DWGT-TV

"PTV-4" redirects here. for the article about the television network, see People's Television Network.

DWGT-TV (PTV-4)

Metro Manila
City of license	Quezon City
Branding	PTV-4 Manila
Slogan	People's Television
Channels	Analog: 4 (VHF) Digital: 48(UHF) Virtual: 1.1
Affiliations	People's Television Network
Owner	People's Television Network, Inc.
Founded	1974
Call letters' meaning	DW Government Television
Transmitter power	(TPO:60KW)(ERP:500kw)
Transmitter coordinates	14°39′16″N 121°2′45″E / 14.65444°N 121.04583°E / 14.65444; 121.04583
Website	www.ptni.tv

DWGT-TV, channel 4, is the flagship station of Philippine television network People's Television Network. Its studios and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

History

The frequency rights of Channel 4 were previously owned by one of the ABS-CBN stations in Metro Manila (DZXL-TV 9) when the station moved from channel 9 to channel 4 in 1969.

During the Martial Law era, the government seized the frequency of channel 4 of ABS-CBN, reopened it in October 1973 as Government Television (GTV) channel 4. By 1980, GTV became MBS (Maharlika Broadcasting System), a full-blown media machinery for former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, and one of four TV stations in operation back then, and it also began its broadcasting in full color. Surprising, though, as Marcos banned Voltes V, MBS carried Daimos.

On February 24, 1986, during a live news conference in Malacañang, rebel forces tried to capture channel 4 and eventually succeeded. At the heat of exchanges between Marcos and then Chief of Staff General Fabian Ver, Channel 4 suddenly went off the air when its facilities were taken over by rebel forces and by that afternoon started broadcasting for the people. Once the government then attempted not to broadcast the situation made by the rebels, only to fail.

During the Aquino administration, it became known as People's Television 4. The years following its broadcast, PTV's facilities, then housed on a major part of ABS-CBN's present studio complex in Bohol Ave. (now Sgt. Esguerra Ave) Quezon City, became a subject of a legal battle between the Lopezes and the Government.

To end the scuffle, the Aquino government, through the Bureau of Broadcast Services, which then newly revived the pre-Martial Law era Philippine Broadcasting Service, decided to expand the former National Media Production Center building in Visayas Ave. to eventually accommodate Channel 4. By 1993, the station moved its studios to the said complex with transmitters and other equipment largely donated from a grant of the French government.

In 2001, People's Television was renamed on-screen as National Broadcasting Network. By that time it introduced the country's first two hour newscast Teledyaryo, and adopted mostly programs that showcase the good side of the Arroyo administration and its programs.

As President Benigno Aquino III entered office in June 2010, once again, NBN-4 became part of PTNI to enhance its news and programing to viewers nationwide and worldwide until recently, NBN introduced its digital broadcast on ISDB-T channel 48 as the transmitter was rehabilitated and upgraded its frequency using advanced transmitter equipment from Harris Corporation of the United States.

In his second State of the nation Address last July 25, Aquino called the government to make plans in restrengthening PTV as a Government broadcaster.

References

• Anastacio & Badiola. "what's the story, pinoy tv?". Archived from the original on 2005-09-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20050908073707/http://www.geocities.com/pinoytv/index.htm. Retrieved October 20, 2006. 

See also

• People's Television Network