ABS–CBN Corporation (PSE : ABS and ABSP ; ABS-CBN: "Alto Broadcasting System-Chronicle Broadcasting Network") is a Philippine -based multi-media conglomerate. It is the country's first and largest integrated media and entertainment company[2] with 42 subsidiaries, 12 divisions and an asset base on more than PHP 34 billion (US$707.09 million) as of March 2009.[3] 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.[4] [5] It was founded on June 13, 1946 (62), becoming Asia 's first commercial television broadcaster in 1953. It is part of the Lopez Group of Companies . It also broadcasts content to the rest of the world through The Filipino Channel (via cable), TFC Direct (direct-to-home satellite), TFCko (IPTV video on demand) and TFCnow internet TV. And just recently, Sky Broadband and Bayan Telecommunication launched "i Wantv!", a free internet service created to answer the growing demand of television entertainment . It incorporates some of ABS-CBN's top rating shows.[6] The network's main broadcast facilities, news headquarters, transmitter and satellite operations and studio complex are located at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Complex at Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Mother Ignacia St., 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 ). It boasts its technical capabilities as well as its advance and sophisticated facilities that no other media company in Southeast Asia has to offer. On March 3, 2008, Executive Vice-President Charo Santos-Concio had been promoted as the fifth president of ABS-CBN, taking over from interim president Eugenio Lopez III.[7] On the recent ABS-CBN Stockholders Meeting last May 27, 2010, the multimedia conglomerate changed its name after dropping "Broadcasting" in its corporate name, a response to the changes in the media landscape brought about by technology, said ABS-CBN chairman and chief executive officer Eugenio "EL3" Lopez III. "The media business has gone beyond merely broadcasting to encompass other platforms," EL3 said. ABS-CBN has interests in radio, free-to-air and cable television, movie production, publishing, and online news and content distribution service.[8]
History
Beginnings
The nucleus of what ABS-CBN would be began in 1946 with Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC). BEC was put up by James Lindenberg , the father of Philippine television , an ex-GI and electronics engineer who went into radio equipment assembly and radio broadcasting. At that time, the giant Philippine network was Manila Broadcasting, with DZRH as the top station. In 1949, James Lindenberg shifted Bolinao to radio broadcasting with DZBC and masterminded the introduction of television to the country in 1953.
In 1951, Lindenberg partnered with Antonio Quirino, brother of then President Elpidio Quirino , in order to try their hand at television broadcasting. In 1952, BEC was renamed as Alto Broadcasting System or ABS. "Alto" was a contraction of Quirino's and his wife's first names, Tony and Aleli. Though they had little money and resources, ABS was able to put up its TV tower by July 1953 and import 300 television sets. The initial test broadcasts began on September of the same year. The very first full-blown broadcast, however, was on October 23, 1953, of a party in Tony Quirino's home. The broadcasting channel was known as DZAQ-TV Channel 3 .
Merger
In turn, on September 24, 1956, the Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) was organized. The network was owned by Don Eugenio Lopez Sr. The following year, Don Eugenio acquired ABS from Quirino and Lindenberg. However, it was only on February 1, 1967 that the corporate name was changed to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (before it was named ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, the name was reverted back to the precursor of the network, Bolinao Electronics Corporation or BEC).
In the late 1950s, Don Eugenio's son, Geny Lopez saw the potential of TV to reach and link Filipinos across the archipelago. By the mid-1960s, the ABS network was leading the radio industry, with stations like DZXL and DZAQ Radyo patrol, which featured journalists like Ernie Baron , Bong Lapira, Orly Mercado, Joe Taruc, Mario Garcia, Bobby Guanzon, and Rey Langit . ABS also made breakthroughs in the TV industry by achieving the country's first color TV broadcast, first satellite feed, and first use of videotape, among others. It featured top shows then, such as Your Evening with Pilita and Tawag ng Tanghalan, the country's first comedy show Buhay Artista, first Philippine gameshow, What's My Living and the first noontime show Student Canteen , among others.
On June 14, 1961, Eugenio Lopez, Jr. built the first provincial TV station in Cebu airing 4 hours with the tallest tower (in that time) in Cebu measuring 216 feet.
On December 18, 1968, ABS-CBN opened its new Broadcast Center on Bohol Avenue, Quezon City , where it still stands today. At the time, it was the most advanced facility of its kind in Asia. The station again made breakthroughs by using live satellite transmissions from abroad, foremost of which was the first moon landing in 1969. The network enjoyed a big portion of the ratings.
Martial Law era
The station suffered a setback, though, upon the declaration of Martial Law . On midnight of September 22, 1972, a day after the declaration of Martial Law, ABS-CBN and its affiliate stations were seized. Geny Lopez , the president of the network, was imprisoned and held without trial for five years until he and his cellmate Sergio Osmeña III launched a daring jailbreak in 1977 and sought asylum in the United States . The network itself was taken over by Roberto Benedicto, a presidential crony, who used the Broadcasting Center at Bohol Avenue, then renamed as "Broadcast Plaza", as the home of MBS-4 .
Capture of Broadcast Plaza (MBS-4)
At the height of the People Power Revolution , military reformists, believing that television would be a powerful tool to aid the revolution, attacked and took over the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center. On February 24, former ABS-CBN talents put the station back on the air and televised the drama of the unfolding uprising, thereby contributing to the strength of the revolt.
Growth
On February 28, 1986, after the Marcos regime was brought to its end by the revolution, Geny Lopez returned to the country after his self exile to the United States and started rebuilding what was left of the station. Recovery was difficult and resources were low. Hence, former ABS-CBN employee Freddy García was brought in to rework the station's programming. By 1988, ABS-CBN had regained its foothold in Philippine TV ratings.
In 1987, ABS-CBN also beefed up their news programs with TV Patrol , anchored by a team of announcers led by former Vice-President Noli de Castro . (Its original lead anchors included de Castro, Mel Tiangco , Frankie Evangelista , and Angelique Lazo , with the late Ernie Baron telling the daily weather newscast.) Other reputable news programs followed, such as Magandang Gabi, Bayan and Hoy Gising! and top-rating talk shows like Mel & Jay and Teysi ng Tahanan. The entertainment programs of ABS-CBN were also beefed up with a mix of programs that aired previously on RPN-9 and IBC-13 (Eat Bulaga! , Okey Ka Fairy Ko! , The Sharon Cuneta Show , Coney Reyes on Camera ) while producing homegrown shows through the years that made an impact on Filipino viewers (The Maricel Soriano Drama Special, Palibhasa Lalake , Home Along Da Riles , etc.)
In 1989, ABS-CBN shifted to satellite broadcast, enabling the entire country to watch the same programs simultaneously. Slowly, the station inched its way to financial recovery, which it achieved by 1990. It regularly garnered around 70% of the market.
According to their website, they reach 97% of all households in the country and provide content for Studio 23 on UHF and for the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), Hero , MYX , Knowledge Channel , Lifestyle Network , Cinema One , Balls , Velvet , and Maxxx on cable.
Expansion
Aside from its flagship terrestrial network ABS-CBN 2 Manila , ABS-CBN broadcasts to many predominantly Filipino people 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 ). In August 2008 it inked a deal with Sorenson Pacific Broadcasting to broadcast news and other content from the network and its sister channels to its television and radio broadcasting properties in Guam and The CMNI . Former ABS-CBN president Eugenio Lopez III became chairman of the network since 1996.
The network has also introduced
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News site of Philippine media network ABS-CBN. Offers daily updated news, editorial forum, archives, and profiles of people in the Philippines. Read the rest
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Premium channel by ABS-CBN International targetting Filipino viewers abroad. Provides news and entertainiment programs, as well as special features such as movies and radio channels. Read the rest
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ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (PSE: ABS and ABSP; ABS-CBN: "Alto Broadcasting System-Chronicle Broadcasting Network") is a Philippine-based multi-media conglomerate. Read the rest
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