Heart of Asia Channel (known on-air as Heart of Asia and stylized as HEART OF asia) is a Philippine free-to-air television channel owned and operated by GMA Network, Inc.. It was launched on June 29, 2020.[1] The channel primarily airs Asian dramas that have already been broadcast on its sister networks GMA and GTV, along with channel-only exclusive Asian dramas that never been aired before on the aforementioned channels.[2] Heart of Asia Channel operates Mondays to Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 12:10 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 m.n. (PST). It is also off-air during Holy Week from Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday.
In 2019, GMA Network, Inc. has announced its plans to invest for its second phase on its transition to digital television, including a partnership with American entertainment company JungoTV and Philippine media company Solar Entertainment Corporation (SEC) to distribute content across all its channels.[3][4][5] In preparation of releasing the GMA Affordabox and as part of the network's 70th founding anniversary, GMA Network launched Heart of Asia as part of their digital channel lineup of DZBB-DTV Channel 15.[6]
On June 7, 2020, GMA Network announced to the audiences to re-scan their digital TV boxes on June 12 to receive their new channel lineup, which includes GMA, GMA News TV and Heart of Asia Channel.[7][8]
On June 12, 2020, Heart of Asia Channel was on test broadcast with provisional programs airing, while showing promotional plugs for the upcoming programs with assigned programming blocks. The channel debuted on June 29 with regular programming.
On February 27, 2023, Heart of Asia switched its broadcast from the original 4:3 format to 16:9 anamorphic widescreen format.[9]
According to GMA Network's Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, the Heart of Asia channel ranked fifth in the ratings scoreboard, garnering a 4.9% audience share during the first quarter of 2021.[10]