Here’s the ABS-CBN Franchise Renewal Bill as filed by Senator Tito Sotto.
ABS-CBN FRANCHISE RENEWAL – Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed ABS-CBN Franchise Renewal Bill and here’s what it states.
Last July 10, 2020, the biggest network in the country, ABS-CBN, have shut down leaving many employees of the network in distress over lost job. Despite the 13 comprehensive and exhaustive congressional hearings, the bill got junked flooded with overwhelming 70 votes to junk the bid of the network for a fresh franchise.
Senate Bill No. 1967 seeks to give license and fresh 25-year franchise to ABS-CBN. In a text message to reporters, the senate president stated: “I noticed the TV stations have been replacing their news programs with animes. It means competition is absent and mediocrity is creeping in because of the absence of a strong competitor like ABS-CBN.”
He also noted the great performance the network has been doing despite not being on free TV. As much as everyone is aware of, some programs of the network is being carried by A2Z Channel, cable TV, and its online platforms.
In a data he cited from Kantar Media last September 2019, the giant network “registered an average audience share of 45 percent or 14 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent”.
The S.B. No. 1967 is “AN ACT RENEWING THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO ABS-CBN CORPORATION UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7966 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT GRANTING ABS-CBN BROADCASTING CORPORATION A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES FOR TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.”
It stated that ABS-CBN is the top choice of most Filipinos when it comes to getting news and information. It is also undeniable that the network has the widest reach that it can even reach far-flung areas. It added, “Likewise, Filipinos abroad feel a little less away from home due to The Filipino Channel, commonly known as TFC, also owned and operated by ABS-CBN.”
Senate Committee on Public Services chair Grace Poe also believed that the network is the top in the country. Her panel would accordingly prioritize this as many Filipinos rely on the network for information. She said, “My support for a free and fair media in the name of public service remains. I will make sure that the Committee acts on it in due course.”
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