Associated Broadcasting Company

Associated Broadcasting Company
Type	Broadcast television network
Country	Philippines
Availability	National
Owner	ABC Development Corporation
Key people	Chino Roces, founder Tonyboy Cojuangco, CEO
Launch date	June 19, 1960
Past names	Associated Broadcasting Corporation
Website	ABC.com.ph

The Associated Broadcasting Company, commonly abbreviated to ABC, is a Philippine television network, with main broadcast facilities in Metro Manila. It is the third-oldest television network in the country, and it is currently owned by businessman Antonio "Tony Boy" Cojuangco. Its main station is DWET-TV 5 (ABC-5) in Metro Manila. It also operates a radio station, 106.7 Dream FM, in Metro Manila.

History

Joaquin "Chino" Roces, then owner of the Manila Times was granted of a radio-TV franchise from Congress under Republic Act 2945 on June 19, 1960. He then founded Associated Broadcasting Corporation, the fourth television network established in the Philippines. ABC operated as a radio and television broadcasting network from 1960 until September 21, 1972 when then President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law. Both ABC and the Manila Times were shut down as a result.

ABC's logo when it was revived in 1992

When democracy was restored as a result of the 1986 People Power Revolution, Chino Roces made a successful representation with then President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino for the reopening of the network. New stockholders then began the arduous task of resuscitating the network. The Securities and Exchange Commission granted their application for an increase in capitalization and amendments to ABC’s articles of incorporation and by-laws. They were subsequently granted a permit to operate by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). ABC broke ground in what was to become its new studio complex in Novaliches, Quezon City in 1990. By the final quarter of 1991, ABC was on test broadcast. Commercial operation started in February 1992. A brand new television and radio broadcasting network was born – ABC Development Corporation, doing business under the trade name Associated Broadcasting Company. ABC acquired a new franchise to operate on December 9, 1994, under Republic Act 7831 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos. In the same year, it went on nationwide satellite broadcasting. In a surge of phenomenal growth, ABC earned a reputation as "The Fastest Growing Network". It has taken big leaps and bounds and is now among the ranks of "The Big League". As early as its 15th month of operation, it rose to a strong no. 3 in the overall TV network rating with a programming that combines America's certified hits and all station-produced local programs. Amid the escalating network war, ABC succeeded in gaining a foothold, as the dark clouds of the Asian crisis loomed in the horizon. In 2001, ABC acquired the Philippine licenses for three game shows: The Price Is Right (hosted by Dawn Zulueta), Wheel of Fortune (hosted by Rustom Padilla), and Family Feud (hosted by Ogie Alcasid). This was during the height of the game show frenzy within Philippine networks, brought on by the success of IBC's Philippine edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The three shows were discontinued after some time. In October 2003, ABC was acquired by a group led by businessman Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco, former Chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and owner of Dream Satellite Broadcasting and Bank of Commerce, among others. The new management introduced many changes including a stronger news and public affairs division, modernization of its broadcast equipment and the acquisition of broadcast rights of Philippine Basketball Association games. ABC won as KBP Best TV Station in 2005 in the KBP Golden Dove Awards, while other shows also won as Best TV show in different categories. In 2007, ABC's News and Public Affairs division took a big cut, with many of its employees given the pink slip. This was before the May 2007 Elections in the Philippines, making the network almost incapable of election coverage. Beginning in November 2007, the station debuted its "Pumped and Loaded" slogan, as it began NBA, pro boxing, and WWE programming on the said network. ABC made a five-year deal with Solar Entertainment to broadcast the aforementioned programs.

ABC slogans

• Come Home To ABC (1992)
• The Fastest Growing Network (1993)
• The Big Leap (1994)
• The Big League (1995)
• Reaching Out To You (1996-2000)
• The Best of Both Worlds (1998)
• Come Home To ABC (2001-2004)
• ABC: Iba Tayo! (2004-2007)
• ABC: Idol Maging Iba! (2006)
• ABC: ChristMas Iba (2006 Christmas Season Slogan)
• ABC (2007)
• Pumped & Loaded: ABC! (2007-present)

Programming

Further information: List of programs broadcast by the Associated Broadcasting Company

ABC's program lineup included news and current affairs shows, variety shows, gag shows, dubbed foreign serials, children's shows, anime shows, reality shows, and sports. In 2006, the network gained reputation for being the broadcaster of Philippine Idol. Since then, the station is referred to as the Idol Network. The following is the current primetime (7:30-10:30 PM) line-up of its flagship station.

Program production

ABC News and Public Affairs

Main article: ABC News and Public Affairs

ABC Sports

ABC Sports is the brand used for sports broadcasts by ABC television network. It was formed in 2004 with ABC's acquisition of broadcast rights of Philippine Basketball Association Games (PBA on ABC). It is also responsible for the televising of many sports events such as the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, and the WNCAA.

Digitalization

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered that all analog TV broadcast transmission will be terminated by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2015, requiring television service providers to migrate to DTT by that time. The management of ABC is planning for digitalization by the last quarter of 2007.^[1]

TV and radio stations nationwide

Main article: List of Associated Broadcasting Company TV and radio stations

International broadcast

Further information: Mabuhay Channel

ABC programs, except Philippine Basketball Association Games, are shown in the United States, and Canada via the Mabuhay Channel exclusively on Dish Network.

References

Trivia

• The voice you hear on ABC-5 is that of Michael Knight (former Kool 106 DJ turned Mellow 94.7).

See also

• List of Philippine media companies
• Philippine television networks

Related

• History of Philippine television
• Lavish party to announce ABC 5 is a serious player
• Solar joins ABC 5 And RJTV 29

External links

• Official Site
• Mabuhay Channel website