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Hero (TV channel)

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Hero
Hero TV final logo (2015–2018)
CountryPhilippines
Broadcast areaNationwide
NetworkABS-CBN
HeadquartersABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Sgt. Esguerra Avenue corner Mother Ignacia Street, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Programming
Language(s)Filipino
Picture format480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerCreative Programs Inc.
Sister channelsANC, ABS-CBN Regional Channel, Asianovela Channel (free trial), Cine Mo!, Cinema One, DZMM TeleRadyo, Jeepney TV, Lifestyle, Liga, Movie Central (free trial), Myx, O Shopping, Yey!
History
LaunchedSeptember 1, 2005 (2005-09-01) (Test broadcast)
November 12, 2005; 18 years ago (2005-11-12) (Official launch)
ClosedFebruary 1, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-02-01) (Defunct)
Replaced byLiga (Cable channel space)
Links
Websitecablechannels.abs-cbn.com/hero/
Hero
Hero (digital) logo
Type of site
Social media
Web portal
Digital news
Available inFilipino, English
Successor(s)Yey! (Online channel space)
HeadquartersABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines,
Philippines
Area servedWorldwide (Internet)
OwnerABS-CBN Corporation
Key peopleCes Oreña-Drilon
Paolo Pineda
LaunchedFebruary 7, 2018 (2018-02-07)
Current statusInactive (since June 2021)

Hero (also known as Hero TV and visually rendered in all capital letters) was a 24-hour Philippine pay television channel created by ABS-CBN's narrowcast arm Creative Programs Inc. from 2005 to 2018. The programming was composed primarily of Filipino-dubbed Japanese anime series. It was dubbed as "The First and All Tagalog-dubbed Anime Channel in the Philippines."

In February 2018, Hero was relaunched as a digital web portal operated by ABS-CBN Digital Media, providing news content on anime, pop culture and gaming.[1] However, the website later became inactive.

Background[edit]



Logos used from 2005 to 2014. Top logo was used until 2010 when the center logo was used until April 2013 and the bottom logo used until December 2014. All logos are actually similar with the removal of the black outline from the second version and the addition of a backdrop graffiti design with indent slogan and thin black outline to the third version.

Much of the content in the channel is attributed to the fact that Creative Programs' parent company ABS-CBN Corporation (through its main network) has produced numerous dubs of anime series many years before the launch of Hero, as well as maintained an Animax airing block for quite sometime. Aside from those, the channel also airs anime that have not yet seen in any terrestrial or cable channel shown in the Philippines prior to its first showing in the channel, such as Mirmo de Pon!.

The channel also once featured anime series dubbed by Telesuccess, Inc., the supplier for most of the anime series aired on GMA Network, before transferring them all to TeleAsia. Some of these are Love Hina, Rune Soldier, and Shaman King.[2] Others seen in the channel were previously shown in English on Cartoon Network's Philippine feed (i.e. Crush Gear Turbo) or, in the case of Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh, on government-controlled RPN.[3]

Furthermore, Hero TV featured re-dubs (i.e. producing its own dubbed version of a previous anime series which was already dubbed in Tagalog). Examples of these are Mon Colle Knights, Metal Fighter Miku, Zenki, The Slayers, and Voltes V.

In 2011, undubbed anime was introduced to the channel with accompanying Filipino-language subtitles, in the form of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light and the Initial D Extra Stage OVA. The reason for airing these two anime features in their original Japanese audio is unknown.

Ever since its launch in 2005, Hero TV operated on a daily 18-hour-a-day schedule from 6 AM to 12 midnight during the first months of their operation. In April 2006, the channel expanded its operating hours to 20 hours, thus signing off at 2 AM of the following day. On January 3, 2011, Hero TV finally transitioned into a full 24-hour cable TV service.

In the summer season of 2012, Hero TV starts to greatly increase its lineup of new anime titles beginning with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, Naruto Shippūden, Hanasaku Iroha, and Shiki; as well as airing the first two series of the Sailor Moon franchise, and a more complete version of the Aniplex-produced Jigoku Shoujo. Except for Sailor Moon, Jigoku Shoujo and Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, all of these titles have never been aired on Animax before (Animax airs Railgun and Sailor Moon in other countries).

Closure and migration to digital media[edit]

On December 23, 2017, an Anime Pilipinas article stated that Hero TV will end its broadcast operations on January 31, 2018, due to lack of advertising support and change in business direction which was later announced on January 1.[4] This was further confirmed through a commercial that aired on the channel on January 16, 2018.[5]

During the final day of broadcast on January 31, 2018, Hero TV aired a Facebook live broadcast where its hosts and staffs shared great memories and thanked supporters. After airing a tribute video showing the past anime titles, local programs and events produced or sponsored by the channel, Hero TV signed off for the last time on February 1, 2018, at 12:04 AM, ending with a farewell message and the words "Hero Now Signing Off." Few seconds later, cable providers still receiving Hero TV would see the modified EBU test card reading "ABS-CBN TOC SD" before shutdown until the provider can replace it or automatically scan with another channel, while Sky Cable have replaced Hero TV with Liga, a sports channel that complements the programming of S+A with international and local sports events.

On February 7, 2018, Hero relaunches, and demoted into a digital web portal handled by the Lifestyle team from ABS-CBN Digital Media, but will not carry anime titles nor establish an anime video-on-demand service. It will provide limited news content on anime, pop culture and gaming.[1]

In March 2018, Jeepney TV featured the Hero Zone (a former anime block of ABS-CBN's main channel in 2006) as a two-hour weekend morning anime block, beginning with Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V and KonoSuba. The block was later discontinued in July 2018 to focus on local programming.[6]

Yey! channel's All YeY! Anime programming block[edit]

Yey!, a defunct ABS-CBN TVplus digital channel from 2015 to 2020, had aired some of the newest anime series originally aired first on the channel, including Ace of Diamond (season 1), My Hero Academia (seasons 1 and 2), One-Punch Man (season 1), Doraemon (2005 version), the final two seasons of Naruto Shippūden, and the first 51 episodes of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (season 1). The channel closed in 2020, the final anime series broadcast on Yey! was Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card; the anime series would later resume airing in 2021, on A2Z.

Previous programming[edit]

Main article: List of programs aired by Hero

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "HERO evolves into a Digital Platform". Facebook. February 7, 2018.
  2. ^ List of Philippine anime aired in the Philippines, GMA 7 list
  3. ^ List of Philippine anime aired in the Philippines, Various TV channels
  4. ^ "Hero TV, TAG Philippine Channels to Cease Broadcast". Anime News Network. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "HEROtv set to end broadcast on January 31". Anime Pilipinas. December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  6. ^ "ABS-CBN's Jeepney TV relaunches HERO Zone anime block on March 11". Anime Pilipinas. March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018.

External links[edit]

Slogans[edit]

Branding Years Active Slogan
Hero TV 2005–2007 Sa HERO TV, Ikaw ang Bida! (Here on HERO TV, You're the star!)
Hero TV 2008–2009 Tambayan ng mga Bida (Star's Hang-out)
Hero TV 2009–2010 Bida Ka Dito! (You're The Star Here!)
Hero TV 2010–2011 I am... HERO, Rise Above
Hero TV 2011–2013 I love anime, I am HERO
Hero TV 2013–present Dahil sa HERO, Bida Ka Rito!!! (Because of HERO, You're The Star Here!!!)

Anime shown on the channel[edit]

Logo used from November 2005 to May 2010
Main article: List of anime broadcast by Hero

Much of the content in Hero is attributed to the fact that Creative Programs Inc's parent company ABS-CBN (through its main network) has produced numerous dubs of anime years before the launch of Hero, as well as maintained an ANIMAX airing block for quite sometime. Aside from those, the channel also airs anime that have not yet seen in any terrestrial or cable channel shown in the Philippines prior to its first showing in the channel, such as Mirmo de Pon!.

The channel also features anime dubbed by Telesuccess, Inc., supplier for most of the anime aired on ABS-CBN's rival GMA 7. Some of these are Love Hina, Rune Soldier, and Shaman King.[1] Others seen in the channel were previously shown in English on Cartoon Network's Philippine feed (e.g. Crush Gear Turbo) or, in the case of Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh, on government-controlled RPN 9 (now known as ETC 9).[2]

Furthermore, the channel features re-dubs, i.e. it produced its own dubbed version of anime which previously were already dubbed in Tagalog. Examples of these are Mon Colle Knights, Metal Fighter Miku, Zenki, The Slayers, and Voltes V.

In 2011, undubbed anime was introduced to the channel with accompanying Filipino-language subtitles in the form of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light and the Initial D Extra Stage OVA. The reason for airing these two anime features in their original Japanese audio is not known.

In the Summer of 2012, HERO began to greatly increase its lineup of new titles, starting with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, Naruto Shippuden, Hanasaku Iroha and Shiki; as well as airing the first two series of the Sailor Moon franchise, and a more complete version of the Aniplex-produced Jigoku Shoujo. Except for Sailor Moon, Jigoku Shoujo and Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, all of these titles have never been aired on ANIMAX before (ANIMAX airs Railgun and Sailor Moon in other territories).

Non-anime programs[edit]

Although the channel prides itself as an anime channel, some of the programs it aired were non-anime. They are Mission Odyssey and Shadow of the Elves, both produced by the Berliner Film Companie, and the tokusatsu or live-action shows The Gransazers, Masked Rider Ryuki, and Shaider. As of the present, all five programs mentioned have been pulled out of the program rotation.

The following programs joined and will join these five programs as non-anime programs shown on Hero:

Tokusatsu programs[edit]

Asian animation programs[edit]

  • BASToF Lemon (Korean animation series)
  • Bubbles (小鲤鱼历险记 Xiǎo Lǐ Yú Lì Xiǎn Jì, a.k.a. The Adventures of Little Carp, Chinese animation series)
  • Mix Master (Korean animation series)
  • Chess Master (象棋王 Xiàng Qí Wáng, Chinese animation series)
  • Tank Knights Portriss (a.k.a. Tank Knights Fortress, Korean - Japanese animation series)
  • Shen Bing Kids (神兵小将 Shén Bīng Xiǎo Jiàng, Chinese animation series)
  • Big Mouth Dudu (大嘴巴嘟嘟 Dà Zuǐ Bā Dū Dū, Chinese animation series)
  • Mask Man (Korean animation series)
  • Wings of Dragon (스피드왕 번개 Seupideuwang Beongae, Korean animation series)
  • The Legend of Ne Zha (哪吒传奇 Né Zhā Chuán Qí , Chinese animation series)
  • AI Football GGO (超智能足球 Chāo Zhì Néng Zú Qiú, Chinese animation series)
  • Super Inggo at ang Super Tropa (Philippine animation series)
  • New Attacker You! (Chinese remake of the 1980s anime/manga Attacker You!; Japanese title: 続・アタッカーYOU 金メダルへの道 (Zoku Atakkā You Kin Medaru e no Michi))
  • Crystal Warrior (水晶戰士 Shuǐjīng Zhànshì, Chinese animation series)
  • Jackie Chan's Fantasia (奇幻龙宝 Qíhuàn Lóngbǎo, Chinese animation series)
  • Galaxia Bots (宇宙星神 Yǔzhòu Xīng Shén, Chinese animation series)

Anime-style western animation programs[edit]

Non-anime-style western animation programs[edit]

HERO-produced programs[edit]

  • G³ (G-cubed) ("Games, Gigs, and Gadgets," a locally produced technology program)
  • Animenutes (a locally produced anime news and information program)
  • Level Up TV (a show for online gamers)
  • My Hero Nation (a locally produced anime news and information program)

Program blocks[edit]

Current[edit]

Below are Hero's television blocks, past and present (past ones are marked with an asterisk):

  • Kids' Squad (formerly Ohayoo Hero!) is a block which features anime meant to be watched by children.
  • Shoujo Power (formerly Girl Power) is a block of programs that feature women as heroines.
  • Dream Team is a sport-themed block.
  • League of Heroes is a block which features the channel's most prominent anime characters, mostly those targeted at boys.
  • Mighty Metal Squad* was a mecha-themed block devoted to robot-centric anime.
  • Super Patrol Force* (formerly Super Sentai Showdown and Saturday Super Sentai) was a program block which featured tokusatsu shows.
  • Theatrixx is the channel's weekend movie block which shows a different anime movie or OVA. It was also a weekday block from mid-May to mid-July 2008. Upon its return in 2011, it also became the first block to show programs in their original audio (Japanese with Tagalog subtitles for anime movies/OVAs and English for Hollywood animations).

Past Shows[edit]

  • Hero Anime Laugh Strip* was a weekend block of programs that featured family-themed comedy anime shows.
  • Food Fantasy Face-off* was a food-themed weekday block which featured Yakitate!! Japan and Mister Ajikko.

Local short segments[edit]

In between shows or commercial breaks, the channel produced short segments for the viewers' pleasure.

  • Dubber's Cut gives a dubber's insight on a certain anime that is being worked on.
  • Hero In Tune (formerly AniMYX) shows anime mini-music videos (actually random montage clips) which follow the karaoke-cum-music video style of sister music channel MYX.
  • Hero We Go is a catch-all segment which either features events or anime-related interviews.
  • Hero Notes gives short anime/manga-related trivia.
  • I-Animate is a special segment that features Filipino-produced animated shorts.
  • Comics Cam is a special segment that features winning entries of Filipino-produced comics competitions using limited animation.
  • Great Hero Otaku Adventure is a three- to four-minute mini-series about the adventures and misadventures of a Filipino anime otaku named Ito trying to win the heart of his crush Noriko and dealing with a bully named Randy.

Past segments include:

  • Gimme/5 was a short segment that lists down the top five of anything from a particular anime series.
  • Hero Says featured short interviews with experts on focused subjects. Topics touched upon on this segment were voice dubbing, sports, traditional animation, comics, and cosplay.
  • Hall of Heroes comprehensively profiled a certain anime character.
  • Anime 101 was the anime fans' information guide on anime fandom and dubbing.
  • Stars on Hero was actually a promotion skit done by various celebrities, usually those from ABS-CBN.
  • Hero Alert announced major events related to anime, manga, and cosplay.
  • Hero's Choice recommended places for viewers to visit and enjoy (hence a travel guide).
  • Hero Solutions which asked random people about their "hero solutions" to existing problems.
  • Dream On featured a viewer living out his ambition or dream job for a short period of time.
  • Villa of Villains a special Halloween segment which was the exact opposite of Hall of Heroes. It showed a profile of a certain anime villain.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ List of Philippine anime aired in the Philippines, GMA 7 list
  2. ^ List of Philippine anime aired in the Philippines, Various TV channels

External links[edit]

Slogans[edit]

Branding Years Active Slogan
Hero TV 2005–2007 Sa HERO TV, Ikaw ang Bida! (Here on HERO TV, You're the star!)
Hero TV 2008–2009 Tambayan ng mga Bida (Star's Hang-out)
Hero TV 2009–2010 Bida Ka Dito! (You're The Star Here!)
Hero TV 2010–2011 I am... HERO, Rise Above
Hero TV 2011–2013 I love anime, I am HERO
Hero TV 2013–present Dahil sa HERO, Bida Ka Rito!!! (Because of HERO, You're The Star Here!!!)

Anime shown on the channel[edit]

Logo used from November 2005 to May 2010
Main article: List of anime broadcast by Hero

Much of the content in Hero is attributed to the fact that Creative Programs Inc's parent company ABS-CBN (through its main network) has produced numerous dubs of anime years before the launch of Hero, as well as maintained an ANIMAX airing block for quite sometime. Aside from those, the channel also airs anime that have not yet seen in any terrestrial or cable channel shown in the Philippines prior to its first showing in the channel, such as Mirmo de Pon!.

The channel also features anime dubbed by Telesuccess, Inc., supplier for most of the anime aired on ABS-CBN's rival GMA 7. Some of these are Love Hina, Rune Soldier, and Shaman King.[1] Others seen in the channel were previously shown in English on Cartoon Network's Philippine feed (e.g. Crush Gear Turbo) or, in the case of Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh, on government-controlled RPN 9 (now known as ETC 9).[2]

Furthermore, the channel features re-dubs, i.e. it produced its own dubbed version of anime which previously were already dubbed in Tagalog. Examples of these are Mon Colle Knights, Metal Fighter Miku, Zenki, The Slayers, and Voltes V.

In 2011, undubbed anime was introduced to the channel with accompanying Filipino-language subtitles in the form of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light and the Initial D Extra Stage OVA. The reason for airing these two anime features in their original Japanese audio is not known.

In the Summer of 2012, HERO began to greatly increase its lineup of new titles, starting with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, Naruto Shippuden, Hanasaku Iroha and Shiki; as well as airing the first two series of the Sailor Moon franchise, and a more complete version of the Aniplex-produced Jigoku Shoujo. Except for Sailor Moon, Jigoku Shoujo and Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, all of these titles have never been aired on ANIMAX before (ANIMAX airs Railgun and Sailor Moon in other territories).

Non-anime programs[edit]

Although the channel prides itself as an anime channel, some of the programs it aired were non-anime. They are Mission Odyssey and Shadow of the Elves, both produced by the Berliner Film Companie, and the tokusatsu or live-action shows The Gransazers, Masked Rider Ryuki, and Shaider. As of the present, all five programs mentioned have been pulled out of the program rotation.

The following programs joined and will join these five programs as non-anime programs shown on Hero:

Tokusatsu programs[edit]

Asian animation programs[edit]

  • BASToF Lemon (Korean animation series)
  • Bubbles (小鲤鱼历险记 Xiǎo Lǐ Yú Lì Xiǎn Jì, a.k.a. The Adventures of Little Carp, Chinese animation series)
  • Mix Master (Korean animation series)
  • Chess Master (象棋王 Xiàng Qí Wáng, Chinese animation series)
  • Tank Knights Portriss (a.k.a. Tank Knights Fortress, Korean - Japanese animation series)
  • Shen Bing Kids (神兵小将 Shén Bīng Xiǎo Jiàng, Chinese animation series)
  • Big Mouth Dudu (大嘴巴嘟嘟 Dà Zuǐ Bā Dū Dū, Chinese animation series)
  • Mask Man (Korean animation series)
  • Wings of Dragon (스피드왕 번개 Seupideuwang Beongae, Korean animation series)
  • The Legend of Ne Zha (哪吒传奇 Né Zhā Chuán Qí , Chinese animation series)
  • AI Football GGO (超智能足球 Chāo Zhì Néng Zú Qiú, Chinese animation series)
  • Super Inggo at ang Super Tropa (Philippine animation series)
  • New Attacker You! (Chinese remake of the 1980s anime/manga Attacker You!; Japanese title: 続・アタッカーYOU 金メダルへの道 (Zoku Atakkā You Kin Medaru e no Michi))
  • Crystal Warrior (水晶戰士 Shuǐjīng Zhànshì, Chinese animation series)
  • Jackie Chan's Fantasia (奇幻龙宝 Qíhuàn Lóngbǎo, Chinese animation series)
  • Galaxia Bots (宇宙星神 Yǔzhòu Xīng Shén, Chinese animation series)

Anime-style western animation programs[edit]

Non-anime-style western animation programs[edit]

HERO-produced programs[edit]

  • G³ (G-cubed) ("Games, Gigs, and Gadgets," a locally produced technology program)
  • Animenutes (a locally produced anime news and information program)
  • Level Up TV (a show for online gamers)
  • My Hero Nation (a locally produced anime news and information program)

Program blocks[edit]

Current[edit]

Below are Hero's television blocks, past and present (past ones are marked with an asterisk):

  • Kids' Squad (formerly Ohayoo Hero!) is a block which features anime meant to be watched by children.
  • Shoujo Power (formerly Girl Power) is a block of programs that feature women as heroines.
  • Dream Team is a sport-themed block.
  • League of Heroes is a block which features the channel's most prominent anime characters, mostly those targeted at boys.
  • Mighty Metal Squad* was a mecha-themed block devoted to robot-centric anime.
  • Super Patrol Force* (formerly Super Sentai Showdown and Saturday Super Sentai) was a program block which featured tokusatsu shows.
  • Theatrixx is the channel's weekend movie block which shows a different anime movie or OVA. It was also a weekday block from mid-May to mid-July 2008. Upon its return in 2011, it also became the first block to show programs in their original audio (Japanese with Tagalog subtitles for anime movies/OVAs and English for Hollywood animations).

Past Shows[edit]

  • Hero Anime Laugh Strip* was a weekend block of programs that featured family-themed comedy anime shows.
  • Food Fantasy Face-off* was a food-themed weekday block which featured Yakitate!! Japan and Mister Ajikko.

Local short segments[edit]

In between shows or commercial breaks, the channel produced short segments for the viewers' pleasure.

  • Dubber's Cut gives a dubber's insight on a certain anime that is being worked on.
  • Hero In Tune (formerly AniMYX) shows anime mini-music videos (actually random montage clips) which follow the karaoke-cum-music video style of sister music channel MYX.
  • Hero We Go is a catch-all segment which either features events or anime-related interviews.
  • Hero Notes gives short anime/manga-related trivia.
  • I-Animate is a special segment that features Filipino-produced animated shorts.
  • Comics Cam is a special segment that features winning entries of Filipino-produced comics competitions using limited animation.
  • Great Hero Otaku Adventure is a three- to four-minute mini-series about the adventures and misadventures of a Filipino anime otaku named Ito trying to win the heart of his crush Noriko and dealing with a bully named Randy.

Past segments include:

  • Gimme/5 was a short segment that lists down the top five of anything from a particular anime series.
  • Hero Says featured short interviews with experts on focused subjects. Topics touched upon on this segment were voice dubbing, sports, traditional animation, comics, and cosplay.
  • Hall of Heroes comprehensively profiled a certain anime character.
  • Anime 101 was the anime fans' information guide on anime fandom and dubbing.
  • Stars on Hero was actually a promotion skit done by various celebrities, usually those from ABS-CBN.
  • Hero Alert announced major events related to anime, manga, and cosplay.
  • Hero's Choice recommended places for viewers to visit and enjoy (hence a travel guide).
  • Hero Solutions which asked random people about their "hero solutions" to existing problems.
  • Dream On featured a viewer living out his ambition or dream job for a short period of time.
  • Villa of Villains a special Halloween segment which was the exact opposite of Hall of Heroes. It showed a profile of a certain anime villain.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ List of Philippine anime aired in the Philippines, GMA 7 list
  2. ^ List of Philippine anime aired in the Philippines, Various TV channels

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hero_(TV_channel)&oldid=1227933962"