Philippine Broadcast Media (Television)
October 23, 1953 marked the official television broadcast in the Philippines.
James Lidenberg, an American engineer and the father of Philippine
television, saw the potential of television in the country. On June 13, 1946,
armed with surplus equipment and imported spare parts, Lidenberg
assembled transmitters and established the Bolinao Electronics Corporation
(BEC). In 1949, Lidenberg, who wanted to establish a commercial television
station, applied for a license in Congress. A year later, on June 14, 1950, his
request was granted.
Today, Philippine television broadcast is a highly competitive industry with two
major television stations vying for the number one spot, namely ABS-CBN
(Channel 2) and GMA Network (Channel 7).
There are classifications of television stations in the Philippines, such as,
government-owned stations, privately-owned stations, and religious stations.
regional stations and cable/satellite stations.
The current national or free to air television stations (both VHF and UHF
channels) are as follows:
1. ABS–CBN Broadcasting Corporation (Channel 2)
ABS_CBN is the largest integrated media and entertainment company in the
Philippines with an asset base of P 24 Billion. The company is principally
involved in television and radio broadcasting, as well as the production of
television programming for domestic and international audiences and other
related businesses. The Company also operates Studio 23 (Channel 23).
ABS traces its roots from Bolinao Electronic Corporation. In 1952, BEC
changed its corporate name to Alto Broadcasting Corporation (“ABS”). On
September 24, 1956, the Lopez-owned Chronicle Broadcasting Network
(“CBN”) was organized. In 1957, ABS acquired CBN and on February 1, 1967,
the corporate name was changed to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.
With the imposition of Martial Law in September 1972, ABS–CBN’s operations
ceased since the government took over the Company’s studios and
equipment. ABS-CBN resumed commercial operations in February 1986
during the height of the EDSA Revolution. The Company’s congressional
franchise, Republic Act No. 7966, which allows the Company to operate
television and radio stations, was renewed on March 30, 1995 for 25 years.
Key officers of ABS-CBN are as follows:
Mr. Eugenio L. Lopez III – Chairman and CEO
Ms. Ma. Rosario Santos-Concio President and COO
Ms. Maria Angelita A. Ressa – Head, News & Current Affairs
Mr. Jose Ramon Olives – Managing Director, Cable
Channels & Print Media Group
Ms. Ma. Socorro Vidanes – Managing Director, TV Production
Ms. Ma. Lourdes Santos – Managing Director,
ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc.
Mr. Rafael L. Lopez – Managing Director,
ABS-CBN International, N.A.
2. National Broadcasting Network (Channel 4)
The country’s only government television network began operations in 1974
as GTV-4. It was renamed Maharlika Broadcasting System in 1980 and
following the People Power Revolution in 1986, became People’s Television
4.
On March 26, 1992, President Corazon Aquino signed republic Act 7306,
turning PTV Network into a government corporation known formally as
People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI). In June 1992, President Fidel Ramos
appointed the network’s first board of directors, and was given a one-time
equity funding for capital outlay. Since then, the network has been operating
