DYCT-DTV
Corporate brand
UnclaimedDYCT-DTV is BEAM's UHF television station serving Metro Cebu and surrounding areas in the Philippines.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
DYCT-DTV is a UHF television station serving Metro Cebu and nearby parts of the central Philippines. The station operates on channel 31 and functions as the Visayas flagship of Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc., commonly known as BEAM. Its transmitter facility is located at Babag Hills in Cebu City, giving the station a primary service area centered on Cebu as well as reach into portions of Bohol, Leyte, and Negros Oriental. The station began operations in 1993 under the Cinema Television identity, commonly associated with the CTV-31 name. Its launch was significant in the local television market because it was identified as Cebu's first UHF television station. In 1997, the channel carried programming associated with E!, the American cable network focused on entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle content. This arrangement was later presented to viewers under the E! Philippines identity. The station's first major period of instability came in 2003, when Radio Mindanao Network decided to discontinue its television-network operations. The decision was attributed to financial pressures and weak ratings. As a result, the Cebu frequency and other RMN television assets were subsequently repositioned under BEAM. The station returned to test broadcasting on July 3, 2011, after BEAM's acquisition from RMN by Bethlehem Holdings, Inc., an entity funded by the Globe Telecom Group Retirement Fund. During the early 2010s, DYCT-DTV carried a succession of network and programming brands. It was identified as BEAM Channel 31 and also carried The Game Channel beginning in August 2011. The Game Channel later reduced its free-to-air presence, while CHASE occupied the principal schedule and continued until October 2012. Solar TV Network then used the channel for Jack City, a secondary Jack TV service launched on October 20, 2012. Jack City operated under free-to-air scheduling restrictions and ended its affiliation with BEAM in September 2014, moving to cable distribution. After the Jack City period, the station was associated with programming supplied through partnerships involving Essentials Broadcasting Network, TBN Asia, and O Shopping. These arrangements illustrate DYCT-DTV's role primarily as a terrestrial distribution platform whose schedule and branding have changed as BEAM entered different content and affiliation agreements. The station's most important recent technical transition was the end of analog transmission. BEAM provincial stations, including the Cebu operation, ceased analog broadcasting on March 29, 2022. DYCT-DTV then continued its migration to digital terrestrial television on UHF channel 31, while technical work and frequency arrangements were being completed. The station's digital service was reported as operating during the transition, with a temporary use of another digital transmission channel in the area while the migration was finalized. In 2022, BEAM also announced the launch of PIE, a new entertainment service associated with ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures. PIE was scheduled to launch on May 23, 2022, and became part of the new digital-era programming environment associated with BEAM's terrestrial network. DYCT-DTV therefore represents both the continuation of a long-running Cebu UHF frequency and BEAM's broader shift from analog television toward digital multiplex broadcasting.
History
DYCT-DTV is a television station in Metro Cebu operating on UHF channel 31. It is associated with Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc. and serves as BEAM's Visayas flagship. The station's transmitter is situated at Babag Hills in Cebu City, while its coverage extends beyond Cebu into portions of Bohol, Leyte, and Negros Oriental. The service was established in 1993 as Cinema Television, also known as CTV-31. It was described as the first UHF station in Cebu. In 1997, the station carried programming from E!, an American entertainment and lifestyle network. The local service became associated with the E! Philippines identity during this period. In 2003, Radio Mindanao Network discontinued its television operations, citing financial constraints and poor ratings. This ended the first major operating phase of the Cebu UHF service. The frequency later came under BEAM after Bethlehem Holdings, Inc. acquired BEAM from RMN. Bethlehem Holdings was funded by the Globe Telecom Group Retirement Fund. On July 3, 2011, the Cebu frequency and RMN television stations returned with test broadcasts under the new ownership and operating arrangement. The channel was branded BEAM Channel 31 and carried The Game Channel beginning on August 15, 2011. The Game Channel subsequently reduced its terrestrial schedule, while CHASE became the principal service and ran as a full-time channel until October 19, 2012. Solar TV Network then introduced Jack City on October 20, 2012. The service operated for a period under limitations applying to free-to-air broadcasting, while continuing to be available around the clock on cable platforms. Jack City ended its affiliation with BEAM on September 1, 2014, and shifted to cable distribution. Following these successive affiliation changes, the Cebu BEAM station carried programming linked to Essentials Broadcasting Network, TBN Asia, and O Shopping. The station's history consequently reflects a platform model in which the local transmitter and frequency remain in place while national and international programming partners change over time. The next major turning point was the conversion from analog to digital television. BEAM's provincial stations stopped analog transmission on March 29, 2022. DYCT-DTV then continued as a digital terrestrial service on UHF channel 31, although the migration involved technical maintenance and temporary operation using a digital transmission on UHF channel 32 in the area. The transition made the station part of BEAM's permanent digital broadcast footprint. BEAM also announced PIE, an entertainment channel developed with ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures. PIE was announced for launch on May 23, 2022, within the network's digital broadcasting environment. DYCT-DTV thus combines a long-established Cebu television frequency with BEAM's modern digital-multiplex strategy.
- 2022
Analog transmission ends
[1]The Cebu BEAM station stops analog transmission on March 29 and continues its migration to digital broadcasting on UHF channel 31.
- 2022
PIE is announced
[1]BEAM announces PIE, an entertainment channel associated with ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures.
- 2014
Jack City ends its BEAM affiliation
[1]Jack City leaves the BEAM terrestrial network and moves to cable platforms.
- 2012
Jack City replaces the previous channel lineup
[1]Jack City launches on the BEAM channel assignment after the end of the CHASE service.
- 2011
The Cebu frequency returns under BEAM
[1]Test broadcasts resume on July 3, followed by BEAM Channel 31 and The Game Channel branding in August.
- 2003
RMN ends its television operations
[1]Radio Mindanao Network cancels its television operations, citing financial constraints and poor ratings.
- 1997
E! programming arrives
[1]The station carries programming associated with E!, later using the E! Philippines identity.
- 1993
Cinema Television launches on UHF 31
[1]The station begins operations as Cinema Television, also known as CTV-31, and becomes identified as Cebu's first UHF television station.
Products and positioning
A regional UHF broadcast outlet and Visayas flagship for BEAM, positioned as a terrestrial platform for national channel brands, affiliated programming, and digital television services in Cebu and surrounding provinces.
Analog and digital television station · 2011
BEAM Channel 31 Cebu
The station's principal local identity under BEAM. It serves Cebu and nearby central Philippine areas from a transmitter at Babag Hills in Cebu City and has carried a changing mix of affiliated network programming.
Digital television broadcast · 2022
DYCT-DTV digital terrestrial service
The station's post-analog service on UHF channel 31. It forms part of BEAM's digital broadcast network and may carry multiple services through digital multiplexing.
Entertainment television channel · 2022
PIE
An entertainment service announced for the BEAM digital environment and developed with ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures.
Brand decisions
2022
Migration from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
BEAM provincial stations were transitioning to digital terrestrial television, requiring the Cebu station to discontinue its analog signal.
Action taken
DYCT-DTV ended analog transmission on March 29, 2022, and continued its service through digital broadcasting on UHF channel 31 while technical migration work proceeded.
Aftermath
The station became part of BEAM's permanent digital broadcast network. The transition period included maintenance and temporary use of another digital transmission channel in the area.
2022
PIE digital entertainment channel announcedProduct launchBackground
BEAM was expanding its digital broadcasting proposition and announced a new entertainment channel involving ABS-CBN Corporation, Kroma Entertainment, and 917Ventures.
Action taken
The partners announced PIE for launch on May 23, 2022, as a new entertainment service within the BEAM digital environment.
Aftermath
PIE became part of the programming transition associated with BEAM's digital terrestrial television strategy.
Sources2 sources
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