Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla has claimed that the Amcara Broadcasting Network, which owns the Channel 43, is a “dummy” of ABS-CBN.
At a recent joint panel hearing on the ABS-CBN’s franchise, Amcara chairman Rodrigo Carandang explained their arrangement with the Kapamilya network.
Although ABS-CBN only has a block-time agreement with Channel 43, it was revealed that ABS-CBN provided Amcara with equipment while the latter also uses the signal of ABS-CBN in its broadcasting.
Remulla concluded this clearly shows that Amcara and ABS-CBN are having a “dummy relationship”.
“We have already elicited facts to show na itong (that) Amcara is a moro-moro po, sa nakikita ko (as I see it, a sham), that’s the conclusion I’m drawing from it,” Remulla said.
“Malinaw na (It clearly shows) the dummy relationship between ABS CBN and Amcara is existing without any iota of doubt,” he added.
ABS-CBN chairman Carlo Katigbak responded to his claims and explained that “a block-time arrangement is not a usufruct” and is considered as standard practice in the broadcasting industry.
“A block-time arrangement is a standard commercial agreement that is quite common in the broadcasting industry. It’s not just ABS-CBN that enters into a block-time arrangement,” Katigbak said in an earlier hearing.
Other broadcasting networks also practice this agreement. Golden Broadcast Professional Inc., based in Zamboanga City, is affiliated with Quest Broadcasting Inc. and TV5 Network, Inc. GMA Network Inc. also has a partnership with Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc.
These are the following netizens who reacted on Twitter:
No offense to friends fr GMA, but can someone pls remind Rep. Marcoleta that a more apt analogy would be how the Kapuso network bought airtime from ZOE to broadcast its GMA News TV/QTV.
Both networks had valid franchises then, similar to the point he’s been harping vs ABS-CBN.
— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) July 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/rency0722/status/1277481339235651584?s=20
https://twitter.com/MonokoruT/status/1277512322907439105?s=20
"This, is in itself, a usurpation and infringement on the powers of Congress, Mr. Chairman." – Cong. Mike Defensor on TVplus' continous broadcast on DTT.
If he did his research, he should have known that ABS-CBN is NOT using the same frequency. Google: AMCARA.#IbalikAngABSCBN
— Angelo (@Angel1470667677) June 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/RedHotBeastYT/status/1277552527743934465?s=20
A NETWORK AFFILIATE IS A SEPARATE COMPANY THAT IS LICENSED TO AIR PROGRAMS FROM A MAJOR NETWORK. BY THAT DEFINITION, AMCARA IS *NOT* OWNED BY ABS-CBN CORPORATION, AND THEREFORE, MUST NOT BE SHUT DOWN AS THEY ARE ONLY SHOWING THE NETWORK'S PROGRAMS.#IbalikAngABSCBN pic.twitter.com/6We8MZrcRa
— erik matti healy (@1997fireflies) June 29, 2020
Come on congress, ibalik ang ABS-CBN! Focus on the pandemic, not in the curtailment of press freedom! #IbalikAngABSCBN pic.twitter.com/8ascQ4ZK88
— Theodore Boborol (@TheodoreBoborol) June 29, 2020
