Kapamilya Channel is a Philippinepay television network owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation, a company under the Lopez Group. The network is headquartered at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City where it began broadcast on June 13, 2020 at 5:30 a.m. with Kapamilya Daily Mass as their first program. The network was set up as a replacement of the main terrestrial ABS-CBN network which ceased free-to-air broadcast operations as ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission on May 5, 2020, due to the lapsing of its legislative franchise. It carries many of programs that ABS-CBN aired prior to the stoppage. The network is seen via selected most cable and satellite providers that are members of the Philippine Cable Television Association, including ABS-CBN's Sky Cable and Sky Direct, filing up the main terrestrial ABS-CBN network's vacated channel assignments. This allows ABS-CBN Corporation to continue producing and distributing content while the outcome of their congressional franchise application is still pending since the NTC's cease and desist order for ABS-CBN only covers Channel 2 and its other free-to-air television and radio stations. The network also streams live and makes most of its shows available on the streaming serviceiWant. On August 1, 2020, the network officially launched Kapamilya Online Live, it livestreams some of its contents on the online video-sharing platforms Facebook and YouTube. Although the network itself is available only in the Philippines, most of its local programs are available on ABS-CBN's international subscription service The Filipino Channel via cable, online and IPTV. Unlike the main terrestrial ABS-CBN network which signs off during the overnight hours, the Kapamilya Channel airs 24 hours a day with O Shopping and foreign film block Movie Central Presents shown during the overnight time slots.
Programming
The Kapamilya Channel feature shows that have aired or were slated to air on the main terrestrial ABS-CBN network but whose production was suspended due to the Luzon enhanced community quarantine in March 2020 as well as the ensuing uncertainty following the NTC's cease-and-desist order. These include variety show It's Showtime with three new segments, ASAP Natin 'To, and singing competition The Voice Teens; drama series Ang Probinsyano, A Soldier's Heart, and Love Thy Woman; and morning talk showMagandang Buhay. Three new programs, Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan hosted by Judy Ann Santos, Iba 'Yan hosted by Angel Locsin and The World of a Married Couple the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history made their debut in the Kapamilya Channel. Contrary to earlier news reports, ABS-CBN's primary news program, TV Patrol, as well as several news and current affairs programs, was initially aired on the Kapamilya Channel until after July 24; the program did air exclusively on TeleRadyo, ANC, and Cine Mo! and streamed through the ABS-CBN News' Facebook page and YouTube channel until the said date. The delayed telecast of ANC's The World Tonight also began to air at 10:00 pm on the following Monday, July 27 making the two of the longest-running Filipino and English language evening newscasts in the country to air on the same network. The morning simulcast of TeleRadyo's programming on the schedule remained the same. An evening 30-minute News Patrol program was aired on the Kapamilya Channel until July 24. New offerings such as the Thai hit premiered on July 27, 2020. It is the first Thai boy's love series to be acquired by ABS-CBN, this comes after a partnership of Dreamscape Entertainment and GMMTV. the sequel of the said show will start airing on August 15, 2020 with a one-day delayed telecast from Thailand, six other shows including Come To Me and upcoming series I'm Tee, Me Too are also expected to be aired as part of the acquired eight dramas.
