For the third part of this special series, we turn the spotlight on the Kapuso digital subchannel.
In January 2023, GMA launched Pinoy Hits as a destination for their classic programs and their ongoing shows.
However, the channel soon became a redundancy when it was utilized instead as a haven for simulcasts of shows already seen on the mainstream channel 7 and GTV, on top of broadcasting some programs from the yesteryears.
In a previous Schedule Suggestions piece last July 2023, a proposed reformat of the channel as a throwback and catch-up free-to-air channel was already discussed.
Hence, in this edition, the previous suggestions will be updated and partially adjusted to fit into today’s context.
- Weekdays
- 5:30 am – Dobol B TV (simulcast on GTV)
- 9:00 am – Dobol B TV (Pinoy Hits only)
- 11:00 am – Balitanghali (simulcast on GTV)
- 12:00 nn – TikToClock
- 12:50 pm – Wagas (rerun)
- 1:25 pm – The Lost Recipe (rerun)
- 2:00 pm – Grazilda (rerun)
- 2:35 pm – Encantadia (rerun)
- 3:10 pm – Adarna (rerun)
- 3:45 pm – Rhodora X (rerun)
- 4:20 pm – The Half Sisters (back-to-back episodes, rerun)
- 5:30 pm – Dapat Alam Mo! (simulcast on GTV)
- 6:30 pm – 24 Oras (simulcast on GMA)
- 8:00 pm – Abot-Kamay na Pangarap
- 8:35 pm – Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law
- 9:10 pm – Fast Talk with Boy Abunda
- 9:40 pm – Voltes V: Legacy (rerun)
- 10:15 pm – Black Rider
- 10:50 pm – My Guardian Alien
- 11:25 pm – Asawa ng Asawa Ko
For the channel’s weekday morning block, the ‘Dobol B TV’ block should be expanded to run from 5:30 am to 11:00 am, up from its present runtime of an hour from 8:00 am to 9:00 am.
The 5:30 am to 9:00 am stretch will be a direct simulcast of what is seen on GTV.
Although that sounds contradicting to the main idea of removing excessive simulcasts, it would make sense as Pinoy Hits could be utilized to air two additional hours of ‘Dobol B TV’ every weekday.
Meanwhile, to cap the morning news block on the DTT channel, will be the late-morning newscast ‘Balitanghali,’ which had been suggested to return to the 11:00 am slot in the second part of this special series that discussed GTV.
Variety ‘TikToClock,’ which airs a simulcast at 11:00 am on GTV, should be instead added to Pinoy Hits, with its repeat aired on the channel at 12:00 nn — providing an alternative to the noontime shows airing on the main channel and on a rival network.
As for the afternoon line-up of the channel, it should be revamped towards re-airing classic GMA dramas. The block should also be rebranded as ‘Dramarama sa Hapon,’ the iconic afternoon drama block on channel 7 in the 2000s — further emphasizing the “throwback” aspect of Pinoy Hits.
Meanwhile, due to the previously advocated changes to GTV’s line-up in the late afternoons to early primetime, it would make sense for ‘Dapat Alam Mo!’ and ’24 Oras’ to go back-to-back on Pinoy Hits instead.
Following ‘Evening Headlines’ must be the ‘Telebabad’ block featuring the catch-up replays of programs from GMA Afternoon Prime and GMA Prime blocks from 8:00 pm to 12:00 mn.
A retooled primetime block on Pinoy Hits that focuses on airing catch-up presentations would help alleviate the pressure from GTV, which has been utilized to air repeats of GMA Prime serials in the late evenings.
Aside from that, it will allow GTV to air an alternative programming line-up in the evening, so does Pinoy Hits — giving more options to viewers and also allow the DTT subchannel to gain a following of its own.
- Saturdays
- 5:30 am – Dobol B TV (simulcast on GTV)
- 9:00 am – Titser (rerun)
- 9:45 am – Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko (rerun or replay of fresh episodes)
- 10:30 am – iBilib (replay)
- 11:00 am – AHA! (replay)
- 11:30 am – Born To Be Wild (replay)
- 12:00 nn – Day Off (rerun)
- 12:45 pm – Road Trip (rerun)
- 1:30 pm – Front Row / Reel Time (rerun)
- 2:00 pm – Reporter’s Notebook (replay)
- 2:35 pm – Regal Studio Presents (replay)
- 3:10 pm – Resibo (replay)
- 3:45 pm – Good News (replay)
- 4:20 pm – Pinas Sarap (replay)
- 4:55 pm – iJuander (replay)
- 5:30 pm – 24 Oras Weekend (simulcast on GMA and GTV)
- 6:15 pm – Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (replay)
- 8:00 pm – Abot-Kamay na Pangarap
- 8:45 pm – Running Man Philippines
- 9:45 pm – Bubble Gang (replay)
- 10:45 pm – The Boobay and Tekla Show (replay)
- 11:45 pm – Sine Totoo (rerun)
On Saturdays, the ‘Dobol B TV’ lineup should continue to air from 5:30 am to 9:00 am, which should be followed by a children’s oriented block from 9:00 am to 12:00 nn.
The noontime block from 12:00 to 2:00 pm will be a showcase of older public affairs programming, while the whole stretch from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm will be dedicated to airing catch-up replays of GMA-7’s Sunday afternoon and GTV’s Sunday primetime shows.
After ’24 Oras Weekend,’ should be the repeat of the previous Sunday’s episode of ‘Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’ at 6:15 pm.
After the primetime replay of ‘Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap’ will be the catch-up of GMA’s weekend primetime shows and a rerun of the archived documentary program ‘Sine Totoo’ to end the day.
- Sundays
- 5:30 am – Dobol B TV (simulcast on GTV)
- 9:00 am – The Key of David
- 9:30 am – Amazing Earth (replay)
- 10:15 am – Ang Mahiwagang Baul (rerun)
- 11:00 am – Art Angel (rerun)
- 11:30 am – Alamat (rerun)
- 12:00 nn – Dear Uge (rerun)
- 12:45 pm – Ismol Family (rerun)
- 1:30 pm – Taste Buddies (rerun)
- 2:00 pm – Sarap ‘Di Ba? (replay)
- 2:35 pm – Pera Paraan (replay)
- 3:10 pm – Tadhana (replay)
- 3:45 pm – Wish Ko Lang (replay)
- 4:20 pm – Pinoy Crime Stories (replay)
- 4:55 pm – I Witness (replay)
- 5:30 pm – 24 Oras Weekend (simulcast on GMA and GTV)
- 6:15 pm – Biyahe ni Drew (replay)
- 7:00 pm – Farm To Table (replay)
- 8:00 pm – Pop Talk (rerun)
- 8:45 pm – Running Man Philippines
- 9:45 pm – Pepito Manaloto (replay)
- 10:45 pm – Magpakailanman (replay)
- 11:45 pm – Telesine Presents (rerun)
Like on Saturdays, Sunday mornings on Pinoy Hits would begin with the ‘Dobol B TV’ block.
From 9:30 am to 12:00 nn, a block catering to children will be on the channel, while Sunday noontime belt from 12:00 to 2:00 pm will be dedicated to the rebroadcast of comedy and lifestyle shows.
The afternoon block from 2:00 o’clock to half-past 5 will feature repeats of Saturday daytime GMA-7 shows and the longest-running local documentary show ‘I Witness’.
From 6:15 pm, ‘Biyahe ni Drew,’ ‘Farm To Table,’ and rerun of ‘Pop Talk’ will lead into the catch-up replays of GMA-7’s primetime programming and the classic ‘Telesine’ block.
Pinoy Hits has a lot of untapped potential yet to be explored.
The channel at its very core should be a place for alternative viewing, catching-up to current favorites, and reliving some of the best Kapuso shows from years that past.
But with its existing line-up, there is a lot left to be desired.
The good news is that the channel still has the chance to be used for that mission, and that could begin with a simple change in the way the programs are presented — specifically, doing away from simulcasts as much as possible and utilizing the other method that is airing shows on a time shift basis.
Who knows, maybe Pinoy Hits could end up becoming as competitive as its sister channels I Heart Movies and Heart of Asia, especially considering the line-up it boasts.
For now, though, the channel continues to be a “miss” in the “hit or miss” game that is local television.
Trendrod 