Makabayan Bloc Members Refile ABS-CBN Franchise Bill

House of Representative lawmakers that are part of the Makabayan bloc has refiled a bill looking to grant a new 25-year broadcasting franchise to ABS-CBN Corp.

“This is a challenge for Congress to defy the rising tyranny, to stand for freedom and democracy,” states Rep. France Castro of ACT Teachers, Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, and Rep. Raoul Danniel Manuel of Kabataan which is seen on the House Bill No. 1218 explanatory note.

The National Telecommunication Commission ordered ABS-CBN to shut down its free radio and TV operations back in May 2020 as its franchise expired while its new franchise application was being deliberated in the House.

Officers of ABS-CBN were defending the media companies from claims of existing tax liabilities and a bias against the then Duterte administration.

Eventually, ABS-CBN failed to secure a new franchise which left thousands of its workers unemployed.

Since the shutdown of its franchise, the known Channel 2 frequency has been granted to Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Inc which is owned by billionaire and former Senator Manny Villar. Channel 43 is currently being used for ABS-CBN’s TVPlus channels under a deal with Amcara Broadcasting Corp while its flagship newscast, TV Patrol is available on free TV with Coe Broadcasting Corp through a block time contract.

“A good development, on the other hand, is the content partnership of ABS-CBN with TV5 and Cignal, as the former can provide content to the latter platforms. The core strength of ABS-CBN has always been its content, whether news or entertainment, and it should have no problem providing the same high-level of content to its new platform partners,” says Terry Ridon, convenor of an infrastructure-oriented think tank, Infrawatch PH.

Source: Philstar