The Congress’ rejection of ABS-CBN’s bid to secure another 25-year franchise denial was undoubtedly the final nail in the coffin, that ultimately sent the network to its darkest moment since the Martial Law.
It’s hard to deny the power of a law in changing lives, may it be for the better, or for worse. The House of Representatives’ refusal to pass a law that would grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year license to broadcast, reminded us of that reality. After witnessing thousands of livelihoods, revenues, and businesses lost, in the wake of ABS-CBN’s shutdown, you can’t easily downplay how glaring the impacts of passing or not passing a law can be.
Strong government policies have the capacity to turn things around, for the better, for so many people. That’s a power inherent to good intention-driven laws, which citizens within working democratic spaces, enjoy. While that may be true to most free governments, it is still difficult to say that working policies only do good. The 70-11 resolution of the House of Representatives, on July 10, 2020, proved that both passing and not passing a bill into a law could be detrimental to the lives of countless people; so does placing the wrong people to become policy makers. And that’s a reminder for everyone going to the national polls, next year.
While its departure from free television has crippled much of its operations, ABS-CBN wasn’t fully reduced to rubble by its July 10 tragedy. It continued operating beyond shutdown, albeit its reduced size and coverage. ABS-CBN carries on today in its quest to recuperate, and to possibly return to its former glory. And while it may take years to fully realize that goal, the progress in the past 12 months, has been singularly mind-blowing.
Return to Free TV via A2Z and TV5
One of the most crucial turns in ABS-CBN’s bid to keep its nationwide TV presence, is no doubt its sensational free TV comeback, through the blocktime deals it secured with franchise-bearing TV networks, A2Z Channel 11, and TV5. Following ABS-CBN’s leasing agreement with Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc. and its founder and owner, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, the new TV channel, A2Z Channel 11, premiered on October 6, 2020.
The new channel largely features Kapamilya-produced programs, with its primetime and daytime slots, allocated for flagship Kapamilya programs. Among those shows that were able to return via this deal include long-running action-drama series, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, and noontime show, It’s Showtime.
Another major turn in ABS-CBN’s return to free TV, is when two of its programs, ASAP Natin ‘To, and FPJ ‘Da King, made its debut on TV5, another free TV channel, on January 24, 2021. Just more than a month later, more Kapamilya shows debuted on the Kapatid Network. FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and three other ABS-CBN Primetime programs premiered on TV5, on March 8, 2021.7.9
Improved Free TV Viewership
ABS-CBN’s leasing deals with TV5 and A2Z Channel 11, has evident positive outcomes for ABS-CBN, in terms of its programs’ viewership share. Two of its primetime programs, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and Huwag Kang Mangamba, regularly make it to the top 5 most watched programs in the country, proving the still massive popularity of ABS-CBN dramas, amid TV5 and A2Z’s limited free TV reach.
Stronger Online Presence
Following its failed franchise bid, ABS-CBN shifted its focus to establishing itself as a dominant player in the online and digital realms. Owning some of the most subscribed social media accounts in the country, ABS-CBN has since been able to deliver its produced contents to Kapamilya viewers, once more. As ABS-CBN maximizes it growing subscriber-based presence online, concurrent viewership starts becoming a strong indicator of a program’s popularity. FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, for example, went onto having a streak of record-breaking episodes, setting new milestones that no other Philippine TV show have ever made on the streaming service, YouTube.
ABS-CBN also made its own video streaming service, iWantTFC, free for all, marking the first time the service’s contents are made free for Filipino audiences, without subscription. The platform houses ABS-CBN’s extremely rich library of movies and TV shows, including streams of its pay TV channels, Kapamilya Channel and TeleRadyo. The move is seen to further bolster these services’ capacity to become to become more reliable revenue streams. The biggest chunk of ABS-CBN ad revenues, used to come from its free TV operations.
The network has also forged strategic alliances with various other streaming platforms, including international providers, Netflix, WeTV, and iFlix, to be able to deliver Filipino contents to both domestic and international audiences.
Rising Stock Price
ABS-CBN’s re-entry to free TV competition has undoubtedly given the network the much needed push to recover at the stock market. After plunging to a record low of PhP6.76 per share in September 2020, the company’s stock price has since risen up, and recorded some of its record highs, since shutdown.
ABS-Corporation’s stock price, soared to PhP13.98 on June 30, 2021, its highest since January. Stock experts are attributing the recent surge to the company’s aggressive online expansion, which is reflected in its growing subscribers and life time views on YouTube, Facebook, and other similar online platforms.
International Expansion and Distribution
A part of ABS-CBN’s efforts to create new revenue streams, as alternatives to its now reduced free TV presence, is its strengthened campaign to bring more Filipino contents to foreign audiences. ABS-CBN soap operas have long established a strong presence in Africa and South America, but its current circumstances have undoubtedly made expanding to more territories an even more appealing choice. Programs like FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and Sandugo, are fast-becoming household favorites in Africa. Fellow Kapamilya programs, Wild Flower and The General’s Daughter have previously mesmerized the continent early this year.
A growing roster of talents.
As the network loses some of its biggest homegrown talents, new stars are being discovered. Star Magic and its sister talent management arms, continue to introduce new faces. This coincides ABS-CBN’s efforts to produce more digital and TV contents featuring the new generation of Kapamilya stars. The year also saw the rise of idol groups, BGYO, BINi, and MNL48, as the company takes the role of a leading P-Pop idol group builder in the country.
While Bea Alonzo, Maja Salvador, John Lloyd Cruz, and other homegrown Kapamilya stars already left the network, some homegrown stars from other networks have surprisingly braved their way into ABS-CBN. Actress Janine Gutierrez, was long identified with GMA Network, before moving to ABS-CBN. She formally signed an exclusive contract with the now franchise-less network on January 15, 2021. Sunshine Dizon, a known Kapuso actress, surprised fans when she was announced as a part of the upcoming TV series, Marry Me, Marry You, in late April. The move came on the heels of her non-renewal at GMA Network, where she stayed as an exclusive talent for more than twenty years.
Continued hope for a new franchise.
While the company’s progress in the last twelve months can not be, in any way, overstated, the quest to return to its former glory remains elusive. One year into having its franchise application denied, a fresh franchise still seems to be the strongest answer that will completely turn things around for ABS-CBN. Talks about opening the discussion anew have long been silenced by the Congress, which said that any new move to grant the beleaguered network with a new broadcast license is best left to the next Congress.
That means ABS-CBN and its supporters, have to wait until a new President comes to power, in 2022.However, as there is a strong possibility that another Durterte, or one of his allies, assumes the highest office in the country, ABS-CBN’s fate remains perpetually unclear. The network’s strongest chance to return to its former glory, now rests to the voters who would elect a President that does not see the network as its enemy.
