The following is a list of events affecting Philippine television in 2008. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and carriage disputes.
Events
January
- January 1:
- All of Solar's channels have ceased to air on Sky Cable, the Philippines' largest cable company. An insider claims that these troubles with SkyCable started when boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, whose fights Solar Entertainment has the exclusive right to air and distribute, moved from ABS-CBN, a sister company of Sky, to rival GMA. However, Solar signed a deal with local terrestrial channels ABC, RPN, SBN and RJTV for block-time programming, ETC, 2nd Avenue and C/S programming are seen on terrestrial TV. Currently, ETC shows can be seen on SBN and 2nd Avenue on RJTV on a test broadcast basis, while C/S will be seen on RPN.
- ETC ceased to air over Sky Cable as a channel on its own right. However, as part of block-time agreements with various terrestrial channels, ETC carried some of its programs over Southern Broadcasting Network Channel 21, a terrestrial UHF TV Station in Metro Manila and selected cities in the Philippines.
- January 5: Comedian Ruben Gonzaga wins .
May
- May 5: The 4th originating station of Kapuso Network started airing is GMA Dagupan, which covers Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Benguet, La Union, Abra, Ifugao and Mountain Province after the establishment of Cebu, Iloilo and Davao together with the launching of Balitang Amianan (now One North Central Luzon).
- May 11: Miss Philippines Earth 2008, the 8th edition of Miss Philippines Earth pageant, was held at Crowne Plaza Galleria, Ortigas Center, Manila, Philippines. Miss Karla Henry of Cebu won the pageant.
June
August
- August 8: After 16 years of broadcast, ABC 5 ended its commercial operations on Friday evening at 22:00 (10:00 pm).
- August 9: at 19:00 (7:00 pm) local time, ABC 5 was rebranded as TV5 and launched its new programs. However, despite the name change, the corporate name will still be Associated Broadcasting Company and Tonyboy Cojuangco will remain its CEO.
- August 17: Gretchen Espina wins the first season of Pinoy Idol.
September
October
- October 1 - ABS-CBN unveils the TV plug "Beyond Television", describing its transformation from a small television network in October 23, 1953 into a full-fledged media conglomerate with businesses beyond television.
- October 5 - Philip Cesar Nadela emerged as the Little Grand Star Dreamer of '.
- October 17: GMA Network opens their new studio complex which was known as the new GMA Network Studios Annex. The opening ceremony is in a red-carpet premiere. The new studio's inaugural is being part of the network's 58th anniversary, the presentation is titled Experience GMA: 58 Years of Glorious Television.
November
December
Premieres
Unknown dates
Unknown
- Del Monte Got2BFit Challenge on ABS-CBN 2
- Palmolive Shining Circle Of 10 Batch 2008 on ABS-CBN 2
- Harapan on ABS-CBN 2
- Busog Lusog on ABS-CBN 2
- Tagamends on IBC 13
- Asin at Ilaw on IBC 13
- Lucida DS: United Shelter Health Show on IBC 13
- Talk Toons on IBC 13
- @ Ur Serbis on NBN 4
- America Atbp. on NBN 4
- Balitalakay on NBN 4
- Business @ 10 on NBN 4
- Heart To Heart Talk on NBN 4
- Mama Mary Holy Mass on NBN 4
- Meet the Press on NBN 4
- Music and Memories on NBN 4
- Neighbours on NBN 4
- Pananaw on NBN 4
- Perspectives on NBN 4
- People's Government Mobile Action on NBN 4
- Radyo Bandido sa Telebisyon on NBN 4
- Republic Service on NBN 4
- Takip Silip on NBN 4
- Jungle TV on GMA 7
- Hayate the Combat Butler on GMA 7
- Bakugan Battle Brawlers on GMA 7
- A Round Of Golf on C/S 9
- C/S Blockbusters on C/S 9
- Fashionistas by Heart on Q 11
- Fit & Fab on Q 11
- One Proud Mama on Q 11
- Philippine Explorer on Q 11
- Puso Mo sa Amerika on Q 11
- The Debutante on Q 11
- Discover Germany on Net 25
- Global 3000 on Net 25
- Home Page on Net 25
- In Good Shape on Net 25
- Light of Salvation on Net 25
- 3rd Row on 2nd Avenue 29
- Value Vision on ZOE TV 33
- Winner TV Shopping on ZOE TV 33
- TV Patrol Northwestern Mindanao on ABS-CBN TV-9 Pagadian
Returning or renamed programs
Programs transferring networks
Finales
Unknown dates
Unknown
Ratings
Networks
Launches
Unknown dates
Unknown
Stations changing network affiliation
The following is a list of television stations that have made or will make noteworthy network affiliation changes in 2008.
Rebranded
The following is a list of television stations that have made or will make noteworthy network rebranded in 2008.
Closures
Cable Channel reassignments
Births
- January 24: Chlaui Malayao, actress
- February 7: Antonio Vinzon, actor
- July 11: Krystal Mejes, actress
- July 31: Raikko Mateo, actor
- August 6: Princess Aliyah, actress
- September 7: Charlie Fleming, actress
- September 18: Chunsa Jung, actress
- October 10: Sophia Reola, actress
- November 10: Caprice Cayetano, actress
- December 18: Lee Victor, actor
Deaths
- March 8: Carol Varga, 80, FAMAS-award-winning actress (born 1928)
- April 27: Marcos Mataro, 40, former member of Iglesia ni Cristo and ex-host of D'X-Man (born 1968)
- May 16: Henry Canoy, 74, founder of Radio Mindanao Network; grandfather of ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy (born 1923)
- May 26: Dolly Aglay, 42, journalist with Reuters and Philippine Star (born 1966)
- June 7: Rudy Fernandez, 56, Filipino actor (born 1952)
- July 22: Gilbert Perez, 49, movie and TV director (born 1959)
- August 28: Zorayda Sanchez, 56, film and TV comedian (born 1952)
- September 1: Dely Magpayo, 88, radio host best known as "Tia Dely" (born 1920)
- September 21: Roger Mercado, 69, adoptive father and uncle of Jennylyn Mercado (born 1939)
- October 13: Khryss Adalia, 62, film and television director (born 1946)
- December 4: Manuel Yan, 88, former AFP Chief of Staff and diplomat; grandfather of the late Rico Yan (born 1920)
- December 7: Marky Cielo, 20, StarStruck 3's Ultimate Male Survivor and Ultimate Soul Survivor (born 1988)
- December 31: Rosendo delas Alas, 88, father of comedian Ai-Ai delas Alas (born 1920)
See also
References