GMA Network Center

GMA Network Center
General information
Type	High-rise
Architectural style	Modernism
Location	EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Country	Philippines
Coordinates	14°38′00″N121°02′38″E / 14.6334°N 121.0440°E / 14.6334; 121.0440
Construction started	1996
Completed	2000
Opened	June 14, 2000
Inaugurated	June 14, 2000
Cost	US$46 million [1]
Owner	GMA Network
Height	64.39 meters (211.3 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	17
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Roger Villarosa [2]

The GMA Network Center is the headquarters and broadcast complex of GMA Network, a major radio and television network in the Philippines. It is located at EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the network's main television and radio production center, and its main transmission facility for most of Metro Manila. The building houses Super Radyo DZBB 594 AM, Barangay LS 97.1 FM, GMA-7 and GTV-27.

GMA inaugurated the facility on June 14, 2000, the birthdate of GMA Network, as part of the kick-off of its year-round celebration of its 50th golden anniversary. While the first phase of the project has already been completed with the completion of the 17-storey high-rise building, the center has an option to upgrade the older, existing facilities in the GMA compound, as originally planned.

Offices

GMA Network Center serves as the corporate office of the company. Most of the core departments of the company like the human resources, finance, and marketing are located in the building. The newsroom of GMA Integrated News and GMA News Online is located on the 2nd floor. The production offices and staff offices of GMA Integrated News, GMA Public Affairs, GMA Entertainment Group, GMA Regional TV, and GMA International are also based on the building. The network's post-production unit, engineering department, program management, and talent development (Sparkle GMA Artist Center) are also located in the building.

Some of the network's subsidiaries are also based here. The GMA New Media, Inc. (NMI) and its subsidiary, Digify are located in the twelfth floor while the Worldwide division of the network is on tenth floor. Also, the management and staffs of GMA Pictures, GMA Music, and Script2010 are located here.

The Complex

The GMA Network complex has a total area of 17,184 square meters (184,970 sq ft) ^[3] (including the 4,053 sqm Studio Annex) located in EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City. The complex is the main headquarters and the main radio and television production hub of the network. It contains several buildings, including the GMA Network Center and GMA Network Studio Annex.

The network has held office in the complex beginning in 1957 with its television broadcasts started in 1961, having moved from the Calvo Building along Escolta in Binondo, Manila. At that building, the network, then known as Loreto F. de Hemedes, Inc., later renamed Republic Broadcasting System, had its first studios and corporate offices since its inception in 1950.

The complex contains five studios and various production hubs for its production arms, GMA Integrated News, GMA Public Affairs and GMA Entertainment Group. It also houses radio studios for Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz and Barangay LS 97.1, as well as recording studios for GMA Music. A convenience store, canteen, and ATM are also available serving the employees working in the complex.

The buildings between the Network Center and Studio Annex contains several studios and production offices, as well as the Kapuso Center, where the GMA Kapuso Foundation, the "Action Center" for Sumbungan ng Bayan, and the office of the public service show, Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko . One of the buildings here served as the studios and offices of Barangay LS 97.1 and Super Radyo DZBB before moving to the Studio Annex. ^[4] In 2023, the building was demolished to make way for a construction of a new building.

On the Network Center's front, a sculpture called "Beyond Broadcasting" was built and designed by the artist, Eduardo Castrillo. ^[5]

Studios

GMA Network has five studios in the complex. The studios were named Studios 2, 3, 5, 6 (German Moreno Studio) and 7. ^[6] Three of the studios (Studios 2, 3, and 5) are located in the GMA Network Center while the German Moreno Studio and Studio 7 are located on the GMA Network Studio Annex. Studios 2, 3, and 5 are currently used by GMA Integrated News and GMA Public Affairs programs. While the remaining studios are being used by entertainment programs, and German Moreno Studio and Studio 7 are used by large production that needs large audience or big set. All the studios in the complex is in high-definition and considered state-of-the-art.

• Studio 2 – is the second smallest studio in the complex. The studio is equipped with HD video systems and cameras, as well as audio systems like audio mixer and overrides. The studio is currently used by GTV's newscasts, Balitanghali , and State of the Nation, and GTV's afternoon news-magazine program Dapat Alam Mo! . The green screen used on weather reports of GMA News' programs is also located here. In 2022, the studio was renovated for the Eleksyon 2022, the 2022 Philippine national and local elections coverage of GMA News and Public Affairs. The newly renovated studio was designed by the Emmy award-winning US firm, FX Design Group and uses the latest technology from Vizrt and Red Spy. It features LED video walls, color-changing panels, and an open-floor space. ^[7]

• Studio 3 – is the third smallest studio in the complex. It is the home studio of the Philippines' longest-running morning show, Unang Hirit and select GMA Public Affairs shows, occasionally. In 2023, the studio was renovated, incorporating a 360-degree rotating platform, a modern-minimalist design set, technology from Vizrt and Red Spy, and engaging LED walls and monitors. ^[8]

• Studio 5 - also known on-air as GMA Integrated News Headquarters, is the third largest studio in the complex. It is one of the most technologically advanced studio in the country. It is equipped with state-of-the-art broadcast equipment like HD video systems, audio systems, and cameras. In 2019, the studio was renovated. The renovation makes the studio equipped with augmented reality (AR) technology and immersive graphics by Vizrt. The studio has large video walls, video floors, and a lot of TV screens used by news programs. GMA's flagship newscasts, 24 Oras and its weekend edition, as well as the late night newscast, Saksi are being broadcast live in this studio.

• German Moreno Studio – also known as Studio 6, is the second largest studio of GMA. It is located in the GMA Network Studio Annex. The studio's total area is 638-square-meter (6,870 sq ft) that can accommodate an audience of more than 400. The studio was named after the late German "Kuya Germs" Moreno on its 85th birthday on October 4, 2018. Like other studios, it is also equipped with HD video systems, audio systems, and lighting system. It is the former home of Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman and Wowowin . The studio currently houses TiktoClock .

• Studio 7 - is a 1,020-square-meter (11,000 sq ft) studio in the GMA Network Studio Annex that can accommodate up to 600 audiences. It is the largest studio in the complex and one of the largest in the Philippines. The studio is equipped with HD video systems, lighting system, and state-of-the-art audio systems that can be used on musical shows and live concerts. It is the first studio in the country installed with aluminum truss motorized suspension system. It is used by various shows of GMA like All-Out Sundays , The Boobay and Tekla Show , Bubble Gang , and most of the reality and game shows produced by the network. It is also where the contract signing of It's Showtime on GMA Channel 7 took place on March 20, 2024.

In 2023, the old GMA Building has been demolished to make way for the construction of a new studio building. The following studios were in the old building:

• Studio 1 - formerly Studio A. It was one of the oldest and smallest studios in the complex. Some of GMA News TV's defunct programs were being taped here. The studio was occupied by the newscasts of GMA, and the weeklong noontime variety show, Student Canteen .
• Studio 4 - formerly Studio B, was the fourth largest studio in the complex. The studio was occupied by the Saturday morning talk and lifestyle show, Sarap, 'Di Ba? as well as other notable programs including GMA Supershow and Lunch Date .

GMA Network Studio Annex

GMA Network Studio Annex
General information
Status	Active
Type	Television studio, office
Location	Diliman, Quezon City
Country	Philippines
Groundbreaking	2006
Construction started	2006
Opened	October 17, 2008
Inaugurated	October 17, 2008
Cost	₱1 billion
Owner	GMA Network Inc.
Technical details
Floor count	4

GMA Network Studio Annex is a 4-storey television facility owned by GMA Network. It was built in a 4,308-square-meter (46,370 sq ft)land that is part of the 17,184-square-meter (184,970 sq ft) complex in Brgy. South Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City. The structure costs as much as ₱1 billion. The construction began in 2006 and completed in 2008.

The building houses two state-of-the art HD studios, as well as offices for GMA Network's subsidiaries and departments. It also houses studio support facilities, set construction facilities, set and props storage, and facilities for broadcast equipment. Some production offices of GMA Integrated News, GMA Public Affairs and GMA Entertainment Group are located on the third and fourth floor of the building. Aside from offices, the building has also rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, and make-up room for the network's talents, as well as conference rooms and editing rooms for pre-production and post-production of programs. A bridge also connects the building to the rest of the compound.

The Studio Annex was unveiled on October 17, 2008, with a red carpet event attended by the network's personalities, executives and government officials including the country's then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then-vice president Noli de Castro. ^[9]

In 2021, RGMA Network, the owner of Super Radyo DZBB and Barangay LS 97.1, moved to the third floor of the building. The new office has two studios (one for the FM station and one for AM station), as well as technical rooms for radio and television broadcasting and offices for anchors and management. ^[10]

Studios

There are two studios in the building, the German Moreno Studio (formerly Studio 6) and the Studio 7. Both studios are equipped with HD video system, audio equipment, and lighting system, as well as self-climbing hoist that is used in big studios, theaters, and concert halls worldwide. Also, both studios are equipped with Digital Speaker Management systems that standardize digital feedback elimination, ensure accurate sound quality, and allow studio-to-studio link for multi-studio audio communication.

In terms of audio equipment, both studios are designed for musical shows and live concerts through their state-of-the-art audio systems.

The building is located next to the GMA–Kamuning MRT station and EDSA, so loud noise from these is a major problem for the studios. As a solution, the network used box-in-a-box concept or room-in-a-room concept wherein the walls of the studios are located inside the building to block the noise from outside. The visible room is enclosed with a bigger room acting as a sound barrier. ^[6]

Kapuso Walk of Fame

On March 24, 2014, GMA Network launched its own version of "Walk of Fame" at the studios' walkway, with over 196 celebrities, news and public affairs personalities received the plaque. The concept of this "Walk of Fame" was done by the late German "Kuya Germs" Moreno, who was also behind the Eastwood City's Walk of Fame. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

The second batch consisting of 20 personalities have their stars inducted on December 12, 2019. ^[14]

Future

GMA Network plans to construct a new building and state-of-the-art studios within the complex. ^[4]

References

1. Suh, Sangwon; Lopez, Antonio Lopez (February 13, 1998). "'We'll Be Number One' How a Manila TV station finds profit in values". Asiaweek .
2. Roger G. Villarosa Archived March 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Mapúa CareerLink. Retrieved on May 26, 2007.
3. "2021 GMA Network Annual Report" (PDF).
4. "GMA Network allocates over P20-B for CAPEX, 2021-2023 content cost". SunStar Bacolod. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
5. President joins GMA's 50th anniversary rites today, Manila Bulletin. June 14, 2000.
6. GMA Virtual Studio Tours , retrieved April 20, 2022
7. INQUIRER.net (May 9, 2022). "GMA's Eleksyon 2022 brings biggest, most comprehensive election coverage on all platforms". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
8. ""Unang Hirit" unveils new studio designed by US-based Emmy awarded company". GMA News Online. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
9. "Star-studded gala marks GMA Network Studios inauguration". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
10. We have a New DZBB Studio!! Tara pasyal ko kayo pati LSFM!! , retrieved April 23, 2022
11. "GMA honors Kapuso personalities with Walk of Fame". GMA News Online. March 25, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
12. "Kuya Germs launches Walk of Fame at GMA Network | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
13. "German Moreno realizes 'Walk of Fame' dream". ph.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
14. "GMA Network unveils new batch of stars at the 'Walk of Fame'". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved October 17, 2022.