DWAI-TV

DWAI-TV (VHF Ch. 7) is a local television station in Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines, airing programming from the GMA network. It is owned and operated by the network's namesake corporate parent alongside GTV outlet DZDP-TV (channel 28) and DWQW (101.5 FM). All GMA Naga stations share transmitters at the GMA Broadcast Complex, Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City.

History

• 1986 - GMA began broadcasting in Naga, Camarines Sur, on Channel 7 after GMA 12 Legazpi’s 1978 launch. Following the People Power Revolution, the station used a variation of the GMA Radio-Television Arts ident, featuring a light blue square logo with white text and a circle 7 logo similar to those used by ABC affiliates in the U.S. In later years, it adopted rainbow-colored stripes in red, yellow, green, and blue.
• April 30, 1992 - With the launch of the Rainbow Satellite Network, GMA Channel 7 Naga began nationwide satellite broadcasts, delivering live Manila-sourced programming from flagship station DZBB-TV to viewers in the Bicol Region. The rebranding introduced a new logo featuring a satellite-beaming rainbow with traditional red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet stripes, and a metallic “GMA” in Futura Extra Bold font with an indigo hue.
• 2009 - GMA Naga was launched as the network’s satellite station for the Bicol Region.
• September 10, 2010 - GMA Naga began local operations and upgraded to an originating station with the daily news bulletin Flash Bulletin. This was followed by the launch of its first locally produced program, Bicolandia Isyu Ngonian, on November 22 of the same year.
• August 10, 2012 - GMA Naga was upgraded to a “super station” and rebranded as GMA Bicol, primarily covering Camarines Sur (DWAI Ch. 7) and Albay (DWLA Ch. 12).
• September 17, 2012 - Weeks after its launch, GMA Bicol premiered its flagship local newscast Baretang Bikol, expanding coverage to the entire Bicol region.
• April 24, 2015 - GMA Network canceled local programming in Naga as part of strategic streamlining, downgrading the station to a relay station that broadcasts Metro Manila programs via DZBB-TV.
• February 1, 2021 - GMA Bicol resumed local operations and was re-upgraded to an originating station with the relaunch of its regional newscast Balitang Bicolandia, covering the entire Bicol Region.
• November 9, 2021 - GMA Bicol commenced its ISDB-T digital test broadcast on UHF Channel 38, covering Naga and the whole of Camarines Sur.
• August 30, 2024 - GMA Bicol halted local operations for the second time after Balitang Bicolandia aired its final broadcast, pausing for over three years due to network cost-cutting. The Bicol stations were downgraded again to relay stations of DZBB-TV.

Previously aired local programs

• Flash Bulletin
• Let's Fiesta
• Bicolandia Isyu Ngonian
• Baretang Bikol
• 24 Oras Bikol
• Visita Iglesia
• Balitang Bicolandia
• Word of God Network
• Peñafrancia Festival

Digital television

Digital channels

DWAI-TV's digital signal operates on UHF channel 38 (617.143 MHz) and broadcasts on the following subchannels:

Rebroadcasters

Before its closure as an originating station, it had five relay stations, with TV-8 Daet (DWGC-TV) being the latest to be commissioned in 2014.

Area of coverage

• Camarines Sur Naga City
• Portion of Albay
• Portion of Camarines Norte
• Portion of Quezon Province

See also

• DWQW-FM
• List of GMA Network stations