The Network War

The "Network War" in the philippines has been a part of our pop culture, this is the clash between two of the top television networks in the country today, ABS-CBN and GMA. Both networks are competing in programs, gimmicks and most importanly the ratings. Both of them are claiming they are Number 1. The clash between this networks had reached another level when GMA had recently filed a "libel sue" against ABS-CBN after accusing GMA responsible in manipulating the tv rating of AGB-Nielsen.

I compare the clash of this giant networks to the legendary "Monday Night War" in the U.S television. This Monday night war refers to the battle of professional wrestling shows, the World Wrestling Federation(WWF) and World Championship Wrestlin(WCW) during 1995 until 2001.

I found some similarities of the "Monday Night War" in U.S and the "Network War in the Philippines, and here are those:

Battle for television ratings

Just like the monday night war, GMA and ABS-CBN has been battling for ratings. Both networks never stopped working for new programs and gimmicks to win the viewership of the audience. From morning shows, talk shows, noontime shows, game shows, drama shows and news programs, they compete with each other. In monday night war, both wrestling shows features pay-per-views with similar programs, the "royal rumble" & "wrestle mania" in WWF versus the "world war III" & "starcade " in WCW.

Aquisitions of Stars

"Over the Bakod" is the term that pertains to the moving of artists from GMA to ABS-CBN and vice versa. We've seen stars moving from channel to channel just like Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino, Toni Gonzaga, Valerie Conception, Jake Cuenca, Anne Curtis and just recently Angel Locsin moved from GMA to ABS. While Dennis Trillo, Butch Francisco, Pia Guanio, Richard Gomez, Joey Marquez came from ABS but now more identified in GMA.

In the monday night war big stars like Hulk Hogan, Macho Man, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarett moved fro WWF to WCW, while WCW guys like Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, transferred to WWF.

Word wars

Stars from GMA and ABS-CBN often exchange harsh words to each other, about ratings, controversies, and many more. Just recently Joey de Leon and Willie Revillame were involved in a fued regarding a game show scam. They were condemned by the MTRCB after talking trash on air. In WCW NITRO I remember announcer Howard Frinkle said "the WWF has sabotage my microphone" that was due to a technical difficulty that occured during the broadcast.

Unfortunately for WCW, the Monday Night War ended after it was sold to WWE owner Vince McMahon. As for GMA and ABS, how will their war end? will GMA buy ABS or vice versa?

BUT for me, I think this war will last a very long time.