ENTERTAINMENT
January 27-February 2, 2022
16
Villar, Quiboloy awarded ABS-CBN frequencies QUEZON CITY – The government has dealt the final death blow on the ABSCBN Network as it awarded several frequencies it once had under its franchise to known allies of President Rodrigo Duterte. The biggest beneficiary is business tycoon Manuel B. Villar Jr. whose Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc. was awarded by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) provisional authorities (PA) to to install, operate, and maintain digital TV channel 16 and temporary simulcast on analog TV channel 2. Other beneficiaries of two separate companies to use channels 23 and 43 -both previously used by broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp. -- to operate on digital television (TV) in Mega Manila are presidential spiritual adviser Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and the Aliw Broadcasting Co. of the late Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua. The NTC first granted a PA to the Villar-led Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Inc. the use Channel 2 “for simulcast purposes only” until the analog TV shut-off in 2023 as part of the country’s full transition to digital TV. NTC sources said the Villar group has 18 months within which to put Channel 2 back to work. In a statement, the NTC said it granted a provisional authority to Aliw Broadcasting Corporation (Aliw), which operates DWIZ, RPN and other stations, to “install,
operate, and maintain” a digital TV broadcasting system using channel 23 in an order promulgated on Jan. 5, 2022. “Aliw was the second applicant to install, operate, and maintain a digital TV in Metro Manila as filed on 30 July 2007, under Cast No. 2007-0126. ALIW has been waiting for an available digital TV frequency since 2007 after undergoing a quasi-judicial process which includes notice to all interested/affected parties and hearing,” the NTC said. On the other hand, the NTC granted the Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC), the legal operating name of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) founded and led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a provisional authority to install, operate, and maintain digital TV channel 43. SMNI president Dr. Marlon Rosete confirmed the award to their company. “Yes ‘yung ch43 ang binigay,” he said. Channel 43 used to be assigned to Amcara Broadcasting Corp., whose legislative franchise expired in 2020. ABS-CBN used it for its TVPlus channels under a blocktime agreement with Amcara. Quiboloy already owns UHF Channel 40 where he broadcasts news and religious programs of his religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Both companies, it said, were granted the provisional authorities after the determination of their “legal, technical, and financial qualification.” “Prior to the grant of the PA, the NTC sought policy ABISO NG PUNONG OPISYAL NG MGA HALALAN TUNGKOL SA ORAS AT LUGAR NG guidance from the DICT, a PAMBUONG-ESTADO NA DIREKTANG PRIMARYANG HALALAN, MGA PEDERAL, PANG-ESTADO, AT PAMBUONG-COUNTY NA KATUNGKULAN KUNG SAAN MAGMUMUNGlegal opinion from the DOJ KAHI NG MGA KWALIPIKADONG KANDIDATO SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO AY IBINIBIGAY ANG ABISO na gaganapin ang Pambuong-Estado na (Department of Justice), and Direktang Primaryang Halalan sa Martes, sa ika-7 araw ng Hunyo, 2022. the concurrence of OP-OES SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO AY INAABISUHAN ANG LAHAT NG KWALIPIKADONG TAO na gaganapin ang mga halalan sa County ng San Mateo, sa Estado ng California, para sa layunin ng (Office of the President – paghalal ng mga miyembro sa mga Pederal, Pang-Estado at Pambuong-County na Katungkulan na gaya ng sumusunod: Office of the Executive SecMga Pederal at Pang-Estadong Katungkulan: Senador ng U.S. (Buong Termino): 6 na taon, magsisimula sa Enero 3, 2023 retary),” the NTC said. Senador ng U.S. (Hindi Buo/Hindi pa tapos na Termino): Ang espesyal na halalan para sa bakanteng posisyon na ito ay para sa natitirang panahon ng hindi pa tapos na termino sa Senado ng Estados Cabinet Secretary Karlo Unidos, na matatapos sa Enero 3, 2023. Nograles clarified that when Kinatawan ng U.S.,Mga Distrito 15 at 16: 2 taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 3, 2023 Gobernador: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 the NTC sought the legal Tenyente Gobernador: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 Abugado Heneral: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 opinion and concurrence of Kalihim ng Estado: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 Magsusupil: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 the DOJ and OP-OES on the Ingat-Yaman: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 matter, it was a “purely leKomisyonado ng Seguro: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 Lupon ng Pagpapantay ng Estado, Ika-2 Distrito: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 gal question” and no names Asembleya ng Estado, Mga Distrito 19, 21 at 23: 2 taong termino na magsisimula sa Disyembre 5, 2022 of individuals or companies Mga Di-partidistang Katungkulan sa Estado: Superintendente ng Pampublikong Pagtuturo ng Estado: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero were discussed. 2, 2023 “When the NTC went to Mga Di-partidistang Katungkulan sa County: Hukom ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman: mayroong 6 na puwesto; 6 na taong termino na magsisimula sa the OP-OES, it was only to Enero 2, 2023 Lupon ng Mga Superbisor: Ika-2 Distrito at Ika-3 Distrito; 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero seek guidance on the author2, 2023 Tagatasa-Klerk na Tagapagtala ng County: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 ity to assign available and Kontroler: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 unused frequencies. Again, Koroner: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 Abugado ng Distrito: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 there was no mention of any Serip: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 Ingat Yaman-Tagakolekta ng Buwis: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 name or entity whatsoever,” Superintendente ng Mga Paaralan ng County: 4 na taong termino na magsisimula sa Enero 2, 2023 Mangyaring tumawag sa Dibisyon sa Pagpaparehistro at Mga Halalan ng County ng San Mateo sa Nograles said. 650.312.5293 para sa higit pang impormasyon. The decision to grant Makukuha ang mga papel ng deklarasyon ng kandidatura at papel ng nominasyon para sa mga kwalipikadong kandidato na gustong mag-file para sa alinman sa mga pagbobotohang katungkulan sa PAs to allow the operation Dibisyon sa Pagpaparehistro at Mga Halalan, 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, 650.312.5293, sa o pagkalipas ng Pebrero 14, 2022, at dapat itong ma-file nang hindi lalampas sa 5:00 p.m. sa Marso 11, of channels previously used 2022. Kung hindi na-file ang mga papel para sa kwalipikadong nanunungkulan bago lumipas ang takdang petsa at oras, magkakaroon ang mga botante ng hanggang 5:00 p.m. sa Marso 16, 2022, by ABS-CBN, he said, was upang magmungkahi ng mga kandidatong bukod sa nanunungkulan para sa naturang katungkulan. “up to the NTC based on IPINAHAHAYAG KO RIN na sa naturang halalan isusumite sa boto ng mga manghahalal ang naturang mga iminumungkahing pag-amyenda sa konstitusyon, katanungan, panukala, at inisyatibang their rules, regulations, and hakbang alinsunod sa iniaatas na pagsusumite ng mga ito ng Konstitusyon at mga batas ng Estadong ito. existing laws.” BILANG KARAGDAGAN SA ABISO magbubukas ang mga botohan sa naturang halalan mula 7:00 a.m. hanggang 8:00 p.m., sa araw na iyon. The NTC decision was BILANG KARAGDAGAN SA ABISO ang mga may botong Balota sa Pagboto sa Pamamagitan ng Koreo at Pansamantalang Balota para sa Halalan na gaganapin sa Martes, Hunyo 7, 2022, ay criticized by various groups, bibilangin sa lokasyong nakasaad sa ibaba: including Carlo Katigbak, County ng San Mateo Dibisyon ng Pagpaparehistro at Mga Halalan ABS-CBN president and 40 Tower Road San Mateo, CA 94402 CEO. Petsa: Pebrero 7, 2022 _______/lagda/_________ “ABS-CBN is not our Mark Church franchise. It’s not our transPunong Opisyal ng Mga Halalan at Tagatasa-Klerk na Tagapagtala ng County mitter, not oiur studios. 1/27/22 CNS-3549459# ABS-CBN is found in your
Villar
Quiboloy
heart of e very kapamilya that chooses to serve the Filipino, ABS-CBN is you. For so long as the passion to serve burns brightly in you, ABS-CBN will continue to be alive and well,” Katigbak said in a statement. “You will never be ABS-CBN!,” said former ANC head Jing Magsaysay, referring to Villar. “A frequency is just a frequency. Content creation is a whole different ball game. Plus, I hope they realize that the audience does not come with the frequency. You’re going to have to work blood, sweat and tears to build what ABS-CBN accomplished over 34 years plus the years before Marcos stole the channel.You can get the franchise but you will never be ABSCBN,” Magsaysay added. Villar-linked Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc., got its 25-year franchise extension in 2019. It is taking over the television broadcast frequencies previously held by Lopez-led ABS-CBN Corp. ANC reported the award of frequencies to allies of President Rodrigo Duterte has provoked outrage. In a report, ABS-CBN stated that on January 5, Advanced Media Broadcasting Systems Inc (ABMS) took control of two channels that ABS-CBN once used. Channel 2, which ABS-CBN used for its analog broadcasts, and Channel 16, which the company used for its digital TV broadcast, were transferred to ABMS on the order of the National Telecommunications Commission. ABMS, which operates the FM station K-Lite, is owned by Planet Cable, a firm owned and operated by billionaire Manny Villar, one of the biggest supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte. The board of directors of Planet Cable is chaired by Cynthia J. Javarez, who sits as Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer of the Villar family’s listed real estate developer Vista Land and Lifescapes and retail mall operator VistaMalls. ABS-CBN also reported Planet Cable’s controlling shareholders are Prime Asset Ventures, and Streamtech Systems Technologies, both controlled by the Villar group. The company builds, operates and maintains cable, television and other related systems and services, covering the Villar group’s many real estate developments across Luzon and Visayas. The NTC said AMBS had applied for a permit to build and operate a digital TV broadcasting system in Metro Manila as
early as October 2006. In 2019, ABMS was granted a 25-year congressional franchise and sought government approval to sell itself to the Villar group. At the end of 2020, AMBS had suffered a net loss of over P3 million, based on its latest SEC filings. Planet Cable on the other hand lodged total revenues of P712.8 million in 2020, up substantially from 2019’s total sales of P445 million. Planet Cable’s SEC filings show its net profit in 2020 was P164.2 million, more than double 2019’s P69.3 million. Its total assets amounted to P3.6 billion. On Sept. 6, 2021, the House of Representatives approved the sale of AMBS to Planet Cable, according to ABS-CBN’s report. Planet Cable has substantial financial muscle compared to AMBS. It can also raise more capital through its principal, former Senator Manny Villar, who is listed as the richest man in the Philippines and valued at $7.3 billion by Forbes. The Villar group has yet to respond to requests for comment. AMBS has 18 months, or until 2023 to prove it can put up and run a digital television broadcasting system, or risk losing its provisional authority to use the frequencies previously held by ABSCBN. According to Bilyonaryo website and reported by ABS-CBN, the NTC sought the Justice Department’s opinion on opening up digital TV service to new players like Advanced Media. “The DOJ declared that the digital TV service could be opened to new players like Advanced Media because… the applicability of Memorandum Circular No. 07-12-2014 (which limits digital TV licenses only to those with analog TV operations) has been “altered by the change in factual circumstances,” according to Bilyonaryo. Bilyonaryo noted that Villar’s daughter-in-law, Emmeline Aglipay, was appointed Justice Undersecretary in 2018. Villar’s daughter, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, meanwhile voted in 2020 against granting ABS-CBN a new franchise. The billionaire is a major supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, and his son Mark was head of the Department of Public Works and Highways before resigning last year to run for a Senate seat in this year’s elections.
