Network transfers are par for the course in Philippine showbiz—with its denizens jumping from one network to another and back for career growth or personal reasons.
This year is no exception as PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) looks back on the showbiz events that happened in the year 2022.
Check out this list of talents who have moved to rival networks.
ZEPHANIE DIMARANAN
Zephanie Dimaranan, the big winner in 2019 of ABS-CBN’s singing competition, Idol Philippines, signed an exclusive management contract with Sparkle (formerly GMA Artist Center) on March 31, 2022.
Read: Idol Philippines winner Zephanie signs with GMA-7's Sparkle
Previously, Zephanie was with ABS-CBN’s Star Music and had appeared in ASAP Natin ‘To as part of the Next Gen Divas with Elha Nympha and Janine Berdin.
Before joining Idol Philippines, she competed in The Voice Kids in 2015 and had acting stints in ABS-CBN shows, including Wansapanataym in 2013.
During her PEP Live guest appearance on January 25, 2022, Zephanie dropped hints that her career would undergo a transition anytime soon, but did not mention anything about her network transfer.
As a Kapuso, Zephanie has joined the cast of GMA-7’s Sunday variety show, All-Out Sundays.
WILLIE REVILLAME
It all started as a rumor in February that Willie Revillame would be leaving GMA-7 after almost eight years to join former senator Manny Villar’s Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS).
On February 11, 2022, Willie bid his farewell to the Kapuso network through his popular variety show Wowowin.
Read: Willie Revillame bids emotional goodbye to GMA-7; clarifies "fake news" about his Kapuso contract
This was followed by a statement released by the network, indicating that Willie’s contract with the media company had expired.
On July 15, 2022, the TV host-actor formally signed an exclusive management contract with AMBS 2.
He also announced that his show Wowowin would resume airing in his new home network.
TONI GONZAGA
On September 1, 2022, Toni Gonzaga signed an exclusive management contract with AMBS 2 along with her husband, director Paul Soriano.
Read: Toni Gonzaga and husband Paul Soriano sign up with AMBS 2
Toni stepped down from her long-running hosting stint at ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother, in which she served as the main host for 16 years, on February 9, 2022.
She left Bahay ni Kuya after receiving a backlash for publicly supporting UNITEAM, particularly the political candidate Rodante Marcoleta, one of the key people who denied ABS-CBN's franchise renewal forcing the network to shut down.
Read: Toni Gonzaga officially steps down as Pinoy Big Brother main host
She now hosts a talk show titled Toni at ALLTV (AMBS 2).
ANTHONY TABERNA
Anthony Taberna a.k.a. "Ka Tunying" signed an exclusive management contract with ALLTV (AMBS 2) on September 6, 2022.
Read: Former ABS-CBN broadcaster Anthony Taberna inks contract with ALLTV
Ka Tunying spent most of his entire career in ABS-CBN before joining Manila Broadcasting Company’s AM radio station DZRH in August 2020, when ABS-CBN's franchise renewal was denied.
Carving another milestone in his 30 years of broadcasting career, Ka Tunying has returned to television through ALLTV’s first public service program Kuha All.
CIARA SOTTO
Ciara Sotto was the fifth artist to sign an exclusive management contract with AMBS Channel 2 on September 7, 2022.
Read: Ciara Sotto pumirma na rin ng kontrata sa ALLTV
Ciara started her acting career in GMA-7's TGIS, a youth-oriented series produced by VIVA Television in 1995.
At GMA-7, she once co-hosted the network's longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga!, where her father, the former Senate president Tito Sotto, and uncle Vic “Bossing” Sotto are mainstays.
There was also a time when Ciara appeared in ABS-CBN's ASAP and its weekly series Buttercup, which aired from 2003 to 2004.
At ALLTV, Ciara joins co-hosts Ruffa Gutierrez and Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla in the morning show M.O.M.s (Mhies On A Mission).
MARIEL RODRIGUEZ
Once upon a time in her career, TV host-actress Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla became part of the ABS-CBN noontime show It’s Showtime and as co-host of Pinoy Big Brother.
On September 8, 2022, Mariel signed an exclusive management contract with AMBS Channel 2
After signing a contract with AMBS, Mariel took to Instagram and shared her excitement over becoming part of the new network.
She said, “The easiest decision I have ever made. I knew right away I wanted to be part of All TV.
“Extremely grateful!!!!! Thank you so much AMBS for the trust,”
Apart from AMBS, she also penned gratitude to her long-time manager Boy Abunda, husband senator Robinhood Padilla, and family.
Mariel stated, “To my manager of almost 20 years Tito Boy maraming naraming salamat!!! To my husband, children and my whole family who have given me their blessings… thank you!
"So excited for the infinite possibilities we can do together!!!!”
Mariel is currently part of ALLTV morning show M.O.M.s (Mhies On A Mission) with co-hosts Ruffa Gutierrez and Ciara Sotto.
DOMINIC OCHOA
After more than two decades with ABS-CBN, Dominic Ochoa appeared in a Kapuso teleserye for the first time.
On June 22, 2022, Dominic accepted a role in the GMA-7 drama series, Abot Kamay Na Pangarap, which stars Carmina Villaroel, Richard Yap, and Jillian Wards.
Read: Dominic Ochoa stars in first GMA-7 project after 25 years with ABS-CBN
Dominic had been associated with ABS-CBN and its talent arm Star Magic for 25 years—but his first series appearance was actually in the GMA-Viva youth-oriented T.G.I.S., where he did a guest role in one of its episodes.
His last TV projects with ABS-CBN were Huwag Kang Mangamba (2021) and a brief role in the KathNiel series 2 Good 2 Be True (2022).
Julius Babao
Julius Babao, who was part of ABS-CBN's news program TV Patrol for the longest time, bid goodbye to his home network for 28 years on December 31, 2021.
Read: Julius Babao on transferring from ABS-CBN to TV5: "It’s not about an issue of money."
On January 17, 2022, Julius inked a contract with TV-5 primetime newcast Frontline Pilipinas.
Read: Julius Babao's debut on Frontline Pilipinas postponed due to COVID surge
He replaced newscaster Raffy Tulfo who was running for senator at that time.
Bianca Manalo
Bianca Manalo started the year in the ABS-CBN prime-time show The Broken Marriage Vow starring Jodi Sta. Maria, Zanjoe Marudo, and Sue Ramirez, which ran from January to June 2022.
On November 22, 2022, the beauty queen-actress surprised her fans when she signed an exclusive management contract with Sparkle, the talent management arm of GMA Network.
During the contract-signing event, Bianca expressed her excitement about this new chapter in her life.
She thanked the network's top executives—Senior Vice President Annette Gozon Abrogar and Sparkle GMA Artist Center Assisstant Vice President for Talent Management Joy Marcelo—in her speech, "Actually, super unexpected, kasi when I first met Ms. Annette and Ms. Joy, sabi ko, 'Naku, magustuhan kaya ako ng mga magiging boss ko?'
"True enough, niyakap din naman nila ako nang mabuti and pinaramdam nila sa akin kung paano sila mag-alaga ng magiging talents nila.
"Kaya very thankful and grateful ako. Thank you po sa trust."
Jayson Gainza
Jayson Gainza is also a former artist of ABS-CBN.
He became known for his clever Boy Abunda impersonation as “Tito Bhoy” and was part of the ABS-CBN gag show Banana Sundae, formerly Banana Split, which aired from 2008 to 2020.
Read: From Kapamilya to Kapuso: Bianca Manalo, Jayson Gainza sign with GMA-7s Sparkle
On November 22, 2022, Jayson was warmly welcomed by Sparkle after inking his management contract during the Signed for Stardom event.
The comedian-actor started his entertainment career after becoming 2nd Big Placer in season 1 of ABS-CBN's reality show Pinoy Big Brother.
In December 2021, Jayson started appearing in the GMA-7 sitcom Happy ToGether with John Lloyd Cruz and Miles Ocampo, both former Kapamilya also.
Boy Abunda
On August 28, 2022, a report from PEP Troika disclosed that veteran host Boy Abunda would most likely transfer to GMA-7.
In the report Boy said, “Hindi ko itatatwa na may mga pag-uusap sa iba’t ibang mga istasyon, sa iba’t ibang mga tao, pero wala pa.
“I have not signed a contract. I’m in a conversation with various groups, but that will be in another presscon.”
On December 7, 2022, GMA-7 released a teaser: “Handa na BA ang lahat para sa HOMECOMING ng isang SHOWBIZ Icon? Abangan ang kanyang pagbabalik sa GMA coming soon!”
Read: Boy Abunda on rumored return to GMA-7: "I wanna go back to television."
Netizens speculated the teaser was hinting at Boy's transfer.
It was confirmed on December 15, 2022, when he signed an exclusive management contract with GMA-7, officially bidding his goodbye to ABS-CBN, his home network for 23 years.
It was a homecoming for the host who hosted the 1994 talk show Show & Tell and the 1995 entertainment news show Startalk alongside his long-time co-host Kris Aquino.
Read: Boy Abunda, maayos na nagpaalam sa ABS-CBN bago bumalik sa GMA-7
He then transferred to ABS-CBN, where he hosted The Buzz from 1999 to 2015.
Love Añover
Love Añover's contract with GMA-7 ended on December 18, 2022, allowing her to explore other venues for her talents.
A few days later, she signed a contract with Net 25.
In her long Facebook post, the former Unang Hirit host disclosed that Net 25 has offered her a new show.
Read: Love Anover, may bagong teleradyo show sa Net25
Meanwhile, TV host Korina Sanchez has started her show Korina Interviews in Net 25, apart from her show TikTalks in One PH and Rated Korina on TV 5.
Ruffa Gutierrez
Ruffa Gutierrez surprised her followers when she attended the soft launch of ALLTV on September 13, 2022.
Ruffa has been doing projects with ABS-CBN and is a regular judge in It’s Showtime‘s Miss Q & A segment.
Read: Is Ruffa Gutierrez now an exclusive star of ALLTV?
On September 21, 2022, Ruffa clarified on Instagram that being a freelancer, she has the freedom to work with any network.
However, according to the report of PEP.ph on November 24, 2022, Ruffa just signed a program contract with ALLTV for its morning show M.O.M.S (Mhies On A Mission), which she will co-host with Mariel Padilla and Ciara Sotto.
KAPAMILYA TALENTS ON GMA-7
In 2021, the two big stars Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz made headlines after switching to GMA-7.
On July 1, 2021, Bea signed a two-year exclusive TV contract with the Kapuso network.
On November 9, John Lloyd signed a program contract with the network as the main star of the sitcom Happy ToGetHer.
Bea's first Kapuso project, the Pinoy adaptation of the popular K-drama series Start-Up alongside Alden Richards, Yasmien Kurdi, and Jeric Gonzales, aired this year.
Currently, Bea and John Lloyd are reportedly working together in an upcoming Star Cinema movie.
The details of their upcoming movie have yet to be announced.
Read: Bea Alonzo, Alden Richards lead powerhouse cast of Start-Up PH
On the other hand, Maja Salvador and Miles Ocampo, former Kapamilya talents, are now visible in Kapuso shows.
Maja and Miles, both freelancers, are now part of the GMA-7 noontime show Eat Bulaga!
GMA-7 TALENTS TO ABS-CBN
In September 2021, Lovi Poe said her goodbyes to GMA-7 and signed a contract with ABS-CBN.
Her first project that aired this year was the adaptation of the Korean drama Flower of Evil with Piolo Pascual.
Read: How is Lovi Poe one year after moving to ABS-CBN?
Lovi is also set to star in the upcoming ABS-CBN series FPJ's Batang Quiapo, alongside Coco Martin and Charo Santos-Concio.
Read: Coco Martin co-stars with FPJ's daughter Lovi Poe in TV adaptation of "Batang Quiapo"