It has been over 26 years since the rainbow became the symbol of GMA Network.
Nowadays, the rainbow motif is seen on GMA’s current ‘Kapuso’ logo, which was unveiled in 2002. However, as the network struggles to keep up with ABS-CBN’s superior programming, perhaps a revisit to the original rainbow logo will remember many of the network’s good times.
The rainbow made its debut in 1990, while still using the 1979 version of the GMA Radio Television Arts logo. By that point, the ‘Tower of Power’ in the network’s Timog headquarters helped GMA reach into a larger audience, but bigger plans lay ahead.
Just in time for GMA’s 42nd corporate anniversary in 1992, the network unveiled what is now known as the ‘Rainbow Satellite’ logo. The era saw GMA expand its operations by constructing regional relay stations across the country (later known as GMA Regional Network Group), and it also began to broadcast in other international countries (later known as GMA Pinoy TV).
For its 45th anniversary in 1995, GMA simplified the ‘Rainbow Satellite’ logo by removing the corporate slogan ‘Where You Belong’ along with the ‘Rainbow Satellite’ marking. The era saw GMA unveil a UHF channel in Citynet 27, while expanding into film production via what is now GMA Films.
The final version of the original ‘Rainbow Satellite’ logo was unveiled in 1998, sans the satellite that capped the rainbow. The logo was the first to adorn the newly-built GMA Network Center, which was opened in time for GMA’s 50th anniversary in 2000, as well as the last to use the ‘Where You Belong’ slogan.
In order to aggressively compete with ABS-CBN, GMA unveiled its current ‘Kapuso’ logo in 2002, with the heart adorned in rainbow accents. Though GMA found early success with the new look thanks to popular fantaseryes such as ‘Mulawin’ and the original ‘Encantadia’, financial difficulties prevented the network from gaining further ground.
Indeed, it is those financial difficulties which continue to haunt GMA to this day. It’s a shame, because even though they have tried their best to equal ABS-CBN’s diverse ventures, GMA still falls short, and for CEO Felipe Gozon, that is not a good thing.
Perhaps a return to a modified version of the ‘Rainbow Satellite’ logo along with an alternative set of programs could change everything. Still, it will be a huge challenge for GMA to even become at par with ABS-CBN, which is not easy.
From the Tube 
Cant see why ABS-CBN’s dominance has anything to do with revisiting GMA’s logos
Just admit being a Kapamilya bro. It’s obvious so be proud 🙂
You think I’m a Kapamilya fantard? Think again. Better take that back if I were you. Everything in this blog had nothing to do with network affiliation, so don’t think that every content here is pro-Kapamilya.
The reason why I revisited GMA’s logo history is obvious. GMA’s ‘rainbow’ days were remembered for a more different programming approach. No teleseryes in the afternoon and evening, they even had more relevant shows. Heck, anime were even shown at night and were popular. Nowadays, with the ‘Kapuso’ logo, they’re just a near-mirror image of ABS, lacking any direction, all because Gozon wanted to be more aggressive.
Next time you’ll say the same thing about fantardism again, I may ban you for good. Just keep that to yourself.
I didn’t mean to say you were a fantard bro, sorry about that.
Adding some remarks that are personal in nature is not the right thing to do. Balanced views is what this blog wants, not biases. I hope you learned your lesson here.
i prefer to watch anime series or locally game shows at primetime just like how it was in mid 90s to early 2000s (remember the price is right hosted by dawn zulueta, family feud hosted by ogie alcasid, and who wants to be a millionaire by christopher de leon way back then) rather than these “teleseryes” dominating the night timeslot nowadays.
I agree with you. Primetime in the 90s and early 2000s was watchable then, because it gave the networks the much-needed flexibility. Not to mention you have all the options in the world to watch. Not the case now with all these teleseryes.
Too bad. We now have to depend on cable for our alternative programming choices.
The old days of GMA, especially during the 90s, will always be remembered as the greatest era of GMA’s 67-year history.
Nowadays, we have to deal with a teleserye which airs six days a week, but is somehow successful as of late, a morning anime block reliant on reruns, expensive fantaseryes, and confusing programming offers both on the main network and their so-called “news channel”.
All because GMA became obsessed with taking over the top spot, that’s why they eschewed their mostly alternative programming in the early 2000s in favor of a similar formula that ABS popularized today.