Summary

Pinoy Idol was a Philippine interactive reality-based singing competition created and developed by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment which aired on GMA Network. The program originated from Pop Idol created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller, which seeks to discover the best singer or "idol" in the country through a series of nationwide auditions and live performances, which is determined by public voting through SMS. The show "replaced" Philippine Idol, the first Idol franchise in the Philippines broadcast by the Associated Broadcasting Company in 2006. The show is hosted by Raymond Gutierrez, with Ogie Alcasid, Jolina Magdangal, and Wyngard Tracy as judges. Danny Tan is the show's musical director. The show debuted on April 5, 2008. Gretchen Espina, daughter of Biliran governor Rogelio J. Espina, defeated two other contenders in the show's Finale to become the first Pinoy Idol. Although she is technically the second winner of an Idol franchise in the Philippines, GMA promoted Pinoy Idol as "the first Idol competition in the Philippines" and does not recognize Philippine Idol and its winner Mau Marcelo.