ABS-CBN’s ‘It’s Showtime’ signs contract with GMA’s GTV

June 29 ------ ABS-CBN’s noontime show “It’s Showtime” formally signed a contract with GMA Network’s GTV on Wednesday, June 28, with mainstay host Vice Ganda describing the contract signing as a historic event that made him hopeful about the show’s future.

The executives of the Kapamilya and Kapuso networks and the show’s hosts came together to formalize “It’s Showtime’s” transfer to GTV. Among the “It’s Showtime” hosts present at the event were Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Kim Chiu, Jhong Hilario, Ogie Alcasid, Amy Perez, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Ryan Bang, Jackie Gonzaga and Ion Perez, as shown on GTV’s Twitter page. They were also joined by hosts Robi Domingo and Iya Villania. During the event, ABS-CBN’s CEO Carlo Katigbak expressed his gratitude to the Kapuso network for welcoming the noontime show, saying he and GMA Films Inc. president Annette Gozon Valdes came to a decision about the show’s move “in less than two weeks.” “Marami nang napagdaanan ang ating Kapamilya sa ‘It’s Showtime.’ Nagpapasalamat din kami sa ‘It’s Showtime’ hosts and ‘It’s Showtime’ family dahil hindi kayo bumitaw sa pagbibigay ng saya at serbisyo,” Katigbak added.

Meanwhile, GMA Network chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon declared that the contract signing has put an end to the supposed network wars. “Pwede na natin sabihin ngayon, without any fear of contradiction, na yung competition, yung tinatawag ng media practitioners na TV war, is finally over. Gusto kong sabihin sa pagkakataong ito na malugod na naming tinatanggap ang popular program na ‘It’s Showtime’ at ang maraming talents na bumubuo nito,” he said.

On the other hand, Vice Ganda said in a heartfelt speech that despite “It’s Showtime” being bumped off its noontime slot from TV5, he remained “optimistic” about the possibilities that await the show. “Hindi ako masyadong na-aligaga. Hindi ako masyadong natakot kasi punong-puno ako ng pag-asa. At ‘yung pag-asa naming lahat ang nagbitbit sa’min dito para magkita kayong lahat,” he said. “Itong pangyayaring ito ay sadyang Pinoy na Pinoy, Pilipinong Pilipino. Ang pamilya ng ‘It’s Showtime’ ay kumakatawan sa pamilyang Pilipino na lahat ng kaganapan sa buhay ay dinanas, lahat ng bagyo ay hinarap, pero patuloy pa ring tumatayo dahil sa pagmamahal.”

The “Praybeyt Benjamin” star then pointed out that the contract event is akin to a family’s victory, while Curtis, Hilario, Alcasid, and Chiu were noticeably emotional at the event. “Masaya ako, sobra kong saya. Hindi ko makita kung saan ito mapupunta, or saan ito dadalhin ang programa, kung anong kinahihinatnan ng araw na ‘to. Hindi ko alam, pero alam ko na ang pangyayaring ito ay magiging simula ng maraming napakagandang pangyayari. I’m just very hopeful, grateful and excited,” Vice Ganda added.

The contract signing comes a week after ABS-CBN announced that its flagship noontime show would shift to GTV, also known as Good Television, following the expiry of its contract from TV5. “It’s Showtime” will air on GTV, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC and TFC beginning July 1.

Source: inquirer.net