GMA Network receives Diamond Content Creator Award from YouTube

YouTube gave GMA Network the Diamond Content Creator Award — the highest award it gives its members — after the GMA Entertainment Channel reached the 10M subscriber mark.

The Network formally received on the accolade on July 23.

(L-R) GMA New Media, Inc. (NMI) SVP and General Manager Dennis Caharian; YouTube’s Content Partnerships Philippines Country Lead Pablo Mendoza and Southeast Asia Director of Content Partnerships and Business Development Vishal Sarin; GMA Network’s President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.; Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon; Executive Committee Vice Chairman Joel G. Jimenez; Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong; and NMI President and COO Judd Gallares.

Present in the ceremonial turnover were GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon; President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.; Executive Committee Vice Chairman Joel G. Jimenez; Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong; GMA New Media, Inc. (NMI) President and COO Judd Gallares; and GMA NMI Senior Vice President and General Manager Dennis Caharian. 

The Diamond Play Button was awarded by YouTube’s Southeast Asia Director of Content Partnerships and Business Development Vishal Sarin and Content Partnerships Philippines Country Lead Pablo Mendoza.

“That’s quite an achievement,” Gozon said. “Translating into growth, that’s about four times growth [in watch time] year-on-year. That’s enough reason for us to be really gratified and happy.”

GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon (right) formally receives the YouTube Diamond Play Button from YouTube’s Southeast Asia Director of Content Partnerships and Business Development Vishal Sarin (left).

YouTube’s Sarin meanwhile said, “We congratulate GMA for growing their channel to more than 10 million subscribers. This is a great milestone as there are only five media networks in Southeast Asia that have received the Diamond Creator Award and GMA is one of them.” 

Through NMI, the Network’s technology arm, GMA forged a partnership with YouTube dubbed the YouTube Player for Publishers (“YT PfP”) in mid-2017 that has enabled viewers everywhere to watch official, full episodes of GMA programs online. 

The partnership not only supports the anti-piracy efforts of GMA Network, but more significantly addresses the millennial video viewing habits that demand access to premium content when they want, wherever they may be.

The GMA Entertainment YouTube channel boasts of being the fastest growing YouTube channel in Asia. Witness: in 2017, it only had 1M subscribers.

As of writing, the channel has proudly clocked in 11.1M subscribers.

YouTube’s Pablo Mendoza and Vishal Sarin from the Content Partnerships & Business Development team (fifth and sixth from left, respectively) with GMA Network executives led by Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon (eighth from left).

Gallares shared, “Our mandate is to lead GMA’s transformation from a media and entertainment giant into a dominant multi-platform content provider worldwide. YouTube has in recent years been a strategic ally in this regard, as it has not only helped us expand GMA’s online footprint but it has also been key to building preference for the GMA brand. This recognition affirms that we are on track.” 

"Napakaganda ng mga programa nila kaya it follows na marami ring nanunuod online," Caharian said. "Kudos to the ones who produced the content."

The GMA Entertainment YouTube channel was born in 2006 and has since generated 11.8B lifetime views.

YouTube’s Southeast Asia Director of Content Partnerships and Business Development Vishal Sarin (third from left) with Kapuso personalities (L-R) Atom Araullo, Bianca Umali, Michael V., Jessica Soho, and Kyline Alcantara.

Also present at the turnover were Kapuso celebrities including Bianca Umali, Kyline Alcantara, and Michael V.; GMA News personalities Jessica Soho and Atom Araullo; and GMA Entertainment executives led by GMA SVP Lilybeth Rasonable. — LA, GMA News