Line #9 Creator/ABSCBN


1	[[quoteright:206:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/abstop1047.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:206:"In the service of the Filipino Worldwide".]]
3	[[https://www.abs-cbn.com ABS-CBN]] is the largest media conglomerate in the UsefulNotes/{{Philippines}}. They own the movie studio Star Cinema as well as the ABS-CBN TV channels, among other things.
4
5	The company was formed in 1967 through a merger between two companies, Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) and Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN), though its origins can be traced as far back as on June 13, 1946, just after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and a month before the Philippines was granted independence, when an American radio engineer named [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lindenberg James Lindenberg]] formed Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC). Lindenberg would later partner with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Quirino Antonio Quirino]], brother of then-Philippine President [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidio_Quirino Elpidio Quirino]] to try their hand at television broadcasting, renaming BEC to Alto Broadcasting System and started airing test broadcasts on September 1953.
6
7	They were forced to cease operations in 1973 following the [[UsefulNotes/FerdinandMarcos Marcos dictatorship]]--ABS' flagship station was seized from the Lopezes and became Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC-2, not to be confused with the ''other'' [[Creator/{{TheBBC}} BBC]] in the UK), a state-run network bankrolled by oligarch and Macros crony [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Benedicto Roberto Benedicto]], who also owned [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Philippines_Network RPN-9]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercontinental_Broadcasting_Corporation IBC-13]]. BBC-2 ran for thirteen years from 1973 up to the People Power Revolution in 1986, where reformist troops captured the station amidst the ensuing turmoil and [[WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties sabotaged]] the transmitter which was supposed to be airing Marcos' inauguration from Malacañang Palace. ABS-CBN then resumed operations in September 1986.
8
9	On February 10, 2020, the solicitor general's office filed a petition at the Supreme Court to end ABS-CBN's franchise due to allegations of foreigners involved in the company's ownership, though several journalist organizations and groups contend that this is politically motivated by the Duterte administration.[[note]]Duterte previously made strongly-worded threats to shut down ABS-CBN which watchdog groups believe may have something to do with [[LargeHam Duterte's outbursts]] over an election ad controversy during the campaign leading up to the 2016 Philippine presidential election, where [[ScareCampaign campaign ads]] by rival politician Antonio Trillanes were allegedly favoured over Duterte's. It didn't help that Duterte and his allies were close to the Marcoses.[[/note]] On May 5, 2020, the National Telecommunication Commission ordered ABS-CBN to cease broadcast operations after Congress failed to renew its operational license. ABS-CBN had no choice but to comply with the order with ''TV Patrol'' as the last show to sign off, making it the first time since 1972 that the station shut down.
10
11	Needless to say, journalists, celebrities and even arch-rival Creator/GMANetwork took great umbrage at what was seen as a draconian, inconsiderate and underhanded move by the government, contending that not only did it stifle freedom of journalism and expression, but it put the livelihoods of those affected by the shutdown in jeopardy, especially in light of the [[UsefulNotes/CoronavirusDisease2019Pandemic COVID-19 pandemic]], and the 2020 typhoon season, resulting in residents and authorities in remote provinces facing difficulties with getting updates on the typhoons' onslaught as ABS-CBN was the only station they had clear access to; internet access wasn't an option either due to intermittent signals in said regions. On July 10, 2020, the House committee formally rejected the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. 70 members of the committee voted for denial while 11 voted for renewal. The verdict unsurprisingly led to massive outcry both from the public (75 percent called for a franchise renewal in a survey), and from ABS-CBN staff and cast members. Other artists and even rival network GMA commiserated, knowing how the shutdown set a dangerous precedent over freedom of journalism and expression of dissent.
12
13	ABS-CBN began re-starting operations as a cable channel known as the Kapamilya Channel, in 2020, and started blocktime agreements with religious broadcaster ZOE TV (which operates Channel 11 in Mega Manila) to launch [=A2Z=] that same year. Alongside the agreement with ZOE TV, ABS-CBN's programming also aired on Creator/{{TV5}} [[note]]Previously known as the Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC-5) until August 8, 2008.[[/note]] until 2023 when they moved to GMA.
14
15	ABS-CBN is notable for producing a ''lot'' of {{telenovela}}s of the pink variety, but has also produced other kinds of shows, such as edutainment shows back in TheNineties, the variety series ''Series/ItsShowtime'' and the animated series ''WesternAnimation/TheNutshack'', which aired on Myx TV. (also owned by ABS-CBN) The company also licenses thousands of content from all over the world.
16	----
17	!!Selected TV series produced, distributed, and aired by ABS-CBN:
18	[[index]]
19	* ''100 Days to Heaven''
20	* ''Series/AlmostParadise'' (in collaboration with Electric Entertainment)
21	* ''Series/AnghelNaWalangLangit''
22	* ''Series/{{Bagani}}''
23	* ''Series/BatangQuiapo''
24	* ''WebVideo/BeautyQueens'' (released as a digital series on [=IWantTFC=])
25	* ''Series/CantBuyMeLove''
26	* ''Series/DirtyLinen''
27	* ''Series/DragYouAndMe''
28	* ''Series/EatBulaga'' (aired on the network from 1989 to 1995 before {{Channel Hop}}ping to Creator/GMANetwork)
29	* ''Series/{{Forevermore}}''
30	* ''Series/GameKaNaBa''
31	* ''Series/GoinBulilit''
32	* ''Series/GotToBelieve''
33	* ''Series/HesIntoHer''
34	* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Along_Da_Riles Home Along Da Riles]]''
35	* ''Series/IkawLamang''
36	* ''Series/TheIronHeart''
37	* ''Series/ItsShowtime''
38	* ''Animation/JetAndThePetRangers'' (released as a digital series on [=IWantTFC=])
39	* ''Series/{{Jollitown}}'' (2011-2012)
40	* ''Series/JuandelaCruz''
41	* ''Series/KadenangGinto''
42	* ''Series/{{Lobo}}''
43	** ''Series/{{Imortal}}''
44	** ''Series/LaLunaSangre''
45	* ''Series/MaalaalaMoKaya'' (Philippines' continuously running drama anthology)
46	* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_Clara_(TV_series) Mara Clara]]''
47	* ''Series/MayBukasPa''
48	* ''WesternAnimation/TheNutshack'' (American-Filipino co-production)
49	* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oki_Doki_Doc Oki Doki Doc]]''
50	* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palibhasa_Lalake Palibhasa Lalake]]''
51	* ''Series/PrincessAndI''
52	* ''Series/SeniorHigh''
53	* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sine%27skwela Sine'skwela]]''
54	* ''Series/AngProbinsyano2015''
55	* ''Series/{{Wansapanataym}}''
56	* ''Series/Wildflower2017''
57	[[/index]]
58	----
59
60	!!Tropes associated with ABS-CBN itself:
61	* NetworkDeath: A lapse of ABS-CBN's broadcasting license in 2020 caused its channels to stop broadcasting. So far, none of them have been revived. This didn't stop ABS-CBN from broadcasting - they shifted to broadcasting their shows on rival networks Creator/Channel5 and Creator/GMANetwork.

Context Creator / ABSCBN