ABS-CBN Corp. slashed its net loss by nearly half in the first quarter of 2025, riding on the strong performance of its primetime shows, a surge in election-related ad spending, and the global success of P-pop girl group BINI.
In its latest financial disclosure, the Lopez-led media conglomerate reported a 49% reduction in net loss to ₱425.65 million, down from ₱841.54 million in the same period last year. Total consolidated revenue rose 4% to ₱4.23 billion, thanks to a 21% spike in content production and distribution income, which reached ₱3.2 billion.
A key growth driver was the 25% increase in advertising revenue, fueled by election-season spending and the high ratings of flagship shows like ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,’ ‘Incognito,’ ‘TV Patrol,’ and ‘It’s Showtime.’ Online ad revenue also grew 32%, boosted by iWantTFC and third-party platforms such as YouTube.
Meanwhile, consumer revenue climbed 16% to ₱1.4 billion, lifted by:
- The strong overseas box office performance of ‘And the Breadwinner Is…’ and ‘My Love Will Make You Disappear’
- Double-digit growth in iWantTFC’s overseas subscriber base
- BINI’s sold-out ‘BINIverse World Tour’ concert at the Philippine Arena — the first solo concert to fill the venue by a local act,
- And the success of ABS-CBN Global’s international events in Paris, Dubai, Melbourne, and Los Angeles.
Monthly revenues also improved quarter-on-quarter: from ₱877 million in January, to ₱1.089 billion in February, and ₱1.209 billion in March, the month which also saw ₱31 million in operating income and ₱8 million in net profit, a rare feat for the network in recent years.
On the downside, ABS-CBN’s cable and broadband segment declined 27% to ₱1.06 billion, largely due to ongoing subscriber losses at Sky Cable. Despite this, cost-cutting helped improve the segment’s net loss by 50%.
Sky Cable is currently burdened with ₱4.48 billion in debt, although the reclassification of ₱4.25 billion as non-current loans buys the company more time to raise funds for repayments.
ABS-CBN also managed to cut total operating expenses by 12% to ₱4.63 billion, balancing the financial strain from film production and concert staging.
For the quarter, the company posted ₱103 million in EBITDA, up 232%, while recurring net loss dropped by 69%.
As it continues its post-franchise transformation, ABS-CBN appears to be entering a new era—not just as a survivor, but as a nimble entertainment powerhouse with an expanding digital footprint and global audience.
