ZOE Broadcasting Network

**ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc.
 (ZOE TV)**
 Key people

**ZOE TV (VHF 11)**
 Launch date
 Picture format

**ZOE TV (UHF 33)**
 Owner
 Launch date
 Picture format

**Light TV**
 Launch date
 Picture format

**ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. (ZOE TV)** is a Philippine broadcast media arm of the Jesus Is Lord Church. Based in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, it operates a set of television and radio stations each in Mega Manila, Puerto Princesa City, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City. The company also owns its first television station in Metro Manila, VHF 11 and UHF 20 which is currently airing A2Z, a joint-venture partnership between ZOE TV and ABS-CBN Corporation through its blocktime agreement; and its UHF television station in Metro Manila, UHF 33 which is currently rebranded as ZTV, carried nationwide by the cable networks, and in Metro Manila via Digital Terrestrial Television. ZTV is composed of broadcasting (including a nationwide network of 4 total FM and AM radio stations) and entertainment, which operates ZFM 100.1, the flagship FM radio station of the group, plays the greatest and the latest hits from five decades and beyond, with its programming format has been popularly lauded as a groundbreaking formula and is streamed 24 hours a day via Facebook, on the web and through the radio; and DZOZ Radyo Pinas 1206, the AM radio station. The ZTV broadcasting group is known to be the prime movers of locally produced music, discovering many talents, who have become name-brand entertainers in the Philippine music scene.

ZOE Broadcasting Network is a proud member of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

## History

### **Initial period**

The frequency rights of Channel 11 under call letters DWXI-TV in Metro Manila was given to a joint venture of influential religious groups in the 1990s: *El Shaddai* a Catholic charismatic-based group headed by Mike Velarde and *Jesus Is Lord Church* an evangelical protestant group headed by Eddie Villanueva. Conflict of interests started the two groups to contest the full ownership of the station. The Philippine Congress intervened and awarded to Mr. Villanueva and the JIL the right to acquire channel 11. Villanueva paid Velarde for the stocks and assets held by the channel's then-owner Delta Broadcasting System (DBS).

On April 13, 1998, JIL began its broadcast history with channel 11's relaunch as DZOE-TV, with ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. as the new corporate name. It also launched the new station ID and slogan *Give Love, Celebrate Life,* which have been the corporate motto for years.

In 1999, Entertainment Network (Enternet), headed by Benito Araneta, and ZOE entered in a channel lease agreement that saw Enternet occupying the station's morning and afternoon block through CNBC Asia. Two years later, disagreements on the contract led to ZOE pulling out Enternet's program block and the latter filing a case on Villanueva.

In 2001, ZOE TV became the first TV station to air the second EDSA Revolution.

In 2004, Villanueva resigned as the company's chair to run in the country's presidential elections. After ending last in the election results, Villanueva returned to ZOE and continues his appearance on various ZOE TV programs.

### **Channel lease agreements**

 File:Light tv 33.PNG
In April 2005, Citynet Network Marketing and Productions, Inc., a subsidiary of GMA Network, Inc., and ZOE TV entered to an agreement for Citynet leasing the entire TV airtime block of the station in exchange of upgrading ZOE TV's facilities and ZOE distributing its in-house programs to GMA Network's airtime.

On September 1, 2005, channel 11 quietly went off the air as GMA installed, upgraded and rehabilitated the transmitter and studios of ZOE TV. At the same time, Channel 11's 40 kW transmitter in Ortigas was decommissioned in favor of an upgraded 100 kW transmitter facility purchased by GMA located at the GMA Tower of Power site in Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City, with ZOE maintaining transmitter operations for the station (due to current ownership restrictions requiring only one station per broadcaster per frequency). ZOE TV, meanwhile, was relaunched on Channel 33 through its new call letters DZOZ-TV (a variant of DZOE-TV). Channel 33 began using its newly constructed 30 kW transmitter tower station located in Antipolo, while retaining the Ortigas Center studios as its master control facility.

On November 11, 2005, after a series of test broadcasts, GMA Network finally handled master control operations of channel 11 and launched their new second TV network through ZOE TV. It started as an all-female lifestyle channel QTV (Quality TeleVision; later renamed as simply Q in March 2007), then reformatted as news and public affairs channel GMA News TV on February 28, 2011.

In May 1, 2006, Channel 33 began on test broadcast with its airing of the job opening program *Future Finder* on limited broadcast hours in preparation for a relaunch of DZOZ-TV's new branding on November 27, 2006. On that day, after the series of test broadcasts, it began broadcasting, then under a blocktime agreement between ZOE and Makati-based Estima, Inc. The result of the deal was student-oriented channel UniversiTV. The channel has proven to be a hub for college and university students, catering them with evening and overnight programs everyday. By that time, it operated from 3 pm to 8 am the following day, but eventually retracted its broadcast hours until 4 am during its last few months of airing.

However, on March 10, 2008, UniversiTV ceased its agreement with Channel 33, possibly due to poor ratings and lack of advertisers' support and the same day, it reverted into ZOE TV, the television arm of Jesus is Lord Church led by Eddie Villanueva. This made ZOE TV left with almost no programming to offer along with the return of the old ZOE TV station ID from 1998 until 2005 and a corporate slogan and motto *Give Love, Celebrate Life*, which airs mostly religious, news and public affairs and infomercial programs. *Diyos at Bayan*, *Adyenda*, *Jesus the Healer*, *PJM Forum*, *Midnight Prayer Helps* and *Legal Forum* retained its programming lineup, which are also aired on DZOE-TV. UniversiTV on the other hand, was then relaunched as a Pay TV channel via satellite and cable operators, but totally ceased operations by 2010.

### **Recent developments**

 File:ZOE TV Transmitter.png
 File:ZOE Compound Center.png
 File:Satellite Dish of ZOE Compound Center..png
On September 15, 2008, the new management of ZOE Broadcasting Network led by the former station manager of KY 91.5, 99.5 RT and RJTV himself Jonathan "JJ Sparx" Jabson acquired and upgraded Channel 33's 30 kW transmitter tower station in Antipolo City, the master control facility of the Ortigas Center studios and transmitter operations for the station and production operations of UHF Channel 33 to form and rebrand ZOE TV as ZTV 33 (ZOE TeleVision 33), which was branded and launched on October 13, 2008 as Channel 33 regained its programming by airing entertainment programming in the evening, children's programming, a weekday morning TeleRadyo-formatted news program and its primetime news and public affairs programs under ZTV 33 brand as a tie-up of ZOE TV. Since then, Jabson became ZTV station manager. The interactive TV station aims to introduce the station to a larger demographic range of audience. Since then, Jabson became ZTV station manager. ZOE TV's public affairs programs like *Diyos at Bayan*, *Adyenda* and *Legal Forum*; religious shows like *Jesus the Healer*, *PJM Forum* and *Midnight Prayer Helps*; CBN Asia's hit animated series *Superbook* and *The Flying House*; and *This New Life* were retained and integrated to ZTV's programming.

In October 13, 2009, ZTV celebrated on its 1st year anniversary of UHF interactive broadcasting since October 13, 2008. In 2009, ZTV 33 won the "Outstanding TV station" award at the 2009 KBP Golden Dove Awards, with all programs on the network also earning awards in their respective categories.

 File:Light Network.png
On March 2011, a day after channel 11 was relaunched as GMA News TV, DZJV-TV channel 33 launched as Light TV 33, introducing new programs produced by ZOE, and at the same time, relaunching its in-house news production through its flagship newscast *News Light*. Soon, channel 33 slowly regained its programming with programs mostly dedicated to religious formats. On March 31, 2014, Light TV was renamed as Light Network, launched its refreshed logo, and had a new slogan called *Experience Light* (with "light" as reference to JIL's belief in Jesus Christ as "the light of the world"), while retaining the slogan *Kaibigan Mo* (Your Friend).

On October 13, 2014, ZTV started its broadcast on digital terrestrial television.

On February 28, 2017, both DZOZ-TV and DZJV-TV are ceased its traditional analog terrestrial television signal, while officially launching its digital terrestrial television signal, using the ISDB-T standard. Upon doing so, it became the first Philippine television station to permanently shut down analog transmissions, as part of the country's wider transition rollout to digital TV. A week later, on March 6, Light Network revamped its on-air presentation to reflect the digitization completion. It also launched its slogan *Magaan dito, Kaibigan* (It's light here, Friend), giving another definition to the word "light" as an easy or light-hearted experience due to its programming.

On February 12, 2018, Light Network reverted its name as Light TV with its new slogan *God's Channel of Blessings*.

In October 1, 2018, ZTV 33 relaunched as ZTV with its new gold logo, just like ZOE TV, which has the same golden color, and station ID to reflect the change, in line with the network's celebration of its 10th anniversary with a new journey serving God and the Filipino people, the network is the best type of programming and bring glory to the Lord above and focuses in music, entertainment, news and public affairs, lifestyle, children and educational, sports and religious programs.

On April 24, 2019, GMA Network/Citynet Network Marketing and Productions announced that it will terminate its blocktime agreement with ZOE Broadcasting after June 2, 2019. The split comes after the release of GMA's 2018 financial report which declared the increasing lease payments that the network contributes to ZOE for the past three years in exchange of operating DZOE-TV (from ₱899.89 million in 2016 to almost a billion pesos in 2018). Third-party sources reported that Channel 11 would run as a full-power analog satellite of DZOZ-DTV after the termination of the agreement, but ZOE has no official statement yet on its future plans. The termination took effect in two phases: all of ZOE's in-house programs were pulled out from GMA & GMA News TV's programming by June 3; and a day after, GMA News TV Manila's intellectual unit (master control, sales, and employees) transferred to Citynet's DWDB-TV for the remainder of the analog broadcast run.

To continue GMA Manila's digital television broadcast, DZBB-TV and its GMA News TV subchannel are reported to transfer to UHF channel 15 (479.143 MHz), which the National Telecommunications Commission, through a memorandum circular in 2016, authorized to operate as part of NTC's plans to license digital channels 14-20 for major TV broadcasts.

On June 22, 2020, ZOE Broadcasting Network break their record as the first broadcasting company who officially switched and migrated to digital broadcast when they managed to re-air Light TV back on analog broadcast via its flagship TV station VHF 11, one year after GMA News TV moved its operations via UHF 27. 4 days later, however, the analog simulcast was short-lived and was replaced with Christian programming content while still conducting its test broadcast. It is rumored to be part of marketing the channel for either airtime/blocktime or for channel leasing.

### **Blocktime with ABS-CBN and rebrand as A2Z Channel**

On October 10, 2020, ZOE Broadcasting Network made its blocktime agreement with ABS-CBN Corporation (5 months after its shutdown on free television) and rebrand ZOE TV as A2Z on VHF Channel 11. The new channel airs shows and movies produced by ABS-CBN as well as religious shows from its sister station, Light TV, Trinity Broadcasting Network and CBN Asia.

Meanwhile after a month of launching of the said new channel, the National Telecommunications Comission (NTC) do their job again to investigate ABS-CBN and ZOE Broadcasting Network if the said blocktime agreement of two stations are processed in legal ways.

### **Affiliation with PRTV Tacloban**

On September 20, 2021, ZOE Broadcasting Network signed an affiliation deal with the Philippine Collective Media Corporation's PRTV Tacloban to air A2Z's programming on PRTV Tacloban, As a result, PRTV Tacloban became a network-affiliated station for the first time in its history.

## Legislative franchise renewal

On July 17, 2016, the Philippine Congress passed Republic Act No. 10888, known as "An Act Renewing for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc., Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7297, Entitled “An Act Granting the ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Operate and Maintain Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations Throughout the Philippines, and for Other Purposes”, as Amended by Republic Act No. 7968", granting ZOE TV a legislative franchise for its radio and television broadcast operations all throughout the country.

## Programming

*Main article: List of programs aired by ZOE TV*
*Main article: List of programs broadcast by Light TV*
## Broadcast assets (ZTV)

### **ZTV**

ZTV (standing for ZOE TeleVision, known on-air as ZTV 33) is a minor Philippine flagship television network. Founded on October 13, 2008. Its headquarters can be found at the 22/F Strata 2000 Bldg in F. Ortigas Jr. Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The general entertainment station airs entertainment, news and public affairs, children's shows, lifestyle, infotainment and sports shows produced by ZTV, as well as religious programs from ZOE TV's sister network Light TV, Trinity Broadcasting Network and CBN Asia.

### **DZOZ-AM**

DZOZ-AM, also known as DZOZ 1206 AM Radyo Pinas , is the AM radio station of ZOE Broadcasting Network in Metro Manila. Radio studios are located at 22/F Strata 2000 Bldg, F. Ortigas Jr. Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City; and the transmitter is situated at Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.

### **DZOZ-FM**

DZOZ-FM, also known as ZFM 100.1, is a music FM radio stations of ZOE Broadcasting Network. The station's *The Greatest and The Hottest* hits format. Radio studios are located at Ventures I Bldg., Makati Ave. cor. Gen. Luna St., Makati City; and the transmitter is situated at Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.

## Other assets

### **Divisions**

**A2Z/Light TV**

* ZOE TV News and Public Affairs

**ZTV**

* ZTV News and Public Affairs
* ZTV Entertainment
* ZTV Sports

## Productions and affiliates

* CBN Asia
* Trinity Broadcasting Network

### **Defunct**

* UniversiTV (Estima Content, Inc.)
* Angel TV

## See also

* List of analog television stations in the Philippines
* List of digital television stations in the Philippines
* List of companies of the Philippines

## References

*ABS-CBN*1 (A2Z) | GMA | One TV

**State-owned**
IBC | PTV | RPN

**Minor**

**Specially**
**News channels**
**General Entertainment channels**
**Educational channels**
DepEd TV | PTV School Time | Solar Learning
**Sports channels**
Pilipinas HD
**Lifestyle channels**
RPN Life
**Islamic channels**
Salaam TV
**Music channels**
**Kids channels**
IBC Kids | IBC Toons | RPN Junior | RPN Kids
**Movie channels**
IBCinema | I Heart Movies
**PPV channels**
BEAM Box Office | IBC Box Office | Nuebe Box Office
**Infomercials channels**
Shop TV‎‎ | TV Shop Philippines

**Religious**

**Regional**

**Defunct/Inactive**

**Inactive: ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy**

2. ↑ GMA Network partners with Zoe Broadcasting Channel 11|publisher=The Philippine Star|date=April 28, 2005|accessdate=April 28, 2005
3. ↑ http://universitv.net/utv/cablechannel\_assignments.html
5. ↑ ZOE Broadcasting to end blocktime agreement with GMA Network Accessed April 28, 2019.
6. ↑ Zoe TV rebrands as A2Z to feature ABS-CBN Shows|access-date=2020-10-06|website=INQUIRER.net|language=en
7. ↑ Solon calls for investigation into ABS-CBN-A2Z Channel 11 blocktime deal|access-date=2020-10-23|website=PEP.ph|language=en
8. ↑ House told NTC, BIR to investigate ABS-Zoe blocktime deal|access-date=2020-10-23|website=The Asian Affairs|language=en
10. ↑ Republic Act No. 10888