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| Type | BroadcastUHFtelevision network |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines |
| Founded | October 12, 1996 (1996-10-12) |
| Owner | AMCARA Broadcasting Network (1996–2014; de jure) ABS-CBN Corporation (de facto) |
Key people | Vince Rodriguez (Head) |
Launch date | October 12, 1996 (1996-10-12) |
| Dissolved | January 17, 2014 (2014-01-17) |
Former names | DWAC-TV AMCARA EEC-23 (1992–1996) |
Official website | https://web.archive.org/web/20131031132840/www.studio23.tv |
| Language | Tagalog (main) English (secondary) |
| Replaced by | S+A (laterAliw Channel 23) |
Studio 23 (officiallyStudio 23, Inc. and stylized in all uppercase asSTUDIO 23) was aPhilippinefree-to-airtelevision network owned byAMCARA Broadcasting Network. The network was named for its flagship station inMetro Manila,DWAC-TV and carried on UHF channel 23. The network was a sister network of the main channel,ABS-CBN, airing programming aimed towards young adults, such asNorth American imports and other English-language programming, and originalTagalog programming aimed at the demographic as well, such as supplemental programming for ABS-CBN programs. This station studios were located at 3/FABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Mother Ignacia St.,Diliman,Quezon City.
At a planning session during the mid-1990s, ABS-CBN staff members were plotting out plans for a new UHF channel offering a more "upscale" alternative to the main ABS-CBN. In the lead-up to the launch, ABS-CBN acquired the rights to many syndicated American imports, such asWheel of Fortune andThe Oprah Winfrey Show.
The flagship station,DWAC-TV owned by theAMCARA Broadcasting Network, signed on about a month before the launch of Studio 23, simulcastingMTV Asia.
Studio 23 was officially launched on October 12, 1996, but as a timeshare with MTV Asia aired during the daytime, with Studio 23 programming taking over in the primetime hours; Meckoy Quiogue was appointed as managing director of the network.[1] Its strategy was to offer foreign shows to Filipinos at a time when the channel of ABS-CBN was shifting its programming from foreign acquisitions to local programs.[1] The first program aired on the launch night was the 1992 filmThe Bodyguard. Two days later, the news programNews 23 premiered, produced byABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Studio 23 also became the first UHF television network to broadcast in full surround stereo.
On January 1, 2001, ABS-CBN severed their ties with MTV Asia, and Studio 23 gained total control of DWAC-TV. MTV moved toDZRU-TV after the change and relaunched asMTV Philippines and ABS-CBN launched their own music channel,Myx. Also that day, it launched a new slogan, "Cool TV". Upon the retirement of Quiogue in December 2001, Leo Katigbak was appointed as his replacement.[1] On February 22, 2003, Studio 23 simulcasted withABS-CBN Channel 2 for four months.
Studio 23's programming evolved from being "upscale" (as suggested by their previous slogan as the "Premium Network") to a young adult demographic. The network aired a multitude of US imports, but also aired original programming, such as spinoffs and supplemental programming for shows aired on the main ABS-CBN network, such asPinoy Dream Academy andPinoy Big Brother. The network won numerous awards from various groups, such as a silver medal in the Print category at the 2006Promax Awards. Its flagship program, the talk showY Speak, also won numerous awards and accolades. In 2010, the network was reformatted fromEnglish back toTaglish, first adopted in 2004.
Studio 23, on its 18-year broadcast has ceased its commercial operations on the dawn of Friday, January 17, 2014, right after its final programsMyx andO Shopping, a video presentation was shown. At the end of it, the station thanked its viewers for the past 18 years on-air. The station officially closed down at around 2:00 am. The following day, an unnamed station aired and used the words "Test Broadcast" on the supposed position of the Studio 23 logo. On the same day, teasers began showing for the replacement channel. Studio 23 was replaced by ABS-CBN's free TV sports channel,S+A (programming would be 70% sporting events and 30% movies/entertainment/newscast) effective January 18.[2][3]
