The following is a list of events affecting Philippine television in 2008. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and carriage disputes.
January 1:
Effective January 1, 2008, all of Solar's channels will cease to air on SkyCable, the Philippines' largest cable company. An insider claims that these troubles with SkyCable started when boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, whose fights Solar Entertainment has the exclusive right to air and distribute, moved from ABS-CBN, a sister company of Sky, to rival GMA. However, Solar has inked a deal with local terrestrial channels ABC, RPN, SBN and RJTV for block-time programming. , ETC, 2nd Avenue and C/S programming are seen on terrestrial TV. Currently, ETC shows can be seen on SBN and 2nd Avenue on RJTV on a test broadcast basis, while C/S will be seen on RPN.
ETC will cease to air over SkyCable as a channel on its own right. However, as part of block-time agreements with various terrestrial channels, ETC will carry some of its programs over Southern Broadcasting Network Channel 21, a terrestrial UHF TV Station in Metro Manila and selected cities in the Philippines.
January 5: Comedian Ruben Gonzaga wins the second season of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition.
May 5: The 4th originating station of Kapuso Network started airing is GMA Dagupan, which covers Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Benguet, La Union, Ifugao and Mountain Province after the establishment of Cebu, Iloilo and Davao.
May 11: Miss Philippines Earth 2008, the 8th edition of Miss Philippines Earth pageant, was held at Crowne Plaza Galleria, Ortigas Center, Manila, Philippines. Miss Karla Paula Henry of Cebu won the pageant.
June 7 - 18-year-old Ejay Falcon wins the second season of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition.
August 8: After 16 years of broadcast, ABC-5 ended its commercial operations on Friday evening at 22:00 (10:00 PM).
August 9: at 19.00 (7:00 PM) local time, ABC-5 was rebranded as TV5 and launched its new programs. However, despite the name change, the corporate name will still be Associated Broadcasting Company and Tonyboy Cojuangco will remain its CEO.
August 17: Gretchen Espina wins the first season of Pinoy Idol.
September 14 - Laarni Lozada wins the second season of Pinoy Dream Academy.
October 8: ABS-CBN celebrates its 55th anniversary and unveils the TV plug "Beyond Television", describing ABS-CBN's transformation from a small television network in 1953 into a full-fledged media conglomerate with businesses beyond television.
November 9: Miss Earth 2008 was hosted by the Philippines at Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. Karla Henry of the Philippines won the pageant.
Mag TV Na (All ABS-CBN Regional channels)
MAG TV Na, Atin 'To!
MAG TV Na, Oragon!
MAG TV Na, Amiga!
MAG TV Na!
MAG TV Na, Waraynon!
Mag TV Na, De Aton Este!
MAG TV Na, Ato Ni! (now MAG TV Na, Asenso Ta!)
MagTV Na Sadya Ta! (now MAG TV Na, Mag Negosyo Ta!)
Married Away on ETC (SBN 21)
January 5: Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2 (ABS-CBN)
January 11: Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal (ABS-CBN)
January 13: Boys Nxt Door (GMA)
January 25:
Lastikman (ABS-CBN)
Whammy! Push Your Luck (GMA)
January 31: Magpakailanman (GMA)
February 8: Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan (GMA)
February 29: Sine Novela: My Only Love (GMA)
March 14: MariMar (GMA)
March 28: Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik (ABS-CBN)
March 29: Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5? (GMA)
April 19:
1 vs. 100 (ABS-CBN)
I Am KC (ABS-CBN)
April 25:
Kung Fu Kids (ABS-CBN)
Palos (ABS-CBN)
Kamandag (GMA)
Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara (ABS-CBN)
May 9:
E.S.P. (GMA)
Maging Akin Ka Lamang (GMA)
May 10: Star Magic Presents (ABS-CBN)
May 22: American Idol: Season 7 (Q)
May 23:
Prinsesa ng Banyera (ABS-CBN)
Maligno (ABS-CBN)
May 29
The Legend (GMA)
June 7: Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition Plus (ABS-CBN)
June 13: Kaputol ng Isang Awit (GMA)
June 27: Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita (GMA)
July 11:
Joaquin Bordado (GMA)
Lobo (ABS-CBN)
July 13: Tasya Fantasya (GMA)
July 25: Wheel of Fortune (ABS-CBN)
August 7: Judge Bao (TV5)
August 8:
That's My Job (ABC 5)
Big News (ABC 5)
Sentro (ABC 5)
ABC News Alert (ABC 5)
August 17: Pinoy Idol (GMA)
August 20: PBA on TV5 (TV5)
August 23: Volta (ABS-CBN)
August 29: Magdusa Ka (GMA)
August 30: Late Show with David Letterman (ETC on SBN 21)
September 5: My Girl (ABS-CBN)
October 10:
Ako Si Kim Samsoon (GMA)
GoBingo (GMA)
October 17: Dyesebel (GMA)
October 24: Ligaw na Bulaklak (ABS-CBN)
November 2: Tok! Tok! Tok! Isang Milyon Pasok! (GMA)
November 7: Iisa Pa Lamang (ABS-CBN)
November 12: Project Runway Philippines (season 1) (ETC on SBN 21)
November 14: Codename: Asero (GMA)
November 19: HushHush (TV5)
November 20: Rakista (TV5)
November 21: Batang X: The Next Generation (TV5)
November 28: Obra (TV5)
December 12: Kahit Isang Saglit (ABS-CBN)
December 19: Una Kang Naging Akin (GMA)
February 15–March 2: 2007–08 PBA Philippine Cup Finals on ABC 5
March 14: Sergio & MariMar The Wedding: MariMar Farewell TV Special on GMA
March 16: Unfinished Business: Pacquiao vs Marquez II Fight on GMA/C/S (RPN 9)/Solar Sports/Solar All Access
March 22: The Misadventures of Maverick & Ariel Show Special on GMA
April 24–27: 2008 PBA All-Star Weekend on ABC 5
April 25: Ang Daigdig Ni Diyesebel: Behind The Scenes Special on GMA
June 6–18: 2008 NBA Finals on C/S (RPN 9)/Basketball TV
June 22: Kapusolympics Watermania: The GMA 58th Anniversary Special on GMA
June 29: Lethal Combination: The Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz Fight on GMA/C/S 9/Solar Sports/Solar All Access
July 11: Joaquin Bordado Farewell TV Special on GMA
July 19: Eat Bulaga L.A. Grand Fiesta on GMA
July 26: Laban Na Banal Boxing Coverage on ABS-CBN
August 6–20: 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals on ABC 5/TV5
August 8–24: 2008 Beijing Olympics on ETC (SBN 21)/2nd Avenue (RJTV 29)/Jack TV/C/S (RPN 9)/Solar Sports/Basketball TV
September 28: Newsmakers – A GMA News & Public Affairs Documentary Special on GMA
October 12: Ogie Twenty-Twenty: The Ogie Alcasid 20th Anniversary Concert TV Special on GMA
October 23: Isang Mundo, Isang Estasyon, Isang Kapamilya: ABS-CBN @ 55 (2-Part Special) on ABS-CBN
October 26: Experience GMA Today & Beyond: 58 Glorious Years of Television on GMA
December 7: The Dream Match: Pacquiao Vs. De La Hoya Fight on GMA/C/S 9/Solar Sports/Solar All Access
December 14: Have Yourself A Funny Merry Christmas: The 2008 GMA Christmas Special on GMA
December 14 and 21: Skechers Streetdance Battle : Year 4 on ETC (SBN 21)
December 21:
Pasko Na, Kapamilya: The ABS-CBN Christmas Special on ABS-CBN
Sunsilk's Gaganda Ang Pasko Kapuso Grand Draw TV Special on GMA
December 26: Nuts Entertainment Holiday Drama Special on GMA
December 28: 2008 Upload: The ABS-CBN Yearend Special on ABS-CBN
December 31: The Big TEN: The Evening News Yearender Special 2008 on TV5
December 31, 2008 - January 1, 2009:
Lucky' 09: The GMA New Year's Countdown on GMA
Bandila New Year Countdown 2009 on ABS-CBN
January 1:
Velvet
Balls
Maxxx
August 20 : MMDA TV
September 14 : C/S Origin
March : Global News Network
October : SLBN
SouthSpot
The following is a list of television stations that have made or will make noteworthy network affiliation changes in 2008.
Rebranded
The following is a list of television stations that have made or will make noteworthy network rebranded in 2008.
August 18 : The Mabuhay Channel
November 2 : Iglesia Ni Cristo Channel Ch.22 move to Ch.136
July 31: Raikko Mateo, child actor
March 8: Carol Varga, 80, FAMAS-award winning actress (born 1928)
April 27: Marcos Mataro, 40, former member of Iglesia Ni Cristo and ex-host of D'X-Man (born 1968)
May 16: Henry Canoy, 74, founder of Radio Mindanao Network; grandson of ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy (born 1923)
May 26: Dolly Aglay, 32, journalist with Reuters and Philippine Star (born 1966)
June 7: Rudy Fernandez, 56, Filipino actor (born 1952)
July 22: Gilbert Perez, 49, movie and TV director (born 1959)
August 28: Zorayda Sanchez, 56, film and TV comedian (born 1952)
September 1: Dely Magpayo, 88, radio host best known as "Tia Dely" (born 1920)
September 21: Roger Mercado, 69, adoptive father and uncle of Jennylyn Mercado (born 1939)
October 13: Khryss Adalia, 62, film and television director (born 1946)
December 4: Manuel Yan, 88, former AFP Chief of Staff and diplomat; grandfather of the late Rico Yan (born 1920)
December 7: Marky Cielo, 20, StarStruck 3's Ultimate Male Survivor and Ultimate Soul Survivor (born 1988)
December 31: Rosendo delas Alas, 88, father of comedian Ai-Ai de las Alas (born 1920)
