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MANILA (TO UPDATE) – Senate President Vicente Sotto III introduced a bill on Monday seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise, once the Philippines’ largest broadcaster before its license to operate expired last year.
Sotto’s Senate Bill No. 1967 seeks to grant ABS-CBN a new license to operate its radio and television stations for 25 years.
“I noticed that television stations have been replacing their news shows with anime. It means that competition is absent and mediocrity is creeping in due to the absence of a strong competitor like ABS-CBN,” Sotto told reporters in a text message.
“The broad reach of ABS-CBN for Filipinos, coupled with the undeniable advantages of the media over mass communication, definitely call for immediate renewal of the network’s franchise,” he said in the explanatory note of the project. law.
The Senate president noted that despite its absence of free television and radio stations, ABS-CBN continued to enjoy high ratings on its A2Z channel, cable, and online platforms where some of Kapamilya’s programs continue to air.
“As of September, ABS-CBN continues to be the top choice for viewers in the Philippines … as the network posted an average audience share of 45 percent or 14 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent,” Sotto said, citing data from Kantar Media.
“Similarly, Filipinos abroad feel a little less far from home because of The Filipino Channel, commonly known as TFC, also owned and operated by ABS-CBN,” he said.
Last year, ABS-CBN lost its license to operate after a House panel denied the renewal of its franchise.
Sotto said the broadcasting giant may have a “better chance” of renewing its license this year due to the change in leadership in the Chamber.
From the files:
Questions about the ABS-CBN franchise will be answered | NXT
