is the
UHF Television Network fully owned and managed by Amcara Broadcasting Network, Inc. an affiliate of
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. Its main broadcast center is located at the Eugenio Lopez Communications Center (ABS-CBN Broadcast Center) located at Mother Ignacia St., Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Diliman,
Quezon City ,
Philippines .
Mid-1990's, after a meeting of
ABS-CBN top execs in the
United States to form a channel, servicing an upscale market that
ABS-CBN no longer servicing. Then ABS-CBN COO and President Freddie Garcia, the prime mover behind the project, conceptualized an English language UHF station - Studio 23.
In
1995 , Studio 23 came into actualization with the group of television pioneers composed of Leo Katigbak (Programming), Jojo Estacio (Programming and Acquisitions), Kai Rodriguez (Finance and Administrative), and Edson Aguiflor and Allan Coronel (Creative on-air). Later the same year, other professionals joined the group like Meckoy Quiogue as Managing Director, Rica Alfonso for Marketing, and Edge Pamute for Special Events.
In preparation for the network's big launch, Studio 23 tied-up with foreign broadcast companies yet maintaining to be a wholly owned subsidiary of its mother network,
ABS-CBN . Also the same year, Studio 23 dealt with suppliers and distributors in MIP Asia. They were able to acquire shows such as
Oprah ,
Inside Edition , and
Wheel Of Fortune in the said premier Asian broadcasting exhibition event.
May
1996 , Studio 23 again closed deals with suppliers and distributors in exhibitions held at
Los Angeles ,
California . These deals closed at the L.A. Screenings were for new products intended for the launch of the station in October the same year.
Then the historic initial broadcast was made on 12 October 1996 after some fine-tuning and numerous preparations. It is the first to adopt a
UHF deneral programming format. It featured
MTV (Music Television) during the day and followed by regular scheduled programs in the evening.
First programs to be broadcast were "News 23" and "Studio 23 Presents". Also in since its introduction, other locally-run UHF channels never recovered in terms of ratings.
In
1999 , the Network launched its slogan "Studio 23: What You Want".
Today, Studio 23 has gone far in terms of programming. It is currently the leading Ultra High Frequency ("''UHF''") channel in the
Philippines with 39 regional stations operating, reaching 50% of all television-owning households in the country. Studio 23 continued to diversify its programming format as it featured hit international TV series - Survivor in 2000 and subsequently acquired its succeeding editions. The exclusive
Philippine TV airing of the hit international series was such a great success that they imported "The
Amazing Race " in
2002 .
On 2004, it was relaunched as the "KaBarkada" (Buddy) network with the tagline "Studio 23, KaBarkada Mo!" (Studio 23 is your Buddy). Studio 23 is also placing 3rd in the ranking of all TV stations in the Philippines. Studio 23 is also seen throughout the country via its regional stations.
See Also: List of ABS-CBN channels and stations
The network recently celebrated its 9th anniversary in
Manila dubbed as ''Studio 23 Bay Break 2005''.
- 1996: ''Studio 23: Premium Network''
- 1997: ''Studio 23: This is My Channel!''
- 2001: ''Studio 23: Cool TV''
- 2002: ''Studio 23: Watch U Want!''
- 2004-2006: ''Studio 23: KaBarkada Mo!''
The network's highest audience share comes from
Cebu , with 8% of the total TV-owning households followed closely by
Davao with 6% and
Manila with 5%.
Myx can now be seen again in Studio 23
