24 Oras schedule

My Experience Keeping Up with the 24 Oras Schedule

Growing up in a typical Filipino household in Quezon City, the familiar sound of the 24 Oras theme music at 6:30 PM was practically our dinner bell. “Maghain na ng hapunan, magsisimula na ang 24 Oras!” my mother would call out, as our family gathered around our old Sanyo television. Years later, even with smartphones constantly feeding us breaking news, I still find myself instinctively turning on GMA Network every evening to catch Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez deliver the day’s biggest stories. Understanding the 24 Oras schedule has become second nature to me, but I realize many Filipinos – especially those living abroad or younger viewers used to on-demand content – might need some guidance.

Last month during Typhoon Rosita, I missed an important weather update because GMA temporarily shifted their broadcast schedule. That frustrating experience (which left me unprepared for flooding in our barangay) reminded me how crucial it is to stay updated with the 24 Oras schedule changes, especially during emergencies when timely information matters most. Through years of loyal viewership and a few missed episodes, I’ve learned the ins and outs of keeping track of this iconic news program’s broadcast times.

Understanding the Regular 24 Oras Schedule (And Its Occasional Changes)

For as long as I can remember, 24 Oras has been a reliable presence on weeknights. The main weekday broadcast traditionally begins at 6:30 PM, running until approximately 7:45 PM, though I’ve noticed it sometimes extends to 8:00 PM during major news events. Just last month during the national elections, the program ran until nearly 8:30 PM as they provided comprehensive coverage of the initial results.

What many casual viewers don’t realize is that the schedule occasionally shifts due to special programming. During the SEA Games last December, I noticed GMA adjusted the 24 Oras start time to 7:15 PM to accommodate live sports coverage. Similarly, during Holy Week, the program typically has a modified schedule or special edition focused on relevant stories. I learned this lesson the hard way last Easter when I sat down at the usual time only to find religious programming instead of my expected news broadcast.

The weekend edition, 24 Oras Weekend, follows a slightly different format and timing. It airs at 6:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, typically with a rotating set of anchors. My personal favorite weekend tandem is Pia Arcangel and Ivan Mayrina, whose more relaxed presenting style complements the slightly lighter weekend news mix. If you’re like my lolo who insists the weekend edition starts at 5:30 PM, I can confirm from consistently missing the first half that it indeed begins at 6:00 PM sharp!

How I Stay Updated with the 24 Oras Schedule Changes

After missing several important broadcasts due to unexpected schedule changes, I’ve developed a system to ensure I never miss an episode. Here’s how I personally keep track of the 24 Oras schedule:

GMA Network Website – My Primary Source: The official GMA website has saved me countless times. During typhoon season last year, I made a habit of checking their TV schedule page every morning. This proved invaluable when they moved up the broadcast by 30 minutes to provide extended coverage of flooding in Marikina, where my relatives live.
GMA News Mobile App – My On-the-Go Solution: Since installing this app two years ago, I’ve received timely notifications about schedule changes. While stuck in EDSA traffic last month (three hours from Makati to Quezon City – typical Manila!), the app alerted me that 24 Oras would feature a special report on infrastructure projects that would affect my daily commute.
Facebook and Twitter – The Fastest Updates: Following the official GMA News accounts has been surprisingly effective. During President Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address, they posted about the extended special coverage hours before it was updated on their website. The comment section also sometimes contains helpful schedule information from other viewers.
Newspapers and TV Guides – Old School but Reliable: My father still insists on buying the Philippine Star daily, and I’ve found their TV listings section to be surprisingly accurate. This analog method came in handy during the massive internet outage last July, when online sources were inaccessible for nearly 12 hours.

Why I Can’t Afford to Miss the 24 Oras Schedule

You might wonder why I’m so adamant about keeping track of the 24 Oras schedule. Beyond simple habit, there are several reasons this program has remained essential viewing in my household:

Comprehensive Coverage When It Matters Most: During the Taal Volcano eruption in 2020, 24 Oras provided critical updates that helped my family prepare for ash fall in our area. Their on-the-ground reporting from evacuation centers gave us perspective on how fortunate we were compared to those directly affected.
Chika Minute – My Guilty Pleasure: I’ll admit it – the entertainment segment “Chika Minute” is something I look forward to after a long workday. When they covered the behind-the-scenes drama of my favorite teleserye last month, I found myself texting friends to make sure they caught it too. Missing these segments means missing out on office conversations the next day!
Kapuso Jessica Soho’s Special Reports: Whenever Jessica Soho presents one of her in-depth investigations, I know it will be thought-provoking. Her series on healthcare workers during the pandemic moved me to tears and gave me a new appreciation for my cousin who works as a nurse at Philippine General Hospital.
Weather Updates During Typhoon Season: Living in the flood-prone area of Marikina has made me particularly attentive to 24 Oras’ weather reports. Their detailed flood warnings during Typhoon Ulysses potentially saved our ground floor furniture when we decided to move everything upstairs based on their projected water levels.

Where I Watch 24 Oras Besides Our Living Room TV

Gone are the days when catching 24 Oras meant being physically in front of your television at the designated time. Over the years, I’ve found several alternative ways to watch the program, each with their own advantages:

GMA Network TV – The Traditional Experience: There’s something comforting about watching on our living room TV, especially when the whole family gathers to discuss the day’s news over dinner. The full HD broadcast quality on our new Samsung TV (a splurge during last year’s 12.12 sale) makes a noticeable difference when viewing detailed graphics and reports.
GMA News Online Website and YouTube – My Workday Solution: When overtime keeps me at the office past 6:30 PM (which happens more often than I’d like), I stream 24 Oras on my laptop through their website. The IT department probably wonders why our bandwidth usage spikes at that specific time!
GMA News App – Perfect for Commutes: During my two-hour jeepney and MRT commute from Makati to our home in Marikina, I often watch segments of 24 Oras on my phone. The data consumption is considerable – roughly 250MB per episode on lower quality – but worth it to stay informed.
GMA Pinoy TV – How My OFW Sister Keeps Updated: My sister working in Dubai subscribes to GMA Pinoy TV, which broadcasts 24 Oras with a slight delay. During our weekly video calls, we often discuss stories that appeared on the program, keeping her connected to home despite being thousands of kilometers away.

Common Questions My Friends Ask About the 24 Oras Schedule

1. “What time can we actually catch 24 Oras on weekdays?”

When my balikbayan friends visit from the States, they always ask about the current timing. While 6:30 PM remains the standard weekday start time, I’ve noticed it occasionally begins a few minutes late, especially following popular teleseryes. Just last Tuesday, it started almost 10 minutes late after the season finale of “First Lady.” For absolute certainty, I usually tune in by 6:25 PM to catch the program introduction and ensure I don’t miss anything. During special news events like election coverage or natural disasters, I’ve seen the program extended well beyond its usual end time, sometimes running until 8:30 PM.

2. “Can I watch 24 Oras episodes after they’ve aired?”

This question comes up constantly in our family group chat, especially from my cousin who works night shifts at a call center. I’ve found that full episodes are typically uploaded to the GMA News YouTube channel within an hour after broadcasting. However, during my recent vacation in Boracay with spotty internet, I discovered these uploads are sometimes delayed during weekends and holidays. The GMA News website also archives episodes, but in my experience, they sometimes remove older content after a few weeks – something I learned the hard way when trying to find coverage of my barangay’s fiesta from two months prior.

3. “Does the 24 Oras schedule change during holidays?”

Based on years of holiday viewing experiences, yes, the schedule definitely changes – sometimes dramatically. During Holy Week, especially Good Friday, 24 Oras often airs a special, shortened edition focused on religious observances and travel news. Last Christmas Eve, the program started an hour earlier than usual to accommodate GMA’s special holiday programming. I’ve made it a habit to check the schedule specifically on holidays after missing their New Year’s Eve broadcast last year, which was moved to 5:00 PM instead of the usual time.

4. “How can I get notified about sudden schedule changes?”

After completely missing a special 24 Oras broadcast about our region’s water interruption schedule (and subsequently waking up to dry taps!), I’ve become religious about enabling notifications. The GMA News app sends push alerts about schedule changes, usually a few hours before broadcast. I’ve found their Facebook page to be even more responsive, often posting updates immediately when breaking news causes schedule adjustments. My tech-savvy nephew showed me how to set up Twitter alerts specifically for GMA’s official announcements, which has been surprisingly effective, especially during breaking news situations.

5. “Is the weekend edition of 24 Oras the same as weekday broadcasts?”

Many of my neighbors still don’t realize there’s a difference between the weekday and weekend editions. 24 Oras Weekend typically runs from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, about 15-30 minutes shorter than weekday broadcasts. In my experience, the weekend content focuses more on feature stories and week-in-review segments rather than breaking news. Last Saturday’s episode, for instance, dedicated nearly 15 minutes to tourism developments in Siargao (which promptly made me book a flight there for my upcoming birthday weekend) and had less political coverage than the weekday editions. The anchor team is different too – I particularly enjoy Mariz Umali’s hosting style on Sundays, which feels more conversational than the weekday format.

Final Thoughts on Keeping Up with 24 Oras

After following 24 Oras faithfully for over a decade, from our old CRT television to today’s various digital platforms, I’ve come to appreciate how this program has evolved while remaining a constant in Filipino daily life. Whether I’m catching it on our living room TV with my parents, streaming it during a Grab ride home, or discussing yesterday’s highlights with colleagues over lunch, it continues to be a shared reference point in my daily conversations.

The 24 Oras schedule may occasionally change, but its role as a trusted news source remains steady. During last year’s pandemic lockdowns, when days blended together and routines were disrupted, the familiar faces of Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez at their designated time slot provided a comforting sense of normalcy.

For anyone looking to stay reliably informed about Philippine current events, I can’t recommend enough developing your own system for keeping track of the 24 Oras schedule. Whether through official apps, social media, or simply setting a daily alarm like my father still does (his phone alarm literally says “24 Oras time”), finding what works for your lifestyle ensures you’ll never miss the important updates that impact our daily lives as Filipinos.