ABS-CBN Sports Action
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

ABS-CBN is a leading Philippine media and content company. It serves as the flagship media brand of
ABS-CBN Corporation ABS-CBN Corporation is a Mass media in the Philippines, Filipino Media conglomerate, media company based in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is the largest entertainment television and film production, Broadcast syndication, progra ...
, a subsidiary of
Lopez Holdings Corporation Lopez Holdings Corporation (formerly primarily as Benpres Holdings Corporation from June 8, 1993 to July 21, 2010 and secondarily from July 21, 2010 to 2019, and also known as Lopez, Inc.) is a Filipino Multinational conglomerate company foun ...
. Once the country's largest free-to-air television network, ABS-CBN has since evolved into a multiplatform content producer and distributor following the expiration and non-renewal of its broadcast franchise in 2020. The company now syndicates its programming across various platforms, including partner networks, cable channels, streaming services, and digital platforms. ABS-CBN is headquartered at the
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center The ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center (also called ABS-CBN Broadcast Center; formerly known as Broadcast Plaza from 1974 to 1986 and current edifice formerly spelled officially as ABS-CBN Broadcasting Centre) in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines is th ...
in
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
, with its main operations based in the
ELJ Communications Center The Eugenio Lopez Jr. Communications Center (also called 9501, ELJ Communications Center, or simply ELJ Center) is the newer and larger studio and office building of ABS-CBN located within ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Diliman, Quezon City, Ph ...
, which houses its corporate offices and production studios. In February 2025, the company sold a portion of its Quezon City property, including the decommissioned
Millennium Transmitter The Millennium Transmitter is a tall mast owned by ABS-CBN Corporation and operated by Advanced Media Broadcasting System located at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Mother Ignacia Street corner Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Qu ...
site, to
Ayala Land Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) is a full line real estate firm based in the Philippines. It is a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation. It began as a division of Ayala Corporation until it was spun off and incorporated in 1988. It became publicly listed in ...
for mixed-use redevelopment. ABS-CBN retained ownership of the ELJ building, which continues to serve as its primary headquarters. The company also operates a state-of-the-art secondary production hub at the Horizon IT Park in San Jose del Monte,
Bulacan Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan (; ; ; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Regions of the Philippines, region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on ...
. This facility is used for the production of television programs and films. ABS-CBN is colloquially referred to as the "Kapamilya Network," a branding originally introduced in 1999 and officially launched in 2003 during the celebration of its 50th anniversary. While the brand was historically associated with its free-to-air television operations, which were halted in 2020 following a cease and desist order from the
National Telecommunications Commission The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC; ) is the telecommunications regulator of the Philippines. It is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology responsible for the supervision, adjudication ...
due to the lack of a congressional franchise, the term “Kapamilya” remains in use as a collective identifier for the network's loyal viewers and audience across its current platforms. ABS-CBN is the oldest television broadcaster in
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
, with origins dating back to the early 1950s. It was also the first network in the region to broadcast in color and was historically one of the oldest commercial television broadcasters in
Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
. The network is metonymically referred to as "Ignacia," a nod to its headquarters located along Mother Ignacia Street in
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
. In 2015, ABS-CBN led the Philippine television market in advertising revenue, generating ₱21.2 billion for the fiscal year. ABS-CBN ceased its free-to-air broadcasting operations in 2020 following the expiration and non-renewal of its legislative franchise. Despite this, the ABS-CBN trademark and brand remains active as a primary content provider under the management of ABS-CBN Corporation whose also own its registration and copyrights. The company shifted to a content production and distribution model, operating platforms such as the
Kapamilya Channel Kapamilya Channel () is a 24-hour Filipino pay television network owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation, a subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation. Its headquarters is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City and serves ...
and
Kapamilya Online Live Kapamilya Channel () is a 24-hour Filipino pay television network owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation, a subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation. Its headquarters is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City and serves a ...
for cable and digital audiences. Its global reach is maintained through
The Filipino Channel The Filipino Channel, commonly known as TFC, is a global subscription television network owned and operated by the Philippine media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation. Its programming is composed primarily of imported programs produced and distri ...
(TFC), accessible via
iWantTFC iWantTFC (formerly known as iWant TV and iWant) is a Filipino over-the-top media service and production company owned and operated by ABS-CBN Digital Media, a division of ABS-CBN Corporation. It was formed in 2020 through the merger of two st ...
and TFC Direct. ABS-CBN also distributes content through partnerships with broadcasters including
A2Z A2Z may refer to: * A2Z (2006 film), a 2006 German action film *A2Z (TV channel) A2Z is a Philippine free-to-air blocktime broadcast television network based in Quezon City, with its studios located in Ortigas Center, Pasig. It serves as a flag ...
, TV5,
GMA Network GMA Network (an acronym of its legal name, Global Media Arts and commonly known as GMA) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine commercial broadcast network, serving as the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network (company), ...
, BEAM TV, and
All TV All TV (stylized as ALLTV and known on-air as ALLTV2) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine free-to-air Terrestrial television, broadcast television network serving as the flagship property of Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) ...
, which now uses its former frequencies and all of terrestrial transmitter broadcast stations. By 2024, ABS-CBN had adopted a diversified revenue model focused on digital platforms, international licensing, and media partnerships, resulting in improved financial performance. ABS-CBN's digital presence, managed by ABS-CBN Digital Media, spans platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where it has collectively garnered nearly 100 million followers. It
ABS-CBN Entertainment
YouTube channel is the most-subscribed and most-viewed entertainment channel in
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
, with over 50 million subscribers and 50 billion views as of October 2024. Meanwhile, it
ABS-CBN News
YouTube channel ranks among the top digital news platforms in the Philippines, with approximately 17.8 million subscribers and over 12.7 billion views as of May 2025.


History

Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC) was founded on July 11, 1946. It was established by James Lindenberg, one of the founding fathers of Philippine television and an American electronics engineer who went into radio equipment assembly and radio broadcasting. In 1949, James Lindenberg shifted Bolinao to radio broadcasting with DZBC and planned the introduction of television to the Philippines in 1953. In 1951, Lindenberg partnered with Antonio Quirino, brother of then-Philippine president
Elpidio Quirino Elpidio Rivera Quirino (; November 16, 1890 – February 29, 1956) was a Philippine nationality law, Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 6th President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953. A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered p ...
, to try television broadcasting. In 1952, BEC was renamed Alto Broadcasting System or ABS (with Alto Sales Corporation as its corporate name). ''Alto'' was a contraction of Quirino and his wife's first names, Tony and Aleli. Despite little money and resources, ABS was able to put up its TV tower by July 1953 and imported around 300 television sets. The initial test broadcasts began in September of the same year. The first full-blown broadcast was on October 23, 1953, at a party in Quirino's home. The first program to air was a garden party at the Quirino residence in Sitio Alto, San Juan. After the premiere telecast, the station followed a daily four-hour schedule from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. ABS-CBN's first television broadcast was on October 23, 1953, as Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) on DZAQ-TV, three months after the first broadcast of
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
's
NHK General TV , abbreviated on-screen as NHK G, is the main television service of NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster. Its programming includes news, drama, quiz/variety shows, music, sports, anime, and specials which compete directly with the output of its co ...
and
Nippon Television JOAX-DTV (channel 4), branded as (NTV) or Nippon TV, is a Japanese television station serving the Kantō region as the flagship station of the Nippon News Network and the Nippon Television Network System, owned and operated by the , a sub ...
. It is the first television network in Southeast Asia to broadcast in color, the first television network in the Philippines to formally launch a digital terrestrial television service, and the first broadcast television network in the Philippines to formally launch in HD. The flagship
television station A television station is a set of equipment managed by a business, organisation or other entity such as an amateur television (ATV) operator, that transmits video content and audio content via radio waves directly from a transmitter on the earth's s ...
of ABS-CBN was
DWWX-TV DWWX-TV was the flagship VHF station of Philippine television network ABS-CBN. The station was owned and operated by the ABS-CBN Corporation, with its studio and transmitter located at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Sgt. Esguerra Avenu ...
(ABS-CBN TV-2 Manila). As such, the network was informally referred to as "Channel 2" or "''dos''" (
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
for ''two'') even if the network was seen in other channel numbers elsewhere in the country. The network operated across the Philippine archipelago through the ABS-CBN Regional division which controlled 80 television stations. Its programs are also available outside the Philippines through the global subscription television channel
The Filipino Channel The Filipino Channel, commonly known as TFC, is a global subscription television network owned and operated by the Philippine media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation. Its programming is composed primarily of imported programs produced and distri ...
(TFC). From 2011 to 2020, the network had on test broadcast for
digital terrestrial television Digital terrestrial television (DTTV, DTT, or DTTB) is a technology for terrestrial television, in which television stations broadcast television content in a digital signal, digital format. Digital terrestrial television is a major technologica ...
using the Japanese standard
ISDB-T Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB; Japanese: , ''Tōgō dejitaru hōsō sābisu'') is a Japanese broadcasting standard for digital television (DTV) and digital radio. ISDB supersedes both the NTSC-J analog television system and ...
in select areas in the Philippines. On October 3, 2015, ABS-CBN started to broadcast in high-definition quality through its affiliate direct-to-home cable and satellite television providers. As of May 5, 2020, all terrestrial broadcast operations have halted completely as per a cease-and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission. All frequencies formerly assigned to ABS-CBN have since been reassigned to other networks (including AMBS'
All TV All TV (stylized as ALLTV and known on-air as ALLTV2) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine free-to-air Terrestrial television, broadcast television network serving as the flagship property of Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) ...
, which ironically, would begin simulcasting selected ABS-CBN programs nearly two years later).


Branding

The ABS-CBN logo features three main elements: the vertical line rooted in a horizontal origin, the three extending circles, and the text ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN's logo also has a horizontal version, usually used to save space as the main vertical logo usually takes up more space. The design of the horizontal version of the logo contains the ABS-CBN text, split into two parts, "ABS" and "CBN", without the dash connecting them, and ABS-CBN's symbol squeezed in between them. The first logo to have a horizontal version going by this design was the logo launched in 1986. From September 14, 1986, up until the final sign-off of the main ABS-CBN terrestrial network on May 5, 2020, the elements of the horizontal logo, text, and symbol were evenly sized. Since 2004, starting with the logo of ABS-CBN Store from 2004 to 2014, the horizontal logo has been slightly larger than the Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) and Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) names.


Programming


ABS-CBN Studios

ABS-CBN Studios is a Philippine television
production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stat ...
and
distribution Distribution may refer to: Mathematics *Distribution (mathematics), generalized functions used to formulate solutions of partial differential equations *Probability distribution, the probability of a particular value or value range of a varia ...
company and the entertainment division of ABS-CBN, that was founded in 1962. It produces television programs mainly for the now-defunct main ABS-CBN terrestrial television network and its successors
Kapamilya Channel Kapamilya Channel () is a 24-hour Filipino pay television network owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation, a subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation. Its headquarters is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City and serves ...
,
A2Z A2Z may refer to: * A2Z (2006 film), a 2006 German action film *A2Z (TV channel) A2Z is a Philippine free-to-air blocktime broadcast television network based in Quezon City, with its studios located in Ortigas Center, Pasig. It serves as a flag ...
,
All TV All TV (stylized as ALLTV and known on-air as ALLTV2) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine free-to-air Terrestrial television, broadcast television network serving as the flagship property of Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) ...
,
GMA Network GMA Network (an acronym of its legal name, Global Media Arts and commonly known as GMA) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine commercial broadcast network, serving as the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network (company), ...
and TV5.


ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, known on-air as ABS-CBN News (formerly known as ''ABS-CBN News and Public Affairs''), is the
news News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different Media (communication), media: word of mouth, printing, Mail, postal systems, broadcasting, Telecommunications, electronic communication, or through the te ...
and current affairs division. The division is the country's largest international news gathering and broadcast organization, maintaining several foreign news bureaus and offices through ABS-CBN's Global division.


ABS-CBN Regional

ABS-CBN Regional (formerly ABS-CBN Regional Network Group) is a media and content company. It was the regional network division of ABS-CBN and was responsible for simultaneously airing most of the shows seen on ABS-CBN's flagship station in the provinces, with all stations (including Cebu, Bacolod and Davao) reopening in 1988 after suspension due to
martial law Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers. Martial law can continue for a specified amount of time, or indefinitely, and standard civil liberties ...
enacted in September 1972. Manila's flagship station reopened after the
People Power Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, were a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...
in September 1986. ABS-CBN Regional had several stations in each region outside
Mega Manila Mega Manila is a megalopolis on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. There are varying definitions of the megalopolis, but it is generally seen as encompassing the administrative regions of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Metro Manila. On so ...
to ensure nationwide coverage. The local stations also produced their own newscasts which air prior to ''TV Patrol'' and another local programming which air on Sundays. The launch of the local game show ''Kapamilya Winner Ka!'' (now renamed as ''
Kapamilya, Mas Winner Ka! ''Kapamilya, Mas Winner Ka!'' (, formerly ''Kapamilya Winner Ka!'' ) was a Saturday morning game show produced by ABS-CBN Regional and aired in the Visayas (through TV-3 Cebu and TV-4 Bacolod) and Mindanao (through TV-4 Davao) using Cebuano a ...
'') in the Visayas and Mindanao, ''Bagong Morning Kapamilya'' in North Luzon (Baguio and Dagupan), the 17th local ''TV Patrol'' in Southern Tagalog (Region IV-A), and the 18th local ''TV Patrol'' in Palawan (IV-B; the network had an affiliate station) provided more relevance to regional audiences. On April 15, 2011, Regional launched Choose Philippines, a new website promoting tourism in the Philippines by sharing photos and stories of the most extravagant places, culture and arts. ABS-CBN Regional ceased its operations on August 28, 2020, after almost 32 years after the denial of its legislative franchise on July 10. Currently, some of ABS-CBN Regional's TV frequencies are acquired by now-affiliates
Advanced Media Broadcasting System Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) is a broadcast media company in the Philippines. Its main offices and facilities are located at Unit 906A of the Paragon Plaza Building and on the 3rd Floor of Starmalls EDSA Shaw complex, both in Mand ...
and
ZOE Broadcasting Network ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. (ZOE TV or ZBNI) is a Philippine broadcast media arm of the Jesus Is Lord Church. Based in Ortigas Center, Pasig, it operates a network of television and radio stations in Mega Manila, Baguio, Bacolod, Cala ...
for its networks
All TV All TV (stylized as ALLTV and known on-air as ALLTV2) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine free-to-air Terrestrial television, broadcast television network serving as the flagship property of Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) ...
and
A2Z A2Z may refer to: * A2Z (2006 film), a 2006 German action film *A2Z (TV channel) A2Z is a Philippine free-to-air blocktime broadcast television network based in Quezon City, with its studios located in Ortigas Center, Pasig. It serves as a flag ...
respectively (with ABS-CBN's transmitter equipment for its former frequencies now being leased to and subsequently acquired by the aforementioned). In late 2022, ABS-CBN Regional gradually resumed operations as a sales and marketing arm, primarily promoting ABS-CBN programs aired on various free-to-air channels with which it has agreements, such as A2Z, All TV, GMA Network and TV5. Additionally, they restarted hosting regional events featuring ABS-CBN talents and personalities after years of hiatus due to the pandemic. By January 2025, ABS-CBN Regional had returned to content production, launching its first post-shutdown weekly local magazine show, ''Bisaya Ni''. The program airs on A2Z's Cebu station and its sister stations across the Visayas and Mindanao.


Competition

In 1992,
AGB Nielsen Philippines AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines, commonly called AGB Nielsen, or AGB Nielsen Philippines, under The Nielsen Company is a global leader in audience measurement, market research firms, and data analytics, with a focus on media in the Phi ...
was founded. In 2007,
TNS Philippines TNS can stand for: Places * Tungsten (Cantung) Airport, Tungsten, Northwest Territories, Canada * Tao Nan School, a primary school in Singapore * , the National Theatre of Strasbourg, France Groups * The New Saints F.C., a Welsh football club, ...
started to offer media research through Kantar Media Philippines (formerly Kantar/TNS). In 2008, AGB Nielsen Philippines released the list of all-time highest rating shows in the Philippines, with 7 of the top 10 highest rating shows all from ABS-CBN with the shows like ''The Battle: Pacquiao vs. Morales'', '' Rosalinda'', '' Esperanza'', '' Meteor Garden'', ''
Pangako Sa 'Yo ''Pangako Sa 'Yo'' (, international title: ''The Promise'') is a Philippine television drama romance series broadcast by ABS-CBN. It stars Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. It aired on the network's evening line up from November 13, 2000 ...
'', ''
Miss Universe 1994 Miss Universe 1994 was the 43rd Miss Universe pageant, held on 21 May 1994 at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Philippines. Seventy-seven contestants competed during this year. Outgoing titleh ...
'', and '' María Mercedes''.


Controversies and scandals

Throughout the years, ABS-CBN has been involved in several controversies and scandals involving its talents, employees, and programs.


2004 copyright infringement with GMA

On July 22, 2004, during the arrival of Angelo de la Cruz (a truck driver who was held hostage and threatened with beheading in
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
abducted by armed rebels west of
Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
while trucking fuel from
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...
) at
Ninoy Aquino International Airport Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA ; ; ), also known as Manila International Airport (MIA), is the main international airport serving Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, about south of ...
, live
breaking news Breaking news, also called late-breaking news, a special report, special coverage, or a news flash, is a current issue that warrants the interruption of a scheduled broadcast in order to report its details. News broadcasters also use the term ...
coverage was aired on
GMA Network GMA Network (an acronym of its legal name, Global Media Arts and commonly known as GMA) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine commercial broadcast network, serving as the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network (company), ...
and other television stations in the Philippines. GMA Network used audio-video coverage from
Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency ...
, which the network was subscribed to. During the broadcast, a live feed from Reuters was simultaneously aired with its own live broadcast. During the first five seconds of the live feed, GMA Network noticed that the live feed from Reuters was also airing from its main competitor ABS-CBN. The live video was restricted only to ABS-CBN and Reuters did not inform GMA Network that the video coverage was only intended for ABS-CBN. The local Court of Appeals declined the case filed by ABS-CBN Corporation against GMA Network Inc. for allegations of illegal duplication of its live video footage. In a ruling, the local fourth division of the appellate court set aside the resolution of the local Justice Department, which approved the filing of the violation of Republic Act 8293 (or the Intellectual Property Code) against GMA Network. It ruled out that the act of GMA Network airing the live video coverage was focused on good faith since there was no intent to instigate damage to ABS-CBN. The local court also said GMA Network acted in good faith when it immediately stopped using the live video feed from Reuters upon learning ABS-CBN was also covering the event and its following exertion to authenticate the ABS-CBN Corporation restriction arrangement with the news service, Reuters. The court also stressed that apart from the lack of intent of GMA Network to affect the video from ABS-CBN, the action did not contravene Sections 212.4 and 185.1 of Republic Act 8293 since it was a short excerpt.


''Wowowee'' scandals and incidents

Two major incidents involving ABS-CBN have involved the network's variety show ''
Wowowee ''Wowowee'' () was a Television in the Philippines, Philippine television variety show broadcast by ABS-CBN, Hosted by Willie Revillame, the show was aired from February 5, 2005 to February 4, 2006 replacing ''MTB (TV program), MTB'' (then name ...
''. The first incident was a demand for tickets to a one-year anniversary episode of the show at the
PhilSports Arena The Philippine Institute of Sports Multi-Purpose Arena or PhilSports Arena is an indoor arena, indoor sporting arena located inside the PhilSports Complex in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines. It was formerly known as the University of Life Th ...
in 2006 caused a deadly crowd crush killing 76 people. Over a year later in August 2007, the show became entrenched in another scandal involving the possibility of a new game on the show being rigged as evident by a "mechanical glitch" which occurred during an episode, which grew greater after ''
Eat Bulaga! ''Eat !'' (; stylized as ''Eat... Bulaga!'') is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine television variety show broadcast by Radio Philippines Network, ABS-CBN, GMA Network and TV5 (Philippine TV network), TV5. Originally hosted by Tito S ...
'' host
Joey de Leon Jose Maria Ramos de Leon Jr. (born October 14, 1946), professionally known as Joey de Leon and also known as Henyo Master, is a Filipino comedian, actor, television host and songwriter. He is one of the members of the comedy trio, collectively ...
and ''Wowowee'' host
Willie Revillame Wilfredo "Willie" Buendia Revillame (; born January 27, 1961), is a Filipino television host, actor, comedian, drummer, singer, and businessman. He has hosted numerous variety shows, such as ''Lunch Date'', Sang Linggo nAPO Sila'' and ''MTB ...
started exchanging attacks on-air against each other during their respective and competing shows. The incident later led to a probe by the
Department of Trade and Industry Department of Trade and Industry may refer to: Current * Department of Trade and Industry (Isle of Man) * Department of Trade and Industry (Philippines) * Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (South Africa) Former * Department of Trade ...
led by senator
Mar Roxas Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II (; born May 13, 1957) is a Filipino politician who served as a Senator of the Philippines. He is the grandson and namesake of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas. He served in the Cabinet of the Philippines ...
(which was jokingly suggested by Joey during a speech he made on ''Eat Bulaga!'' in reference to the
Hello Garci scandal The Hello Garci scandal (or just Hello Garci), also known as Gloriagate, was a political scandal and electoral crisis in the Philippines involving 14th president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who allegedly rigged the 2004 national election in h ...
, dubbing it "Hello Pappy").


AGB Nielsen TV ratings scandal

In late 2007, ABS-CBN and GMA Network accused
AGB Nielsen Philippines AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines, commonly called AGB Nielsen, or AGB Nielsen Philippines, under The Nielsen Company is a global leader in audience measurement, market research firms, and data analytics, with a focus on media in the Phi ...
of tampering with the ratings during their 2007 ratings surveys.


ABS-CBN vs. ''Willing Willie'' copyright case

ABS-CBN demanded from their former reality show star, Willie Revillame, citing copyright infringement due to stark similarities in Revillame's show, ''
Willing Willie ''Wil Time Bigtime'' (formerly known as ''Willing Willie'') was a Philippine television variety show broadcast by TV5. The show was hosted by Willie Revillame. It aired from October 23, 2010 to January 5, 2013, replacing ''5 Max Movies'' and ' ...
'' on TV5, and ABS-CBN's ''Wowowee''."ABS-CBN files P127-M copyright case vs. 'Willing Willie'"
, "ABS-CBN", November 25, 2010.
ABS-CBN listed five acts of plagiarism allegedly committed by Willing Willie in their complaint as follows: #''Willing Willie''s opening song and dance number was similar to that of ''Wowowee''. #"BIGA-Ten" and "Big Time Ka", both segments from the shows involved, bear similar names. #"Willie of Fortune" and "Willtime Bigtime" are segments from both shows which resemble each other. ABS-CBN claimed that "Willtime Bigtime" resembled its show as it also showcases contestants relaying their personal stories before proceeding to play a singing/trivia game. #April "Congratulations" Gustilo was one of several backup dancers from ''Wowowee'' who also appear in 'Willing Willie'. #Other striking similarities ABS-CBN claimed are found in ''Willing Willie''s set design, stage, studio viewers' seats lay-out, lighting angles and camera angles. A 25-page ruling dated May 22, 2015, dismissed the case against Revillame. After the Quezon City RTC demanded a bond from Revillame to answer any further damage the network might sustain, the fee was waived.


2020 franchise renewal controversy

Since April 2017, ABS-CBN was attacked by former president
Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assum ...
, as the network refused to air his 2016 presidential campaign ads in favor of a smear ad paid for by-then vice presidential candidate
Antonio Trillanes Antonio "Sonny" Fuentes Trillanes IV (; born August 6, 1971) is a former Philippine naval officer and politician who served as a senator of the Philippines from 2007 to 2019. He is known for his involvement in the Oakwood mutiny of 2003 and t ...
. However, according to the country's
Commission on Elections An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
spokesperson James Jimenez, the controversial ad was within election law, under "Partisan Political Activity". Duterte publicly stated that he would oppose the 25-year franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, and former Laguna governor E.R. Ejercito supported his plan. Opposition lawmakers as well as labor groups objected to Duterte's stance on ABS-CBN, as the franchise's non-renewal would compromise the employees of the network; stating that the blocking of the franchise renewal had no merit. Opposition groups also claimed that the non-renewal of the franchise violates press freedom. Under Philippine law, broadcasting networks require a congressional franchise (Republic Act) to operate television and radio stations for 25 years; the absence of one will lead to the suspension of its operations. ABS-CBN's legislative franchise, which was approved by the virtue of Republic Act No. 7966 (granted last March 30, 1995), was scheduled to expire on May 4, 2020, because the franchise would become effective fifteen days after its publication on the Official Gazette on April 19, 1995. At least 12 lawmakers have filed their own versions for a new franchise of the network. House Speaker
Alan Peter Cayetano Alan Peter Schramm Cayetano ( Tagalog pronunciation: ajɛˈtano born October 28, 1970) is a Filipino lawyer, diplomat, and politician serving as a senator since 2022 and previously from 2007 to 2017. He was the Senate Minority Leader from 2 ...
assured that Congress will tackle the franchise with fairness. On February 24, 2020, the CEO of the network apologized to Duterte for not airing his political advertisements during his 2016 polls, which Duterte accepted, and Congress made its decision to investigate their franchise renewal. During a
Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
hearing on the same day, public services panel chair
Grace Poe Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe-Llamanzares (born September 3, 1968) is a Filipino politician, businesswoman, educator, and philanthropist serving as a senator since 2013. She was the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classifi ...
stated they were to investigate ABS-CBN's compliance with the terms and conditions of its franchise. The Senate concluded that there was no breach of laws or franchise terms. On May 5, 2020, the
National Telecommunications Commission The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC; ) is the telecommunications regulator of the Philippines. It is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology responsible for the supervision, adjudication ...
issued a
cease and desist A cease and desist letter is a document sent by one party, often a business, to warn another party that they believe the other party is committing an unlawful act, such as copyright infringement, and that they will take legal action if the oth ...
order to stop the network's broadcast, including its radio stations
DZMM DZMM (630 AM) Radyo Patrol is a radio station owned by Philippine Collective Media Corporation and operated conjointly with ABS-CBN Corporation under Media Serbisyo Production Corporation. The station's studios is located at the ABS-CBN Broad ...
and MOR, following the expiration of its broadcast franchise the day before. The cease and desist order covers 42 television stations operated by ABS-CBN across the country, including Channel 2, 10 digital broadcast channels, 18 FM stations, and 5 AM stations. The network subsequently signed off following ''
TV Patrol ''TV Patrol'' is a Philippine television news broadcasting show broadcast by ABS-CBN, Kapamilya Channel, A2Z and All TV. Originally anchored by Noli de Castro, Mel Tiangco and Robert Arevalo, it premiered on March 2, 1987, on the netw ...
''. Along with the order, NTC wanted to recall ABS-CBN's assigned frequencies. ABS-CBN explained that it would not be in public interest to have the frequencies recalled, as this would hinder their ability to immediately restart broadcasts in the event a new franchise was granted. Additionally, there were fresh measures in the Congress to grant provisional franchise, which later rolled into a series of hearings to grant a fresh 25-year franchise. NTC was told to refrain from carrying out the recall by the Congress. On July 10, 2020, members of the House of Representatives, voted 70–11 to deny ABS-CBN's renewal franchise application, citing several issues on the network's prior 25-year franchise. According to a survey released by the
Social Weather Stations The Social Weather Stations or SWS is a social research institution in the Philippines founded in August 1985. It is a private, non-stock, nonprofit institution. It is the foremost public-opinion polling body in the Philippines. As an independen ...
following the rejection of the network's franchise renewal, 75% of Filipinos want the network back. In January 2025, Albay Representative Joey Salceda filed ''House Bill 11252'', the fifth bill that seeks to grant ABS-CBN's television and radio broadcasting franchise for another 25 years.


Reception

Channels and programs of ABS-CBN have been recognized by the
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), also colloquially known as the Television Academy, is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the Television in the United States, television industry in the United S ...
giving several accolades in different categories, primarily the
International Emmy Awards The International Emmy Awards, or International Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. Bestowed by the New York–based International Academy of Television Arts and Sc ...
, although none of them won a single award.


Program


Best Arts Programming


Best Drama Series


Best Telenovela


Best Kids: Live-Action


News


Performance


Best Actor


Best Actress


Notes


References


External links

*
Media Ownership Monitor Philippines – Television
by Vera Files and
Reporters Without Borders Reporters Without Borders (RWB; ; RSF) is an international non-profit and non-governmental organisation, non-governmental organization headquartered in Paris, which focuses on safeguarding the right to freedom of information. It describes its a ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:ABS-CBN Corporation 1953 establishments in the Philippines 2020 disestablishments in the Philippines ABS-CBN Corporation channels Companies based in Quezon City Defunct television networks in the Philippines Digital terrestrial television in the Philippines Filipino-language television stations Mass media companies of the Philippines Television channels and stations established in 1953 Television channels and stations disestablished in 2020 Television in Metro Manila Television production companies of the Philippines YouTube channels launched in 2008