15 Big Stars Who Almost Transferred To Its Rival Network

• 15 television personalities that were once rumored to switch networks upon the expiration of their contracts
• Actors and actresses who remained loyal to their mother network in spite of being said to move companies.

One thing we all know is the entertainment industry is kind of unpredictable. If one contract expires, it can be a possibility that he or she will transfer to a rival network.

The most common “artist exchanges” happening are between the two biggest television companies in the country, ABS-CBN and GMA 7.

So who are the stars that nearly transferred to other channels?

John Lloyd Cruz

According to Direk Lauren Dyogi, Actor John Lloyd Cruz was rumored to leave the Kapamilya network way back in 2002.

The director, who is currently ABS-CBN’S TV Production Head, was also John Lloyd’s director in a series called Gimik. Even though the actor had been considering, he was convinced to stay with his current network as he was given a big break back then, which was the prime-time series Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay, which was aired on the same year.

The rumors resurfaced when Cruz turned down a role in the 2014 teleserye, Bridges of Love, because his contract was meant to end that year. But eventually, he renewed his contract in 2015 as he did more projects and movies in Star Cinema.

The actor is currently on and indefinite leave from showbiz.

Angelica Panganiban

Actress and host Angelica Panganiban was first rumored to sign with GMA 7 after making a special guest at the Kapuso adventure show Extra Challenge, but it was proven false as she remained loyal to ABS-CBN.

Last May 2016, Panganiban revealed that she did once consider switching networks after her break-up with actor John Lloyd Cruz.

However, because of her huge respect for her mother company for more than 20 years, she decided to stay.

“Muntik na nga akong lumipat ng network pero dahil may respeto ako sa ABS, sige hindi na lang ako lilipat. Magre-retire na lang ako,”

Dingdong Dantes

In the year 2013, rumors of actor Dingdong Dantes started surfacing. He was said to transfer to ABS-CBN after being one of GMA 7’s top actor for around 18 years already.

In an interview last June 2013, he admitted that his manager was negotiating with both ABS-CBN and GMA 7 while he was preparing for his drama series Genesis. He was said to fully transfer to the Kapamilya network because he has worked with Star Cinema before, which is ABS-CBN’s movie subsidiary.

He has released two movies with them which was Segunda Mano and One More Try.

The actor ended the speculations when he renewed his contract with the Kapamilya actor in September of the same year.

He still appears in Star Cinema movies.

Kris Aquino

Yes, the Queen of All Media herself has been rumored to transfer from ABS-CBN to GMA 7 or TV5 before.

The first speculations appeared last 2013 when it was rumored that TV5 has offered the actress and host to be their president. It was also said that she is actually considering moving to GMA-7.

The words intensified when she started posting phrases on her Instagram account regarding decision making.

Later on, Kris clarified that even though she met with TV5’s Manny Pangilinan twice, she never met with the GMA executives.

She remained signed as a Kapamilya actress.

Dennis Trillo

Dennis Trillo admitted last December 2012 that he was having negotiations and thoughts regarding his next career move. Speculations arose at that time as he only had one year remaining in his contract with GMA 7.

What added fuel to the fire as when he was asked about his thoughts if his manager transferred him to either TV5 or ABS-CBN. His answer was “It’s okay… but what I would choose more is ABS. Of course what you will think about is your mileage as an artist. Good things happen in ABS, right? Their shows have lots of viewers. So I would choose that, if ever (it happens).”

However, the actor decided to stay with GMA 7.

Ian Veneracion

Actor Ian Veneracion is someone that likes to explore his career and transfer to various networks.

Veneracion first signed with GMA 7 back in 1986 and joined the late German Moreno in That’s Entertainment. 17 years later, he transfered to ABS-CBN and appeared in the drama series Darating Ang Umaga, but only a year later, he went back to GMA 7.

However, he once again moved to ABS-CBN in 2007, and returned to their rival network in 2008.

In 2011, Veneracion made a comeback at ABS-CBN wherein he became a talent of Star Magic. He appeared in the remake of the popular drama Pangako Sa’yo and the rom-com The Achy Breaky Hearts. He currently appears in the drama A Love To Last.

Recently, it has been speculated that the actor will once again transfer networks after talent manager Perry Lansingan posted a photo with him and Lilybeth Rasonable, who is the senior vice presindent of the Kapuso network.

The actor quicky shut down the rumors as he stated that Lansingan is his neighbor in Tagaytay. He exclaimed “No. Lagot ka kay Tita Malou!” at one press conference as he was asked if he’s really planning his return to GMA 7. Malou Santos is the chief operating officer of Star Creatives.

He stated that he’s happy with the roles that are given to him under his current network and they have been very kind to him.

Veneracion is currently busy preparing for his upcoming concert.

Regine Velasquez

It was rumored that the Asia’s Songbird was transferring to ABS-CBN when the network held a press conference about her guest appearance in Maalaala Mo Kaya. The speculations intensified when the singer cried while singing at one of GMA 7’s variety shows, SOP, back in 2008.

It was said that Regine Velasquez was planning to transfer to the Kapamilya network as she was interested on playing the lead role in the channel’s adaptation of Betty La Fea.

In ABS-CBN’s talk show, The Buzz, Velasquez admitted that she was interested on doing the adaptation but denied that the network offered her a 25 Million peso talent fee.

Judy Ann Santos

During actress Judy Ann Santos’ press conference regarding the finale of her telenovela, Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala, she encountered the speculations of her transferring networks. She took responsibility for the early exit of her series because of ABS-CBN’s original plan to move it to the fourth timeslot.

She said that her with her mother studio for more than 20 years was already expired and admitted that she became open negotiating with other networks.

“Honestly, nakakataba ng puso na, alam mo iyon, ang daming gustong kumuha sa iyo, kumuha sa serbisyo mo.”

A month after the press con, she renewed her contract with the Kapamilya network.

Jericho Rosales

Jericho Rosales left Star Magic in 2006 and the rumors of his network transfer started floating immediately after that.

In one interview, he admitted that even if he still has a soft spot for ABS-CBN, he’s torn about the offers of different networks.

However, in another interview, he finally said that his transfer did not push though as he decided to remain loyal to the Kapamilya channel.

He is currently busy filming for his upcoming teleserye Halik.

John Prats

Back in 2016, rumors rose that John Prats was interested on tranferring to GMA 7.

One of GMA-7’s creative consultants, the late Jake Tordesillas, even tweeted clues about his transfer such as “to follow look at the rainbow for a happy heart.”

Later that year, it was found out that the actor was supposed to be a part of the drama-comedy series Juan Happy Love Story.

With his aborted transfer to GMA-7, Prats joined the cast of the Kapamilya prime-time series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.

John has since ventured into directing events such as the concerts of Moira dela Torre, K Brosas, and Richard Poon.

Kris Bernal

It was said back in 2016 that actress Kris Bernal was negotiating about her possible contract with ABS-CBN.

In one interview, she failed to answer this question but she did mention that she was exploring new ideas and plans for her career growth.

The actress never gave a statement about this but GMA confirmed that she will be staying at the network as she’s set to be the lead character of the series Impostora.

Last year, she finally admitted that she did meet up with ABS-CBN but decided to remain as a Kapuso star.

Lovi Poe

In 2013, Lovi Poe was rumored to transfer to TV5 as she allegedly got a 35 Million peso offer. Fuel added to the fire as she was replaced by Bela Padilla in the series Love & Lies.

In early May of the same year, Poe appeared in TV shows of ABS-CBN to promote her movie The Bride and The Lover, which fueled even more rumors that she would leave GMA 7.

In an interview during the premiere night of the movie, which is directed by Joey Lamangan, the actress kept mum regarding the issue, saying that she is happy to promote her film with the Kapamilya network.

During the last quarter of May 2013, Lovi finally ended the rumors by signing a three-year contract with GMA 7.

Cristine Reyes

After a her feud with some cast members of the ABS-CBN gag show, Banana Split, Cristine Reyes openly expressed her desire to return to the Kapuso network.

Reyes was very vocal about her plans as she stated that she left her hear in GMA 7.

However, her network transfer did not materialize and instead, she renewed her contract with the Kapamilya network in July 2009.

Cristine remained a Kapamilya for the next nine years but she is currently not active on TV.

Diether Ocampo

Diether Ocampo‘s network transfer rumors started in late 2008 when he finished his ABS-CBN teleserye Iisa Pa Lamang.

According to reports, Ocampo signed a maximum four-year contract with the Kapuso network and was supposed to be part of the Pinoy adaptation of the Koreanovela All About Eve.

A few days after the report came out, Star Magic made a statement that the actor won’t transfer to the rival network. He remained with ABS-CBN until early 2015.

In late 2015, it was announced that his project with Judy Ann Santos titled Someone To Watch Over Me would be postponed. After that incident, he started doing projects with TV5, including the 2016 drama series Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap.

In late 2017, Ocampo made a TV comeback via GMA 7’s Magpakailanman and in March 2018, Diether returned to ABS-CBN for a special role in the fantasy series Bagani.

Kristoffer Martin

When Kapuso actor Kristoffer Martin started tweeting about his career, speculations were fueled that he will be transferring to the Kapamilya network.

Rumors about his transfer intensified when Martin had a reunion with the producers of Little Big Superstar, the Kapamilya reality show he joined in 2006, which launched his showbiz career.

His ex-girfriend Joyce Ching revealed that the actor did think about returning to ABS-CBN to continue his career.

“Pero hindi naman talaga yung muntik na, na andito na yung contract, hindi pinirmahan, hindi naman po ganung level.