Villar’s Media Company Granted Use of ABS-CBN’s Old Frequency

Filipino magnate and former senator Manuel Villar Jr. is now also set to become the next media tycoon. Based on documents from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Villar’s Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc. is expected to take over ABS-CBN Corp.’s television broadcast frequencies with support from Malacañang.

In 2020, ABS-CBN’s franchise was allowed to expire by Duterte and his allies in Congress — a move largely believed to have been politically motivated. Advanced Media, on the other hand, was given a 25-year franchise extension in 2019. Also noted in the NTC documents was a “test broadcast” permit granted to the Villar-linked media firm on January 6 to use the Channel 2 frequency.

In effect, this gives the Advanced Media control over the said frequency while also hindering any future attempts from ABS-CBN to take back the spectrum. There is still some ambiguity as to how Advanced Media was examined by the NTC for its capacity to run a TV network. Moreover, a public selection process — which is traditionally done — was not conducted before the frequency was awarded.

However, the NTC affirmed that Advanced Media’s 18-month provisional authority was reviewed by both the Department of Justice and the Office of the Executive Secretary with “no objection.” The Channel 2 frequency will be broadcasted from the Villar Group’s Starmall shopping center along EDSA.

Meanwhile, the test broadcast permit will remain effective until the shut off of analog TV which was set around 2023. GMA Network Inc. chair and CEO Felipe Gozon has since expressed his own opinion that this would be extended due to the low adoption of digital TV in the country.

Pierre Galla, co-founder of Democracy.net.ph, believes that the temporary permit may be subjected to “misuse.” “One method of misuse is if a permit is granted whose nature is indefinite and not short in duration,” explained Galla. Essentially, it is an anti-competitive behavior intended “to prevent any other entity [from using] the frequencies covered by the permit.”

Source: Inquirer