Net 25

Net 25 (capitalized and stylized as NET25) is a Philippine television network owned and operated by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. The network is named for its flagship station in Metro Manila, DZEC-TV, which is carried on UHF Channel 25 on analog terrestrial TV and UHF Channel 28 on digital terrestrial TV and has carried by major cable operators in the country. The station's broadcast facilities are located at EBC Building #25 Central Ave., Barangay Culiat, New Era, Quezon City.

Net 25 reaches TV audiences on the Eastern and Pacific coasts, United States, Alaska and Hawaii and the whole of Asia including Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau (in Portuguese), Taiwan, China, Vietnam (Hotel network) as well as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Tajikistan, Turkey, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, Greece, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the entire continent of Europe, and also reaches to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) via OSN.

History

Net 25 began on July 27, 1999, under the name ''UltraVision 25'', which was previously owned by ACWS-United Broadcasting Network. On May 4, 2000, it was bought by Iglesia ni Cristo's for-profit affiliate, Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, and was rebranded as ''Net 25'' with a multimedia exhibit dubbed ''"Destination: Planet 25"'', coinciding with EBC's 32nd anniversary.

In late April 30, 2001, Net 25 was the only station airing live coverage of the Pro-Estrada Rally (also known as EDSA III) - the rally ended in a failed siege of the Malacañan Palace on May 1, 2001. Some DZEC programs such as ''Agila Reports'', ''Liwanagin Natin'', and ''Con Todos Recados'', were the first to try the ''TeleRadyo'' concept, as Net 25 became known for blow-by-blow accounts of Philippine events, such as the Elections and the State of the Nation Addresses.

Capable of 120 kilowatts of transmitter power (for a total of 7,896 kilowatts ERP), Net 25 boasts the Philippines' first trilon TV tower that rises to 907 feet above sea level. A state-of-the-art JAMPRO 48-panel antenna and two 60 kW ACRODYNE transmitters complete the tower package. Net 25 also has studios and editing suites for in-house and post-productions.

Net 25 upgraded into its new look on Saturday, January 4, 2014, in time for INC's centennial anniversary. Livestreaming features of Net 25 (and its radio station DZEC) returned on January 2, 2014, after a five-year hiatus.

On July 27, 2014, Net 25 was the official broadcaster to cover the Iglesia ni Cristo's Centennial anniversary held in the Philippine Arena, Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan.

In July 2015, due to the onslaught of the INC leadership scandals, Net 25 was relaunched with the slogan ''I Am One With 25'' (a secularly-altered version of the code for the INC's Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, ''I Am One With EVM''), for a new slogan of the network in line with its new programming thrusts through its support of the INC's Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo.

In August 2015, Net 25 suspended its weekend programming in order to give way for continuing coverage of the Iglesia ni Cristo protests. Weng De La Fuente anchored the special ''Eagle News Update'' all morning while Nelson Lubao anchored in the afternoon, serving as a lead-up to a special edition of ''Mata ng Agila''. Coverage continued the following day, with ''Eagle News Special Coverage'', anchored by Nelson Lubao, Atty. Rodante Marcoleta and Alma Angeles. Gen Subardiaga and Atty. Rodante Marcoleta anchored the August 31 edition which led to the conclusion of the event just before 9:00 am.

On May 6, 2018, Net 25 covered the INC's Worldwide Walk to Fight Poverty event held in Manila, Philippines.

On March 23, 2020, Net 25, as an emergency measure at the cost of certain programs, extended the airing times of ''Agila Balita'', ''Agila Probinsya'', the midday ''Agila Pilipinas'' and the primetime ''Mata ng Agila'' as well as the Filipino and English language editions of ''Eagle News International''.

On October 4, 2020, Net 25 relaunched its new logo retaining the "Net 25" 2014 wordmark, changing its color to gold and added the golden Philippine Eagle on the top. At the same time, Net 25 introduced its new programs such as ''Tagisan ng Galing'', ''Happy Time'', '' Kesayasaya'', and ''EBC Music: #EnjoyMusicBeyondTheCrisis''.

On October 31, 2021, Net 25 relaunched again its new slogan ''Let's Net Together sa Net 25'' with a new station jingle and new station ID, not only for Iglesia ni Cristo members but also a broader audiences. Prior to the relaunch, former GMA Network senior vice president for entertainment group and former TV5 chief entertainment content officer Wilma Galvante was tapped by EBC and became Overall Production and Programming Consultant of Net 25 to improve the programming of the network.

On February 8, 2022, Net 25 covered the campaign events of then-presidential candidate and former senator Bongbong Marcos and then-vice presidential candidate and then-Davao City mayor Sara Duterte held in the Philippine Arena, Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan during the network's primetime news program, ''Mata ng Agila''.

On December 5, 2022, Eric Quizon is tapped by EBC/Net 25 management to become the head of Net 25's newest talent management arm, NET25 Star Center.

Digital television

Net 25, with the help of GEMNET, had the first digital and full HD coverage of the 2010 Philippine elections via the ISDB-T system through their sister station's frequency, Channel 49. It also offered real-time election results via datacasting. However, the coverage was only available in some areas in the Philippines. Test digital broadcasts are still being done by the station by simulcasting their evening news program, Mata ng Agila through Channel 49.

From September 7, 2017, in time for its 8th year since INC's Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo took office, INCTV was granted a "special authority" from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to move its analog feed from UHF Channel 49 to UHF Channel 48, allowing the Net 25 and INCTV channel to simulcast digitally in full-time, which began two days earlier, on September 5. The shift was arranged for the station until its management announced its intention to permanently shut down analog broadcasts and go digital-only.

As of October 2021, NET 25 has started its Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) broadcasts in the areas of Mega Manila on UHF 28 (557.143 MHz). On January 29, 2022, NET 25's Digital Terrestrial TV transmitter power suddenly increased from 500 watts to 5kW. On April 27, 2022, it further received a signal increase to 10kW transmitter power.

In October 2022, Eagle Broadcasting Corporation began its expansion rollout on airing NET 25 and INCTV outside Mega Manila as a provisional authority in Baguio City, covering the northern and central parts of Luzon.

Programming

General programming

With its initial partnership with ZDTV (later known as TechTV in 2001), Net 25 has become a television station devoted to information technology. It carries programs like ''Call for Help'', '' Fresh Gear'', ''Extended Play'', ''NET Café'', ''Next Step'', ''Computer Chronicle'' and ''Audio File''. Its station-produced program ''Convergence'' is the consistent number one IT show in the Philippines.

Net 25 shows '' Iglesia ni Cristo'' (INC) religious programs such as '' Ang Tamang Daan'' and ''Ang Mga Nagsialis sa Samahang Ang Dating Daan'', which rebukes and debates claims made against the Iglesia ni Cristo organization by the UNTV 37 programs ''Ang Dating Daan'' and ''Itanong Mo Kay Soriano'' hosted by Bro. Eli Soriano of the religious group ''Ang Dating Daan''. Currently, Net 25 airs all the INC programs under the unofficial '' INC-TV on Net 25'' block.

Net 25 also featured shows from DW-TV Germany. The channel also broadcast Korean dramas including '' The Snow Queen'', '' Class 7 Civil Servant'', '' Flower I Am'', '' Never Twice'', '' A Place in the Sun'', and '' Fatal Promise''.

In November 2011, together with the change of slogan to ''Dito na 'ko!'' (''I'm here!''), Net 25 created two new departments, Eagle News Service (headed by Nelson Lubao) and Edutainment TV (headed by Elson Montalbo).

Today, Net 25 focused on News, Public Affairs and Edutainment programming, similar to Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), a broadcast arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) led by international televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Iglesia ni Cristo's long time rival.

Milestones

ANAK TV seal

The Southeast Foundation for Children's Television awarded Net 25's broadcast of '' Ocean Girl'' a special citation called the Anak TV Seal. It is an award of good housekeeping that is bestowed on TV programs deemed by the public as worthy of support by Filipino families and of patronage by education, business and religious sectors.

Competing with all the largest TV networks, namely ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5 with eight awards each, NET 25 was awarded with seven awards of the Anak TV Seal in 2002. The winning TV shows are ''Zoboomafoo'', ''Pilot Guides'', ''Convergence'', ''Our House'', '' Ocean Girl'', '' The New Yankee Workshop'', and '' House Calls''.

Net 25 Eagle News Service

Net 25 Eagle News Service (formerly known as Net 25 Integrated News and Current Affairs, Eagle News and Net 25 News) is the network's official news, information and public affairs division of the whole Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. The Eagle News Service was created in November 2011 in order to compete with the news organizations of three major TV networks. The organization produces news and information content for the flagship TV station Net 25, flagship AM radio station DZEC Radyo Agila 1062 and the network's official online news portal.

Net 25 programs

''Sa Ganang Mamamayan''

''Sa Ganang Mamamayan'' (lit. ''For Citizens'') is the flagship morning talk show of Net 25, hosted by Congressman Rodante Marcoleta, Gen Subardiaga (anchor of ''Balitang Panggising'' of Radyo Agila on Pambansang Almusal and anchor of ''Agila Balita''), and Nelson Lubao (anchor of ''Agila Pilipinas'' and ''Responde'', a disaster preparedness show of Net 25). It airs every Monday to Friday at 10:00 ( PST). The program pursues issues concerning the major public, and shares information garnered directly from the pertinent authorities. On July 29, 2013, the first political talk show of its gene was born on Net 25, giving way to the running politicians to air their political platforms.

See also

* Eagle Broadcasting Corporation

References

External links

*

{{Television in the Philippines

Iglesia ni Cristo
Television networks in the Philippines
Television channels and stations established in 2000
Digital television stations in the Philippines