Comparing Sunday Specials between ABS-CBN and GMA

SUNDAYS is normally a day for people to relax at home and watch some television so the two giant networks ABS-CBN and GMA 7 are trying to out-rate each other even more with the kind of programming they offer to the viewers on the Lord's day.

Most of the time, both stations air dubbed movies on three time slots that are considered dead, meaning that people are usually not watching TV: the 10 am slot where people go to Mass, the 3:30 pm slot where they are usually taking siesta or going out to the mall and the 10:30 pm slot when people are already asleep and preparing for work the next day.

Occasionally though, viewers can watch the occasional monthly special on either ABS-CBN or GMA. And based on my observations, the Kapamilya network gets the jump on the Kapuso network because of the quality of specials being aired.

In the 10 am slot, ABS-CBN usually airs beauty pageants and awards presentations but one Sunday special that stands out is G Diaries, which airs on the second Sunday of every month. Hosted by former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez -- the sister of the network's chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez -- the show features her visiting various places in the country together with the top stars of ABS-CBN. This show has been a personal project of Lopez ever since her term as DENR head was cut short because she wasn't confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. It also serves as a continuation of her environmental policies that she implemented during her time as a government official.

Most of the time, dubbed Disney movies are shown on ABS-CBN's 10 am slot against similar movies that GMA airs. But during the NBA playoff season, one Sunday game is shown at 10 am for the hardcore basketball fan.

GMA's only significant contribution to the 10 am slot is the delayed telecast of a Manny Pacquiao fight, which the network collaborates with Solar Sports but recently, Pacquiao's fights on TV have been handled by his new business manager Arnold Vegafria.

In the 3:30 pm slot, ABS-CBN stands out because of its Kapamilya Mega Blockbusters, which features movies produced by Star Cinema, Viva and Regal which have been recently shown in theaters. This gives a lot of exposure to the network's big stars and even if those movies are reshown, they still get a lot of viewers. It also leads to more revenue for the movie companies who enjoy a good relationship with the network especially since these movies are shown on TV for the first time.

GMA Blockbusters, on the other hand, features the same old dubbed Tagalog Hollywood movies but in recent months, GMA shows two programs during the last Sunday of every month -- Stories for the Soul featuring Biblical stories given a  modern-day touch with Pacquiao as narrator and Atom Araullo Specials featuring documentaries hosted and produced by the former Umagang Kay Ganda host.

It is interesting to note that the 3:30 pm slot was used before for showbiz talk shows before both stations dropped the genre due to the emergence of social media which makes it easier for people to get showbiz news everyday so much so that by the time the talk shows came, the topics were already outdated.

The 10:30 pm slot has been totally dominated by ABS-CBN because of its vast array of specials like documentaries, concerts, beauty pageants and awards ceremonies produced by blocktimer Airtime Marketing but the biggest contribution to that slot by ABS-CBN has been their Restored Classics movies every first Sunday of the month which helps introduce these great Tagalog films to a younger audience. These films, being digitally restored and remastered, come out crisp and clear on your TV screen especially if you own an HD TV set in your home.

Whenever there is no special scheduled, ABS-CBN airs a new Hollywood movie undubbed and as I write this, the Kapamilya Network is scheduled to air the indie film We Are Your Friends this weekend starring High School Musical's Zac Efron in an offbeat role as a DJ with a dark personal lifestyle.

GMA's Sunday Night Box Office used to be littered with the same old Hollywood dubbed movies but in recent weeks, the station has been airing Asian martial arts movies dubbed in Tagalog. SNBO also aired two Korean movies -- Train to Busan  and Miracle in Cell No. 7 featuring the voices of Kapuso actors Dennis Trillo and Gabby Eigenmann, respectively.

GMA's specials for SNBO usually include the Miss World Philippines, a beauty pageant where the Kapuso Network has the rights, and the primetime replays of Pacquiao's fights.

Depending on your network preference, there are two kinds of specials that you would like to watch if you want to stay home on a Sunday. But no doubt, the movies rule those slots because they are easier to acquire and they are aired usually as fillers.