analog transmission on December 31, 2021, and continued through digital transmission.

  Aftermath

  Digital service resumed on UHF channel 32 in January 2022 while transmission migration and maintenance continued.

  Source

• 2014

  BEAM shifts toward blocktiming and digital preparationStrategy

  Background

  Jack City ended its terrestrial partnership with BEAM while the network prepared for digital television.

  Action taken

  The station expanded partner programming, including shopping, religious, and other block-timed services.

  Aftermath

  The station continued through a mixed schedule before completing its analog shutdown in 2021.

  Source

• 2011

  BEAM relaunches the Naga City UHF outletStrategy

  Background

  The Naga City frequency had been inactive since RMN ended its television operation in 2003.

  Action taken

  BEAM restored the service through test broadcasting and a programming relationship with Solar Entertainment Corporation.

  Aftermath

  The station became an operating platform for several entertainment channels and later for blocktimed and digital services.

  Source

1. 1DWHC-DTVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Mediabeam.com.ph