GMA's new home in Bicol Region

MANILA, Philippines - Less than two months after GMA network launched its fifth originating station in Ilocos, it has put up its sixth one in Naga City. What used to be a satellite station has now been upgraded to GMA TV Bicol Channel 12 to reach more televiewers in the region that covers the provinces of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes.  

According to Engr. Elvis Ancheta, VP for Transmission Regional Engineering Department, the Kapuso network spent over P100M to realize the Bicol project.

He added that the Naga station, located at the GMA Complex in Brgy. Pequena, is equipped with advanced facilities similar to the Ilocos station — the Technical Operations Center, studio, editing and post-production, all of which are housed inside a newly-built, two-storey structure and are manned by a workforce of 35.

Ancheta further said that GMA Bicol has two powerful transmitters in Naga and Legazpi, Albay that “surpass the competition in terms of signal clarity.” A transmitting station will soon rise in Sorsogon.

Along with the launch of the new facility was the introduction of the region’s new local weekday news program titled Baretang Bicol with Elmer Caseles as news anchor. Bareta is the Bicolano term for Balita. GMA execs said that they could have called it Balitang Bicol as in Cebu’s Balitang Bisdak or Dagupan’s Balitang Amianan, but they went for the local term for a genuine local newscast.

Baretang Bicol will have its maiden airing on Sept. 17. Expect coverages on the Peñafrancia Festival this month, regular flash bulletins and community plugs in the vernacular, and participation in Bicol’s different festivals and fiestas. 

According to Rikki Escudero, VP for Regional TV, “We want to expand nationally in a bid to reach more viewers by speaking to them in their language and reporting about issues close to their hearts and events that are important part of their communities. But we wanted to do it in such a way that is sustainable and economically viable because when a GMA station is born in a region, we also want it to contribute to the local economy by hiring locals.”

Escudero added that when they started to strengthen their regional reach in 2005, GMA Network only had three stations outside Metro Manila. Bicol started out as a fledging satellite station in 2009. “Today, we have nine originating stations (Naga included).”

So, why Naga City? Recently, the capital of CamSur has come to the public spotlight because of its beloved former mayor, the late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo, and anyone who has visited Naga will understand why GMA has chosen the city as its base in the Bicol region.

Meanwhile, GMA execs said that their “bastions” are Luzon and the National Capital Region, but they readily admitted that the regional areas remain a big challenge for the station. 

Escudero said, “We admit that we are second in regional areas. (But) we have never shied away from hard work and challenge. Coming second makes you work harder. In this way, competition is good.”

The recent launch of the station was also highlighted with the Partners Night at the Avenue Hotel, attended by Bicol advertisers and graced by Kapuso talents such as Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga lead stars Mikael Daez and Andrea Torres, Luna Blanca’s Mark Herras, La Diva, Rachelle Ann Go, Rochelle Pangilinan, among others.