- House of Representative approved TV5 franchise extension under Bill No. 8630.
- The bill extended the network’s franchise for another 25 years.
- ABS-CBN’s Bill No. 4349, which also sought to extend the franchise for another 25 years, is still pending in Congress.
The House of Representatives approved the legislative franchise extension of ABC Development Corp., currently known as TV5 Network Inc., on November 4.
With 207 affirmative votes and one negative vote, the House issued Bill no. 8630 which stated the extension of the broadcast operations of TV5 by another 25 years.
Currently, the network airs sports programs via ESPN, news, and also caters overseas Filipino audiences via the Kapatid International.
The bill will be signed into law with the requirement that the network provides the government with adequate public service time or a maximum aggregate of 10% of the paid commercials or advertisements.
Along with it, the network is also not allowed to broadcast obscenity, indecent language, and deliberate dissemination of false information.
Also, under the bill, the Philippine President is given the right to temporarily take over and operate the TV station and its facilities; to temporarily suspend its operations in interest of public safety, security and public welfare; and to authorize the temporary use and operation of any government agency in times of “war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order.”
Additionally, in compliance with the Constitutional provision promoting public participation in public utilities, the Kapatid network is required to conduct a public offering of at least 30% of its outstanding capital stock within five years from the commencement of operations.
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal is still pending.
President Rodrigo Duterte publicly announced that he will not approve the network’s franchise renewal in August. By October, the President renewed his threat to block the network’s franchise renewal.
ABS-CBN already has the House Bill No. 4349 which sought to renew the franchise for another 25 years, but it is still pending in Congress.
“Hindi ko palusutin. Iyong franchise niyo matatapos. But let me ask you questions first. Kasi ako talaga mag-object na ma-renew kayo. Alam mo bakit? Magnanakaw kayo, estapador,” says President Duterte.
