Upon hearing the news that ABS-CBN frequencies got awarded to Manny Villar and controversial Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Kapamilya employees on Wednesday, January 26, pointed out that those channels don’t represent the Network as a whole.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) awarded frequencies 2 and 16 to Villar’s Advanced Media Broadcasting System earlier on January 25, while Quiboloy now has channel 43.
Rox Santos quoted former ANC head Jing Magsaysay stating, “You can get the franchise, but you will never be ABS-CBN.”
https://twitter.com/roxsantos/status/1486283681123938306?s=20https://twitter.com/JerryGracio/status/1486214513863294981?s=20https://twitter.com/JervisManahan/status/1486226485795225601?s=20https://twitter.com/dearscarjames/status/1486213708691161092?s=20https://twitter.com/Nikobaua/status/1486236752906158080?s=20https://twitter.com/anjo_bagaoisan/status/1486212778599665666?s=20https://twitter.com/micodelrosario/status/1486194492461903877?s=20
Broadcast journalists Jervis Manahan and Anjo Bagaoisan stressed that those channels don’t necessarily mean owners of it will become ABS-CBN since according to the network’s CEO and President Carlo Katigbak, “ABS-CBN is found in the heart of every Kapamilya that chooses to serve the Filipino.”
Tayo ang ABS-CBN.#LabanKapamilya pic.twitter.com/mssxosDRvH
— Jervis Manahan (@JervisManahan) January 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/anjo_bagaoisan/status/1486212778599665666?s=20
James Banaag, Niko Baua, and Mico del Rosario also agreed that Villar and Quiboloy only owned the previous channels of the Kapamilya Network, not the station itself.
https://twitter.com/dearscarjames/status/1486213708691161092?s=20
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) January 26, 2022
Content is king. ABS-CBN is not its frequency. https://t.co/6LW46ZOSFV
— Mico del Rosario (@micodelrosario) January 26, 2022
Meanwhile, writer Jerry Grácio concluded that this is the work of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
So, 'yung Channel 2, ibinigay na sa mga Villar. 'Yung Channel 43 broadcast frequency na dating ginagamit ng ABS-CBN, ibinigay naman kay Quiboloy. Ipinasara nila ang network, tinanggalan ng trabaho ang 11,000 manggagawa, para makinabang ang mga crony ni Duterte.
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) January 26, 2022
Former ABS-CBN employee Kevin Manalo even pointed out the irony of Duterte giving the frequencies to his allies.
Dati: Kinansela ang media franchise dahil galit daw sa oligarkiya.
Ngayon: Binigay ang media frequency sa kaibigan na bilyonaryo. Wala na yung galit sa oligarkiya?
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) January 26, 2022
Another former Kapamilya employee Jon Montesa stressed that those who now owned the frequencies “will never be ABS-CBN.”
https://twitter.com/iMelAljon/status/1486211089625120777?s=20
On the other hand, Nick Villavecer was not surprised by the takeover of Villar. However, he was certain that the business tycoon will struggle to reach the same stature that ABS-CBN has as a TV station.
This is huge, but hardly surprising. Villar’s broadcast company may take over ABS-CBN’s former frequencies, but it will need excellent manpower, equipment, and viewer loyalty enough to be on par with the Kapamilya brand, which ABS-CBN has built for YEARS. Content is still king. https://t.co/Wpi9YrvmDR
— Nick Villavecer (@nickvillavecer) January 25, 2022
In the meantime, the NTC’s decision was suspicious to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). They believe that it is a “midnight deal.”
Under subsection 6.4 of Republic Act No. 9006 or the Fair Elections Act, granting franchise permits during the election period is prohibited.
It is considered by the group as a “midnight deal” due to NTC’s orders assigning ABS-CBN frequencies on January 5 and 6, while January 9 is the start of the election period.
“Kaya almost midnight deal. Kasi ‘yan yung midnight deal. They can try to legally justify it all they want, but the public will surely have none of it, especially with one of the Villars running now for public office,” said Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon in an e-mail.
