In the rarefied air of Philippine television, where networks wage billion-peso wars for ratings and influence, there are few figures as mythic as Johnny Manahan. Known universally as “Mr. M,” he is the “Kingmaker,” the architect of star-making, the man who built the very concept of the modern Filipino superstar. His move to GMA Network as a consultant was a seismic shift, a sign that the old network rivalries were truly over. He was tasked with rebooting their talent center, which he did under the new brand “Sparkle.”

But the industry is built on shifting sands. After months of hushed whispers and boardroom rumors, the news is finally confirmed: Mr. M is out of GMA.

This isn’t a quiet retirement or a mutually agreed-upon parting of ways. The persistent, and now confirmed, rumor is that his contract was “not renewed.” This is the cold, corporate language for a forced exit. It signals the abrupt end of a high-profile experiment and, more importantly, the start of a brand new war. Mr. M, the industry’s most valuable free agent, is not staying on the sidelines. He is making an immediate, calculated jump to the “kapatid” network, TV5, and he is already bringing his arsenal of stars with him.

This is the story of that power play—a move that proves while the two giants were collaborating, the third player was preparing to checkmate.

The “Non-Renewal” That Everyone Saw Coming

Mr. M’s tenure at GMA was, from the outside, a success. He took the GMA Artist Center, a competent but somewhat staid talent agency, and rebranded it as “Sparkle,” injecting a new gloss and aesthetic. But behind the scenes, the whispers began almost immediately. Was Mr. M’s legendary, hands-on, and autonomous style clashing with the entrenched corporate culture of the Kapuso network?

The “non-renewal” confirmation is the definitive answer. A network does not simply let go of a consultant with Mr. M’s name recognition and proven track record unless there is a fundamental, unresolvable disagreement. The video analysis of his departure provides the most telling clue. In discussing his future, the narrator notes that Mr. M can continue to achieve great things in the industry, “basta masusunod lang ang vision niya” (as long as his vision is followed).

This one, short phrase is the entire story. It is the subtext made text. It implies that his vision—a vision honed over decades at ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, which involves meticulous grooming, long-term artist development, and a specific, polished aesthetic—was not being followed at GMA. Perhaps the network wanted faster results. Perhaps they had their own preferred talents or creative directions. Whatever the specific conflict, the outcome is clear: Mr. M and GMA’s management could not find common ground. The Kingmaker was being asked to rule a kingdom where he was not allowed to make the laws.

The New Kingdom: TV5 “Will Not Sleep”

Mr. M’s departure from GMA would have been a big story on its own. But his next move makes it a bombshell. He is not taking a vacation. He is not retiring. He is, instead, immediately joining TV5. A contract signing is reportedly set for Wednesday, November 6, 2025, a stunningly fast turnaround that suggests this deal has been in the works for some time.

This is a masterstroke of strategy from TV5. For the past two years, the industry narrative has been defined by the unprecedented collaboration between the two former arch-rivals, GMA and ABS-CBN. With ABS-CBN’s content finding a home on GMA’s platforms, the two giants have entered a period of detente. TV5, the “kapatid” network, was largely seen as the quiet third wheel.

This move proves that TV5 was not being quiet; it was being patient. The report notes that TV5 “will not sleep” (“hindi matutulog”). By poaching Mr. M, they have acquired the one asset that can single-handedly elevate their status: a proven star-maker with a loyal following of artists.

Mr. M is already “at home” at TV5. He is reportedly directing the network’s music countdown show, “Vive,” and the prevailing theory is that he will now be given the reins to the entire talent development division under the Media Quest umbrella. At GMA, he was a consultant. At TV5, it appears he is being handed the crown.

The First Shot Fired: The Andrea Brillantes Signing

If there was any doubt about Mr. M’s immediate value, it was erased even before his GMA exit was confirmed. On October 23, 2025, young superstar Andrea Brillantes, an actress who is a product of Mr. M’s former Star Magic system, signed a movie contract. She didn’t sign with GMA or Star Cinema. She signed with MQuest Ventures, the film and entertainment division of TV5.

The report explicitly connects the dots: this major talent acquisition was made “dahil din umano kay Mr M” (also reportedly because of Mr. M).

This is the first domino. It is a tangible, high-profile demonstration of Mr. M’s true power. His loyalty is not to a network brand, but to the talent he has personally nurtured. And that talent, in turn, is loyal to him. He has proven, in one move, that he can pull major stars into TV5’s orbit. This signing is the first shot fired in a new talent war. It sends a clear message to every artist at GMA and ABS-CBN: the Kingmaker has a new home, and he is building a new court.

The rumor mill is already buzzing that this is just the beginning for Brillantes, with talk of a follow-up contract, possibly with a “King of Television” at TV5. This shows a multi-layered strategy to build a new stable of A-list talent, all under Mr. M’s guidance.

A New War on a New Battlefield

The entire dynamic of the industry has just been reset. The “collaboration era” is now officially complemented by the “new talent war era.” TV5, backed by the deep pockets of Media Quest, was always a potential threat, but it lacked the creative “magic” and star-pulling power of its rivals. By hiring Mr. M, they have just acquired that magic.

GMA, meanwhile, has made a colossal gamble. They have let go of the one man who could have been their greatest weapon in this new, three-way fight. They are betting that their “Sparkle” brand, which Mr. M built, can now survive—and thrive—without its architect. It is a bold, and incredibly risky, bet.

Mr. M’s move to TV5 is the perfect storm. He is a general without an army, joining a kingdom that has an army but no general. He now has the full backing of a corporation eager to disrupt the duopoly, and he has a “vision” that he is finally free to execute. He is also, notably, “at home” at TV5, a network that houses many of his former colleagues from his ABS-CBN days.

This is more than just a new job for an old executive. It is a re-founding. Mr. M is about to build a new star-making factory, a new “Star Magic,” right in the heart of his old rivals’ territory. The game has changed. The Kingmaker is building a new kingdom, and the first order of business is, as always, to find his new stars—or, more likely, to call his old ones home.