Arnell Ignacio enlightened Vice Ganda on franchise and frequency through his YouTube channel on Thursday, April 28.
On It’s Showtime Wednesday, April 27 episode, Vice called out trolls who claimed that ABS-CBN artists are supporting the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo to renew the franchise of the Network.
Vice said, “Dun sa mga shunga-shungahan na troll, hindi po, wala pa kaming hinahabol na franchise dahil may may-ari na ng prangkisa.
“Hindi na naman mahahabol yun o ng ABS dahil wala na po in-apply na bagong franchise ang ABS. ABS is no longer after any franchise, okay? Ganoon yun, shunga kayo! Ganoon yun mga shunga!”
“Ayan, sinagot kayo ni Vice kasi ang kukulit ninyo,” Ignacio beginned.
“Pinagbibintangan ninyo sila na kaya lamang sila sumusuporta para maibalik ang kanilang franchise. Ang sabi niya [Vice Ganda] sa inyo, ‘Hoy, hindi na kami interesado. Hindi namin hinahabol yung franchise na ‘yan dahil meron nang may-ari.'”
However, Ignacio clarified that Vice is referring to frequency and not the franchise in his statement.
“Vice, walang may may-ari ng franchise kasi wala naman lumabas na franchise. At yun ay libre. Ang tinutukoy mo ay yung frequency.”
Ignacio also added that ABS-CBN can still apply for a new franchise.
“Okay, let me explain. Yung franchise, puwedeng-puwede talaga ninyong i-apply muli. So, itong pagbibigay ninyo ng suporta, e, puwede talagang maidugtong dun dahil kung saka-sakaling papabor yung susunod na administrasyon na the network will be resurrected, e, talagang it will go through the process. Pero hindi imposibleng ito na ay ma-grant.
“Next, the NTC, e, merong ina-assign na frequency para diyan sa mabibigyan ng prangkisa na mag-operate ng network. You need this frequency, ito yung channel, so you cannot go back to the previous channel that you were using before.
“Puwede kayong ma-assignan ng bagong channel, maaari Channel 6 na kayo or Channel 8 or whatever, so it is not impossible.”
Ignacio explained that this can only happen if the administration supported by the Kapamilya stars will favor their franchise application.
“If the administration that you supported favors the resurrection of the network, hindi ito magiging as challenging as before. But then, of course, you will always keep in mind that ang prangkisa ay ina-apply sa Congress. Ang frequency ay ina-assign ng NTC. Yun ‘yon.
“So, parang ang ating palitan, ang ating inihahain na argumento at depensa ay base sa mas sound na basehan. Pero ang inyong karapatan kung sino ang inyong susuportahan, e, ‘yan ay hindi nangangailangan ng franchise.”
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has granted Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Inc. (ABMS), a temporary control of the two channels used by ABS-CBN before: Channel 2 and Channel 16.
James Eodney Santiago, a Professional Electronics Engineer (PECE) also made clarifications regarding the statement of Vice.
The netizen wrote on facebook, “Before calling people “Shunga”, better check your facts first.
The Congress of the Philippines, the country’s legislature, was unable to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise before its expiration date.
The congressional franchise expired on May 4, 2020. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) then issued a cease-and-desist order demanding ABS-CBN cease all of its free TV and radio broadcasting immediately.
