ABS-CBN Corporation

Owned by Philippine President Gloria Arroyo.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (ABS-CBN)

File:ABSCBN.svg
Company type	Public (PSE: ABS)
Industry	Broadcast television and radio network, among others
Founded	October 19, 1953
Headquarters	Quezon City, Philippines
Key people	Eugenio Lopez III, Chairman and COO Charo Santos-Concio, President James Lindenberg, Founder (of the Bolinao Electronics Corporation)
Revenue	PHP10.2 billion ( 12% YoY) (2007)
Operating income	PHP6.2 billion ( 20%) (2007)
Net income	PHP459 million ( 54%) (2007)
Number of employees	5,509
Website	www.abs-cbn.com

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (PSE: ABS) (ABS-CBN: "Alto Broadcasting System-Chronicle Broadcasting Network"), a Philippine multi-media conglomerate, is the largest integrated media and entertainment company in the Philippines with an asset base of more than PHP28 billion (US$613 million) as of current 2007. ABS-CBN is principally involved in television and radio broadcasting, as well as the production of television programming for domestic and international audiences and other related businesses. It was founded on June 13, 1946, becoming Asia's first commercial television broadcaster. It is part of the Lopez Group of Companies. It also broadcasts content to the rest of the world through The Filipino Channel.

The network's main broadcast facilities, news headquarters, transmitter and satellite operations and studio complex are located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center at Barangay Laging Handa, Diliman, Quezon City. In Metro Manila, its terrestrial VHF station is Channel 2 (DWWX-TV) while its terrestrial UHF station is Studio 23 (DWAC-TV). The company is slated to begin broadcasting digital television starting in January 2008, although it has been presumably delayed since there were no announcement during the entire month of January that the signal is now digitized. It is now expected to begin its digital broadcasting by the end of 2008.

On March 3, 2008, Executive Vice-President Charo Santos-Concio had been promoted as 5th president of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., taking over from interim president Eugenio Lopez III

History

Origins

The company traces its beginnings to June 12, 1946, when James Lindenberg, an American engineer established the Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC), which specialized in assembling transmitters. Realizing the potential of television in the country, he was the first to apply to for a license in the Congress of the Philippines to estabish a television station in 1949, which was granted a year later. By then, due to the scarcity of raw materials and import controls imposed that time, BEC was compelled to branch into radio broadcasting instead.

In 1952, the late Judge Antonio "Tony" Quirino (1917-1992), brother-then of the late President Elpidio Quirino (1890-1956) who was also looking to set up a television station, bought 70% of BEC and had it renamed Alto Broadcasting System (ABS, with Alto from Antonio Quirino's wife, Aleli and his name, Tony.) Lindenberg, however, remained as part-owner and served as general manager of the station. In 1953 DZAQ-TV 3 (the "AQ" part stands for Antonio Quirino) was introduced as the country's first television channel and made its first broadcast on October 23, 1953.

Formal merger

File:Abs-cbn 60's.png

The logo of ABS-CBN after it's formal merger in 1967

In April 1958, Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN, with the name "Chronicle" coming from The Manila Chronicle), a radio network established in 1956 by sibling businessmen Eugenio Lopez, Sr. (1901-1975) and Vice-President Fernando Lopez (1904-1993), branched into television broadcasting, and bought ABS from Quirino in the same year with both signing a Memorandum of Agreement on a table napkin.

The network grew, and by 1961, its stations DZAQ-TV 3 and DZXL-TV 9 could be received anywhere in the country from a number of affiliates. February 1, 1967 marked the formal merger of ABS and CBN under the name "ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation". In 1968, ABS-CBN inaugurated its broadcast center in Diliman, Quezon City that included eight sound-and-stage production studios and control rooms, a master control room, editing and technical terminal areas, as well as offices and support facilities for network television and provincial AM and FM radio.

The network brought many firsts to the Philippines, including color television service (in 1966 when they displayed the Sarimanok logo, showed full-color programs such as Buhay Artista, Wild Wild West, The Nida-Nestor Show, Tawag ng Tanghalan, Cine Filipino and the 60's top rating Your Evening With Pilita ), conducted the first marathon coverage of the country's elections through Halalan '67, the first live transmission of a world news event via satellite (the moon landing in 1969) and the coverage of the collapse of the Ruby Tower in Manila via microwave transmission from a multi-cam outside broadcast van (OB Van). Also by mid-1970, ABS-CBN increased color programming to eight hours a day, and was the only TV network in color.

Martial Law era

File:Bbc2phils.JPG

Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation.

In September 21,1972, President Ferdinand Marcos closed down any non-state broadcast services. ABS-CBN went off the air, as its studios were taken over by networks run by presidential crony Roberto Benedicto. The ABS-CBN Broadcast Center became the home of state-run TV stations Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Channel 2), Government Television (GTV Channel 4, which took over the frequency rights of DZXL-TV 4 of CBN) and Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS Channel 9). Later on, the company was seized from the Lopez family, and then ABS-CBN Chairman and President Eugenio Lopez Jr. was imprisoned. In 1980, Channel 2 together with channels 9 and 13 was moved to the newly built Broadcast City in Diliman, Quezon City.

The Star Network

File:Abs-cbn 80's.png

The logo of ABS-CBN when it was revived in 1987

When Marcos was deposed in 1986, the network was sequestered and returned to the Lopezes. The network went back on the air on September 14 the same year. By March 1987, after ranking last among the country's five TV stations in Metro Manila and suffering huge losses, ABS-CBN was re-launched as the "The Star Network: Ang Pagbabalik Ng Bituin" ("The Return of the Star"). Eugenio Lopez Jr. took the risk despite the constraints. He hired Charo Santos-Concio and Freddie Garcia, who worked with GMA Network when ABS-CBN was closed during Martial Law.

Facility maintenance of the Broadcast Center was neglected and the need to upgrade was ignored for more than 13 years. Even after democracy was restored in 1986, ABS-CBN’s highest priorities were its programming and major investment in its facility continued to be deferred.

By August 1987, within six months of renewed operations ABS-CBN rose from the least-watched to the most-watched television network, and has dominated the ratings since, with dominance in Mega Manila for 16 years now. The following year, the network ventured into satellite broadcasting, furthering its reach through "Bridges On The Air, Link to the Future", a project that was supposed to take off in 1973 had Martial Law not interfered.

By 1990, the company had already recovered. ABS-CBN programs consistently drew large audience shares, averaging 40-50% in Metro Manila.

In June 1992 was also a significant year for ABS-CBN as it went public, opening PHP15 a share, the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group was established and began producing programs for the local audience, signed a historic lease with PanAmSat and switched from taped international telecasts to live satellite feeds.

ABS-CBN also got the exclusive Philippine broadcast rights for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and the 1994 Miss Universe pageant held in the Philippines. In 1999, ABS-CBN solidified its grip on the top spot as the soap opera Esperanza gained average ratings of 58% of viewers in the Mega Manilla market, making it one of the most watched shows in Philippine history, followed by Pangako sa 'Yo in 2001, with average ratings of 56% in Mega Manila.

Expansion

Aside from its flagship terrestrial network ABS-CBN 2 Manila, ABS-CBN broadcasts to many predominantly Filipino enclaves in the Middle East, United States, Europe, Australia and several other countries via The Filipino Channel or TFC. The network has also diversified into film (Star Cinema - ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.), music recording (Star Records), publishing (ABS-CBN Publishing), and interactive media (ABS-CBN Interactive).

The network has also introduced its second terrestrial channel, Studio 23 (UHF band) in 1996, as well as cable channels MYX (a music channel), ABS-CBN News Channel (a cable news channel), CinemaOne Global and CinenaOne (movie cable channel), the Lifestyle Network (home and lifestyle channel), Pinoy Central TV (regionally produced shows) and Hero (the country's first Tagalog-dubbed anime channel). Recently in the first quarter of 2008 three additional cable channels namely Balls (Sports Channel), Velvet (women's Channel) and Maxxx (all men focus channel). The network's radio stations include DWRR 101.9 (FM-Manila) and DZMM 630-khz (AM-Manila).

ABS-CBN has established regional stations and news bureaus to handle operations in different areas throughout the Philippines. It also broadcasts to locations all over the world via The Filipino Channel, managed by ABS-CBN International. Shows are also available for live viewing and subscription via the Internet through ABS-CBN Interactive's ABS-CBNNow! service.

ABS-CBN affirms its social responsibility in its slogan, "In the Service of the Filipino", and through the work of the ABS-CBN Foundation. Through multimedia, the foundation has delivered E-TV (Educational Television) VCDs to hundreds of public schools in the country that benefitted students. The foundation is also the umbrella organization of such foundations such as the Knowledge Channel (KCh) Foundation, Bantay Bata (Children's Watch), Bantay Kalikasan (Environment Watch), and ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation (formerly, ABS-CBN Bayan MicroFinance).

The Kapamilya network

In 2003, during the television station's 50th anniversary, ABS-CBN launched its present slogan, "Kapamilya" (literally means "a member of the family"), which it believes reaffirms the network's commitment to quality programming that will foster the morals and values that are ostensibly upheld in many Filipino families.

Its international unit ABS-CBN Global Ltd. plans to undertake an initial public offering (IPO) the following year and might list on the Singapore Stock Exchange to help finance its expansion plans.

The network celebrated its golden anniversary in 2003. The network held its Kapamilya Homecoming, which gathered over 4,000 former employees and talents for a grand reunion at ABS-CBN’s compound in Bohol Avenue, Quezon City. The network also launched a promo called "Treasure Hunt", where the people were invited to bring their oldest television, radio sets, microphones, and posters. The network also celebrated its 16th year reign in the TV ratings, with 13 of their shows included in the Top 15 daily programs in TV. ABS-CBN also launched new shows such as the then phenomenal Meteor Garden etc. The company also did a nationwide caravan, showcasing the network's talents.

On October 2003, the network held a month-long celebration of ABS-CBN and Philippine TV's 50th year. The station produced two commemorative documentaries about the station's contribution in news and entertainment. Sa Mata ng Balita encapsulated some of the most unforgettable, most remarkable, and most celebrated landmarks of the last 50 years as captured by television news. 50 Taong Ligawan: The Pinoy TV History, on the other hand, was the first extensive television documentary done about the history of Philippine Television and the evolution of Philippine entertainment. For the celebration's finale, the broadcasting giant capped its 50th anniversary with a spectacular extravaganza dubbed as Kapamilya: ABS-CBN at 50, held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. It was hailed as one of the biggest media events of the year. The Lopez-led network rolled out the red carpet to welcome its high-profile guests from the business, advertising and media sectors, politics, members of the diplomatic community, with many of the society’s luminaries and glitterati. Valued friends and supporters of the network throughout the five decades also attended the grand affair. The network's official 50 Years station id won an Award for Excellence in the 2004 Golden Quill Festival.

On November 7, 2006, ABS-CBN unveiled its flagship coffeetable book, "Kapitan: Geny Lopez and the Making of ABS-CBN." The 453-page book chronicles the hardships and odds that the network founder had to face, as well as the achievements and contributions of ABS-CBN in Philippine Television history. The book won various awards, including Best Biography/Autobiography in the 26th National Book Awards, and a merit award in the publications category of the 2007 Gold Quill Awards.

On September 29, 2007, ABS-CBN acquired the exclusive rights to the whole movie library of the late Fernando Poe, Jr., after Susan Roces signed the contract. ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio Lopez III, Cory Vidanes, Senior Vice President of TVP Production, and Poe’s daughter Grace Poe-Llamanzares were present.

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by ABS-CBN

The following is the current primetime line-up of its flagship station:

Day	7:00	7:15	7:30	7:45	8:00	8:15	8:30	8:45	9:00	9:15	9:30	9:45	10:00	10:15	10:30
Sunday	Goin' Bulilit			PBB Teen Edition Plus				Sharon			That's My Doc			TV Patrol Linggo 10:45PM>>
Monday	TV Patrol World <<6:30PM			Kung Fu Kids			Lobo			PBB Teen Edition Plus			Palos		Lovers 11:15PM>>
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday															Maalaala Mo Kaya 11:45PM>>
Saturday	I Am KC				PBB Teen Edition Plus					TV Patrol Sabado		XXX 10:45PM>>

Legend
Comedy	Drama	Game or Reality	Kids or Fantasy	News/Talk	Movie block	Canned programs

Branding of ABS-CBN

The evolution of ABS-CBN logos

In the year 2000, ABS-CBN had changed its corporate logo. The previous logo, which featured stylized letters and a square with three concentric circles and a line gave way to the present logo's styling. The three circles with colors, red, green, blue with the vertical line at the center still remain, although the logotype has changed and the square is no longer used in some uses of the logo.

Slogans

Main article: List of ABS-CBN slogans

Program production

ABS-CBN Broadcast Center

At the heart of ABS-CBN’s new capabilities are its technical equipment and systems. Consisting of a new master routing system. A 400x400 input/output matrix, has full stereo-audio capability and also provides additional levels of tally, serial control, machine control, and SMPTE time-code functions. The TOC houses 125 equipment racks providing space for a control system for studio and post-production; 200 stereo-audio distribution amplifiers; 325 video distribution amplifiers; a 2,880-position video patchbay; and a 3,380-position stereo audio patch field. The camera control center supports a total of 27 cameras, assignable to any studio. Linking the entire production and technical complex is a cable management system consisting of more than 50,000 meters (165,000 feet) of 8281 double-shielded coax cable; 106,000 meters (350,000 feet) of 8451 shielded audio cable; 5,000 meters (17,000 feet) of serial control cable; and 12,000 meters (40,000 feet) of triax camera cable. Post-production facilities include six computer-edit-equipped suites, with the 28 VTRs assignable to any suite. There are also an additional 18 A/B roll-edit suites. Each of the eight studios is equipped with a minimum of three cameras, with the capability of expansion to six cameras each. Individual studio control rooms include dual mix/effects switchers; dual channel DVE systems; 24-channel stereo-audio mixing boards; dual channel character generators; multichannel facility intercom; and remote serial machine control. New studio lighting includes remote-controlled motorized battens and a 3,200K SCR programmable lighting control system. This alleviated the requirement for lengthy testing and troubleshooting at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center in Manila.

ABS-CBN’s facility is among the most sophisticated broadcast center in the Pacific Rim and among the most modern in the world. It is capable of producing and airing multiple, simultaneous live and recorded productions (from and to any part of the world). The enhancement and digitalization of the Broadcast Center has enabled the network to respond to a diverse market’s rapidly growing demand for a greater variety of broadcast programming.

ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs

Main article: ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs

File:Leo oracion mt everest.jpg

Leo Oración's Mt. Everest summit ascent was covered live from the mountain itself by ABS-CBN News.

After the 1986 EDSA Revolution, the network was first to air a newscast and current affairs show, namely TV Patrol and Probe. With Guji Lorenzana. The network's news organization suffered from credibility issues, including its alleged partiality in various political issues and the involvement of its former news anchors and network chairman in the political arena. Based on the latest Pulse Asia Survey, ABS-CBN News was the most trusted news station garnering 68 points against its rival network GMA, garnering 60 points.

At present, the news organization is headed by former CNN Jakarta and Manila Bureau Chief Maria Ressa. Ressa introduced major organizational changes and reforms, including the drafting of Code of Ethics that is very much benchmarked on international standards. The new Code of Ethics served as the Bible of all the members of the news organization.

ABS-CBN also owns the ABS-CBN News Channel, the only local 24-hour cable news channel in the Philippines. ^{Superscript text}

ABS-CBN Regional Network Group

Main article: List of ABS-CBN channels and stations

The ABS-CBN Regional Network Group is the provincial network of ABS-CBN. It is responsible for simultaneously airing most of the shows seen on ABS-CBN's flagship station in the provinces. The ABS-CBN Regional Network Group has several stations in each region outside Mega Manila to ensure nationwide coverage. The local stations also produce their own newscasts which air prior to TV Patrol and other local programming which air on Sundays.

Mak in Super Inggo.

Mak in Super Inggo.

Raffy Tima in Balitanghali.

File:Lbshostmakisig

Mak in Little Big Star.

Competition

ABS-CBN lost a large chunk of its audience in 1996 when RPN introduced the "telenovelas," or dubbed soap operas from Latin American countries. The following year, the company regained its audience after it changed its primetime schedule by adding Filipino-produced soap operas.

In mid-2004, the company made a smaller investment when GMA Network gained audience share in Mega Manila, although ABS-CBN retained its lead in other provinces and overseas. The network signed a contract with Endemol to gain rights of its franchise of Big Brother. Since the rights were expensive, the company launched a series of promotions in the first and second quarter of 2005. In August 2005, Pinoy Big Brother was aired, which became a hit which caused ABS-CBN to license more programs from Endemol such as Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal and Pinoy Dream Academy.

On January 22, 2006, ABS-CBN's broadcast of Solar Sports' "Hataw Pacquiao, Laban ng Bayan" became the 3rd most watched TV event in Philippine history as AGB Nielsen Media Research showed that 2.073 million households (5.261 million individuals) watched the Pacquiao-Morales rematch compared to "Rosalinda"'s 1.486 million households (3.787 million individuals) of its July 13 2000 episode (Rosalinda is a Mexican telenovela purchased by ABS-CBN). It also registered the highest audience share of 79.5% against Rosalinda's 78.3%. However, Rosalinda remains as the highest rated TV show in Philippine TV history, with 68.9% compared to the 59.2% of the said rematch. The Pacquiao-Larios match on the other hand, which was held last July 2, 2006 at Araneta Coliseum, registered the second biggest number of viewers of a TV event in Philippine history, having a rating of 65.7% in Mega-Manila and the highest audience share of 96 to 99% at the Urban Centers nationwide.

In the last quarter of 2006, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. led the nationwide television viewership share against rival GMA Network Inc., according to AGB Nielsen Media Research (Philippines) nationwide survey released October 26 2006.

Based on the latest Pulse Asia Survey, ABS-CBN News was the most trusted News Station garnering 68 points against its rival network GMA only garnering 60 points.

In a survey conducted by the AGB Nielsen Media Research from October 8 to October 13 using its National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) for the first time showed that ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation garnered a 43% viewership, putting it ahead of GMA Network, Inc. which got a share of 35.2%. The NUTAM was officially launched last October 16, 2006 to determine the TV ratings and audience share of local TV Programs from the different urban areas in the Philippines. However, only 21% of advertising revenue came from outside Metro Manila, the area where ABS-CBN was beaten by GMA, 40.6% vs. 35.2%.

In the January 15, 2007 issue of BusinessWorld, a local broadsheet containing Business reports, AGB-Nielsen Media Research, the official ratings provider, released for the first time the official results of its Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM). The Nationwide Viewing Panel results for the week ending January 6, 2007, showed that in terms of individuals, 8 out of top 10 programs came from ABS-CBN with the Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal P4M Edition as the top-rater. In terms of households, all top 10 programs came from ABS-CBN with Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal P4M Edition also as the top-rater. ABS-CBN posted a channel rating of 12.2 and an audience share of 43.1 in terms of households, and a channel rating of 5.9 and an audience share of 42.7 in terms of individuals. GMA Network on the other hand posted a channel rating of 10.2 and an audience share of 36.9 in terms of households, and a channel rating of 5.3 and an audience share of 38.7 in terms of individuals.

In the last quarter of 2007, ABS-CBN topped the Nielsen Media Research Philippines survey among three market segments. It emerged as the preferred channel among affluent Filipinos, teenage audiences and families of Overseas Filipino workers. Nielsen defined the affluent as those living in posh, “gated villages” with income higher than P50,000 a month, while the teens are those in the 13-19 age bracket regardless of economic bracket. OFW beneficiaries, meanwhile, are those with a member of the family working abroad. In data presented by the said research and survey group, ABS-CBN registered a 79.4 percent grade to emerge as the top local channel most often watched by viewers who belong to the A, B and C1 market segment. The Kapamilya network was followed by GMA-7 with 64.1 percent, while ABS-CBN's sister station, Studio 23, came next with 25.3 percent. The teens TV viewership category was also ruled by ABS-CBN with its 62.11 percent clip compared to GMA-7's 38.6 percent. It also collected the most viewership in the OFW families segment, registering a strong 64.0 percent as compared to GMA-7's 49.9 percent showing.

Digital Television

ABS-CBN recently applied for a digital television-terrestrial service (DTT) license to the National Telecommunications Commission. Digital Television in the Philippines will utilize the DVB-T standard utilized in most of Europe. The Dutch company Impeq Technologies is one of ABS-CBN's consultants in the digital transition. The network is planning to also supply DTV boxes in areas where signal reception of Channel 2 is weak. Areas such as Valenzuela, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna are the potential market for the DTV set-top boxes. The Metro Manila market will receive DWWX-TV and DWAC-TV and the company's six other cable channels on the digital platform. It is unclear however if ABS-CBN or its sister channels will broadcast some of its programmes on high definition (HD) once it has digital channels.

The National Telecommunications Commission will be giving television broadcast companies until December 31, 2015, to fully convert from analog to digital technology, in line with the worldwide shift towards the use of DTT in broadcasting.

Central CATV Inc.

On September 24, 2007, ABS-CBN retired the subsidiary Central CATV Inc.'s P1.8-B loan (67% of Central CATV’s total debt of P2.74 billion).

Legal controversies

Most of the legal trouble experienced by ABS-CBN in recent years have centered around their noontime variety/game show, Wowowee.

PhilSports Arena stampede

Main article: PhilSports Arena stampede

On August 24, 2007, in a 7-page resolution the Department of Justice dismissed criminal charges against Willie Revillame in connection with the infamous PhilSports Arena stampede. But Raul Gonzalez affirmed the charge against 14 other respondents, including ABS-CBN Network officials led by executive vice president Charo Santos Concio. A 5-man DOJ panel of prosecutors led by Atty. Dacera earlier ruled in an 80-page resolution that the organizers of the "Wowowee" game show were guilty of gross negligence.

Wowowee Willyonaryo controversy

Main article: Wowowee Willyonaryo controversy

On August 20, 2007, Wowowee was once again flung into controversy due to the "Wilyonaryo" incident with the supposedly jackpot disc containing two numbers, which became subject to questioning. Host Willie Revillame pulled out a box with a card displaying the number 0 instead of a 2 which represented the P2 million a contestant had given up for a smaller prize. The incident drew angry reactions from viewers who said it proved that the host had a choice on whether to award the jackpot or not. ABS-CBN Corporate Communications Vice-President, Mr. Bong Osorio, later explained the error was a design flaw.. A few weeks later, Wilyonaryo was discontinued and replaced by a different game called Merrygalo.

Ratings controversy

Main article: AGB Nielsen Philippine TV ratings controversy

On December 20, 2007, Judge Charito Gonzales, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 80 released a temporary restraining order on TV ratings surveys based on a civil case filed by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation versus AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines. ABS-CBN accused "a certain television network" of funding bribing operations at Bacolod to discredit the former.The Court further ordered ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation to file comment on the plea of AGB Nielsen for the alleged gathering and dissemination of television ratings data, within 5 days or until December 22.. ABS-CBN filed a case to cite AGB Nielsen for contempt after it released TV ratings data despite the issuance of the TRO.

On December 21, DZMM correspondent Junrie Hidalgo reported a news story entitled AGB Nielsen, umamin sa dayaan: GMA Network, tahasang itinurong nasa likod ng dayaan (AGB Nielsen admits the cheating: GMA Network fiercely accused of being responsible of the cheating) during the program Showbiz Mismo, hosted by Cristy Fermin and Jobert Sucaldito. The news story is based on an interview of AGB Nielsen's General Manager Maya Reforma regarding the alleged cheating.

In response, GMA aired a TV plug condemning the alleged biased reporting and denied the accusations of ABS-CBN. They later filed a PHP15-million civil libel suit against ABS-CBN on January 3, 2008. The respondents included Hidalgo, Fermin, Sucaldito, the station manager and news manager of DZMM and hosts, writers and executive producers of TV programs Bandila, Entertainment Live and The Buzz after the same story was aired on the mentioned programs.

On January 7, the Quezon City RTC junked ABS-CBN's suit against AGB Nielsen, saying the case was “prematurely filed" before the court. Judge Charito Gonzales' basis is the principle of mutuality of contracts, citing Article 1308 and 1196, New Civil Code of the Philippines. ABS-CBN plans to file a motion for reconsideration regarding the case. Also, Judge Samuel Gaerlan, QCRTC, Branch 92 issued court summons against ABS-CBN and its 15 personnel, in the January 3, 2008 P15-million damage suit by GMA Network

On January 17, 2008, Judge Gaerlan inhibited himself from the case, considering that he has a cousin working in the legal department of ABS-CBN. The case was later re-raffled on January 28, 2008, and the case was eventually assigned to Judge Henri Inting of Branch 95, QCRTC. Judge Inting submitted GMA's petition for a temporary restraining order for decision.

On February 14, 2008, Judge Inting issued a TRO barring ABS-CBN from airing defamatory statements against GMA.

On February 22, 2008, Judge Inting inhibited himself from further hearing the case.

Writ of Amparo

On January 22, 2008, Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) supported the petition for Writ of amparo filed by the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation's 11 employees (led by Ces Oreña-Drilon) with the Supreme Court to rule on the legality of journalists' arrests concerning the failed Manila Peninsula rebellion. It stated: "We support employees from ABS-CBN in standing up for their democratic rights to work free from harassment and intimidation, especially from government officials and authorities." Meanwhile the Supreme Court required the respondents to file comment to the amparo petition within 10 days. Further, Harry Roque, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)'s lawyer announced its filing of a class lawsuit for injunction with damages (Article 33, New Civil Code of the Philippines) against the Philippine National Police, inter alia.

Entities and ventures

List of subsidiaries

• ABS-CBN Center for Communication Arts, Inc.
• ABS-CBN Distance Learning Center
• ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.
• ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.
• ABS-CBN Global, Inc.
• ABS-CBN Integrated and Strategic Property Holdings, Inc.
• ABS-CBN Interactive, Inc.
• ABS-CBN International
• ABS-CBN News Channel
• ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.
• ABS-CBN Radio Operations
• ABS-CBN Regional Network Group
• ABS-CBN Talent Management & Development Center, Inc.
• AMCARA Broadcasting Network, Inc.
• Bayan Telecommunications, Inc.
• Creative Programs, Inc.
• Cinema One
• E-Money Plus, Inc.
• Hero
• Knowledge Channel
• Lifestyle Network
• Meralco
• Myx
• Nugen Music, Inc.
• Pinoy Central
• Roadrunner Network, Inc.
• Sky Films, Inc.
• Star Home Video
• Star Recording,Inc.
• The Filipino Channel
• TV Food Chefs, Inc.

Affiliates and productions

• Bayan Productions, Inc.
• Bicol Broadcasting System, Inc. (BBS)
• Calbayog Community Broadcasting Corporation (CCBC)
• Diamond Star Productions, Inc. (DSPI)
• Endemol
• Fairwaves Broadcasting Network, Inc. (FBN)
• First United Broadcasting Corporation (FUBC)
• KB Entertainment Unlimited, Inc.
• Korean Broadcasting System
• Masbate Community Broadcasting Corporation (MCBC)
• Mindanao Institute of Technology-Radio & Television Network (MIT-RTVN)
• Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
• Our Lady Foundation (OLF)
• Probe Productions, Inc.
• Palawan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC)
• St. Jude Thaddeus Institute of Technology (SJTIT)
• Sky Vision Corporation (SVC)
• Sulu Tawi-Tawi Broadcasting Corporation (STBC)
• Sumuroy Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)
• Tagbilaran Broadcasting Corporation (TBC)
• Times Broadcasting Corporation (TBC)

Divisions

• ABS-CBN Foundation
• ABS-CBN Global
• ABS-CBN Interactive
• ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs
• ABS-CBN Sports
• Central Library
• Engineering
• Entertainment
• I-Post
• Manila Radio Division
• Radio Division
• Traffic

Media Ventures

• Manila Times
• Philippine Star

See also

• List of Philippine television networks
• List of Philippine companies
• ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs

References

[TOPOL]

External links

Related Cases

• PhilSport Arena stampede in February 4, 2006
• The Cristy Fermin case report
• PAGCOR files cases against Globe, ABS-CBN for violation of P.D. 1602
• GMA 7 files case vs. ABS-CBN cable unit
• inquirer.net/breakingnews, ABS-CBN ups ante on digital TV

References

• Anastacio & Badiola. "what's the story, pinoy TV?". Retrieved 2006-09-26.
• Limampung Taong Ligawan: The Pinoy TV Story [Documentary] (2003). Philippines: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.
• ABS-CBN History Timeline
• ABS-CBN History
• History of Mass Media in the Philippines
• Kapitan: Eugenio Lopez Jr. and the making of ABS-CBN (2006)
• Talkback with Tina Palma - interview with Freddie Garcia and James Lindenberg on ABS-CBN News Channel (November 27, 2006)
• Mishkind, Barry. "Philippine Broadcasting". Retrieved 2006-09-26.

Official

• Official Site
• ABS-CBN Television 50th anniversary
• ABS-CBNNow!
• ABS-CBN Global
• ABS-CBN International
• ABS-CBN Foundation
• Studio 23 official Website