GMA files complaint against SkyCable over Eat Bulaga signal loss

GMA Network, Inc. logo

MANILA – After receiving reports on signal disruptions before and during the airing of highly-rated noontime show Eat Bulaga, GMA Network filed a complaint against ABS-CBN’s pay television subsidiary SkyCable before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

GMA Senior Vice President for Engineering Engr. Elvis Ancheta and GMA Vice President for Legal Affairs Atty. Lynn Delfin sent a five-page letter to NTC, questioning the signal loss and degradations on SkyCable Channel 12 (GMA-7) especially during Eat Bulaga’s kalyeserye segment which featured the popular loveteam of Alden Richards and Yaya Dub (Maine Mendoza) more commonly known as ‘AlDub.’

GMA asserted that SkyCable committed ‘irresponsible acts’ with regards to the signal disruptions which did not seem to be isolated cases as they received multiple similar reports. The television network also believed that the signal loss was intended to reduce the ratings of Eat Bulaga.

Also in its complaint, GMA mentioned some reports they received from inconvenienced viewers through e-mails and calls in their hotline. These included:

“Good day, GMA. Kahapon po during EB (Eat Bulaga), nagloloko na po ‘yung signal. Nawawalawala at gumagalaw ‘yung image. Then nung nagkalyeserye na, nagiging blank na po. Pati po ‘yung mga kapitbahay namin. Dito po kami sa Malolos, Bulacan. We are using Skycable. Sana po maayos ito nang makapanood kami ng Eat Bulaga ng maayos. Thanks and more power,” which was received from pirateyang23@gmail.com; and

(Good day, GMA. Yesterday during EB, [we experienced] signal disruption. The image disappears and moves. Then when the kalyeserye was aired, [the screen] turned blank. The same thing happened with our neighbors. We’re from Malolos, Bulacan. We are using SkyCable. I hope this gets fixed so that we can watch Eat Bulaga better. Thanks and more power.)

“Hi. Cherie here. Ang GMA dito sa Bangkal, Makati as of 7:00 a.m. naputol ang signal. As in freeze ang Channel 12… Please help! Manonood ako ng Eat Bulaga,” which was received from cheriemvillanueva@gmail.com.

(Hi. Cheire here. GMA here in Bangkal, Makati as of 7:00 a.m. lost signal. As in Channel 12 is on freeze… Please help! I will watch Eat Bulaga.)

It can be noted that this has not been the first time GMA complained over signal degradations during the airing of Eat Bulaga. The network also filed a similar case just last month.