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A2Z (TV channel)
Philippine free-to-air television network From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A2Z is a Philippine free-to-air blocktime broadcast television network based in Quezon City, with its studios located in Ortigas Center, Pasig. It serves as a flagship property of ZOE Broadcasting Network, the broadcast media arm of Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide, in partnership with ABS-CBN Corporation as its main content provider through a blocktime agreement. A2Z's flagship television station is DZOE-TV which operates on channel 11 (analog broadcast), and channel 20 (digital broadcast).[1][2] The network's name is an abbreviation derived from the first letter of the names of two media companies, ABS-CBN and ZOE, and the channel number of the now-recalled frequency of the former network (which is now owned by Advanced Media Broadcasting System's All TV).
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History
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The Evolution of ZOE TV-11: From Religious Broadcast to Network Partner and Beyond
DZOE-TV Channel 11, or ZOE TV-11, was launched in 1998 under the ownership of the Jesus is Lord Church, led by Eddie Villanueva, after being acquired from Delta Broadcasting System.
In 2005, Citynet Network Marketing and Productions, a subsidiary of GMA Network, leased ZOE TV-11 to serve as the originating station for its secondary channels, QTV/Q and later GMA News TV (now GTV).[3] . However, in April 2019, GMA/Citynet announced the termination of their blocktime agreement with ZOE Broadcasting, effective May 2019. This decision was influenced by increasing lease payments from GMA to ZOE, which neared one billion pesos in 2018.[4]
GMA News TV ceased its affiliation with ZOE TV-11 on June 4, 2019, and the channel signed off the following day.
ZOE TV-11 resumed broadcasting on June 22, 2020, initially airing Light TV as part of its test operations. However, on June 26, it switched to Hillsong Channel, owned by Trinity Broadcasting Network, before returning to the Light TV feed on July 11. These shifts were reportedly part of a strategy to market the channel, possibly for continuing the analog simulcast of its sister station UHF 33 or for airtime leasing.
The ABS-CBN Shutdown and Its Resurgence via ZOE TV-11
On May 5, 2020, ABS-CBN Corporation's broadcast operations, encompassing Channel 2, ABS-CBN Sports and Action, DZMM Radyo Patrol, My Only Radio, and all ABS-CBN TV Plus digital channels (by June 30), along with Sky Direct and AMCARA direct broadcast services (by June 30), were forced off air. This followed cease-and-desist orders from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Solicitor General Jose Calida, issued upon the expiration of ABS-CBN's legislative broadcast franchise.[5][6]
The Philippine Congress subsequently rejected ABS-CBN's franchise renewal application on July 10, 2020, and the NTC recalled all assigned broadcast frequencies on September 10, 2020. However, ABS-CBN resumed its programming on June 13, 2020, through the launch of Kapamilya Channel, a cable and satellite television network, which carried the network's local dramas, live entertainment shows, and news programming that were previously aired before the May 5 stoppage.[7][8]
Since 2017, ZOE Broadcasting Network and ABS-CBN Corporation explored a potential airtime lease or acquisition of Channel 11, particularly if ABS-CBN's broadcast franchise faced issues.[9][10] Following the rejection of ABS-CBN's franchise renewal in July 2020, reports intensified regarding a blocktime agreement, proposing 20 hours of ABS-CBN programming on ZOE TV.[11][12][13][14] While ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs programs were initially excluded due to editorial concerns, TV Patrol officially began simulcasting its weekend edition on January 1, 2022, and its regular edition on January 3, marking its return to free-to-air television after nearly two years.[15]
A2Z: ABS-CBN's Return to Free-to-Air via ZOE TV
On October 6, 2020, ABS-CBN and ZOE TV announced a blocktime agreement, rebranding Channel 11 as A2Z. This came over a year after ZOE TV's disaffiliation from GMA News TV (now GTV) and five months after the Channel 2 shutdown.[16][17] The announcement followed Sky Cable, ABS-CBN's cable arm, adding ZOE TV 11 to its lineup the day before.[18]
A month after A2Z's launch, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) reportedly investigated ABS-CBN and ZOE Broadcasting Network regarding the legality of their blocktime agreement.[19][20]
On November 12, 2020, A2Z began its broadcast on digital terrestrial television. The channel is available on most digital TV boxes.[21]
Expansion through PCMC and Regional Revitalization
On September 18, 2021, A2Z partnered with Philippine Collective Media Corporation to broadcast on Channel 12 in parts of Eastern Visayas.[22] In January 2022, the National Telecommunications Commission granted ZOE provisional authority to use UHF channel 20 for DTT operations, enabling A2Z and Light TV to transmit outside Metro Manila.[23]
In January 2025, A2Z Cebu was upgraded to a semi-satellite station. It now originates the weekly local magazine show Bisaya Ni, produced by ABS-CBN Regional (their first program since July 2020), which is then distributed to A2Z's sister stations in Visayas and Mindanao. [24]
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Programming
As part of the agreement between ABS-CBN and ZOE TV, the list of all television original programming by A2Z focuses on entertainment and news programs produced by ABS-CBN from Kapamilya Channel, serving as its main free-to-air broadcast affiliate. In addition, similar to its previous airtime lease with GMA/Citynet for Channel 11, A2Z features content from ZOE TV's sister station Light TV and its content partners CBN Asia and Trinity Broadcasting Network. An independent late-night newscast Balitang A2Z and afternoon bulletin Ulat A2Z is also shown every weekdays.
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Availability
A2Z is seen via ZOE TV's flagship station DZOE-TV Channel 11 in Mega Manila. It also available via digital terrestrial UHF channel 20 in Mega Manila, Cebu, Iloilo/Bacolod, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, UHF channel 32 in Baguio and UHF channel 50 (via PCMC) in Tacloban.
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