Associated Broadcasting Company

:"For the former ITV company in the United Kingdom, see Associated British Corporation."Infobox Network
network_name = "Associated Broadcasting Company"
network_
country = flagicon|Philippines Philippines
network_type = Broadcast television network
available = National
owner = "ABC Development Corporation"
key_people = Chino Roces, founder
Tonyboy Cojuangco, CEO
launch_date = June 19, 1960
re-launch_date = August 9, 2008
past_names = "Associated Broadcasting Corporation"
website = [http://www.tv5.com.ph/ TV5.com.ph]

Associated Broadcasting Company,(Now TV 5) is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartlome, Novaliches, Quezon City. It is the third-oldest television network in the country, and its owner and chief executive officer (CEO) is businessman Antonio "Tony Boy" Cojuangco.

Its main station is DWET-TV in Metro Manila. It also operates a radio station, 106.7 Dream FM, in Metro Manila.

History

Beginnings

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 1956 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.

Continuing of ABC's Operations

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 led by broadcast veteran Edward Tan and Chino Roces's son Edgardo 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. Also part of their success is their carrying of the Sailor Moon anime franchise, which effectively revitalized interest in anime in the Philippines. Amid the escalating network war, ABC succeeded in gaining a foothold, as the dark clouds of the Asian crisis loomed in the horizon.

Around 1996, Joey De Leon created the 1st practical jokes & gags show Wow Mali. It was the longest running comedy show in Philippine History. It went with other names: Wow Maling Mali (2003), Wow Mali Bytes (2006) & Wow Mali Express (2008).

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.

From 1992 until the end of 2006, ABC was a member of the Family Rosary Crusade. It had a trailer of it The sentence "The Family that prays together stays together." was announced at the end of credits of the shows of ABC & every start of the Hour.

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. However, due to high costs, NBA games and boxing have since moved to C/S 9 while "House of Hoops", the NBA review show, was shortened to one hour on Monday and two hours on Thursday. The program ended on April 28, 2008 and was replaced by Stories of Survival and PBA Classics. WWE Raw was cut from the lineup because of additional costs; instead they aired 2 movies on Saturday nights beginning at 7:00 P.M. In June 2008, Solar Entertainment made the move to bring WWE free TV programming to C/S 9.

ABC decided not to renew their airtime contract with the PBA once their original contract ends after the 2008 Fiesta Conference, and has since been acquired by Solar/RPN effective next season.

From ABC to TV5

In March 2008, ABC president and CEO Antonio Cojuangco announced that ABC has entered into a major block time agreement with MPB Primedia Inc., a local company backed by Media Prima Berhad of Malaysia as part of a long-term strategy to make the network more competitive. Cojuangco said MPB Primedia Inc., in principle, would produce and source most of the entertainment programs while ABC would continue to be responsible for news programming and operation of the stations. [ [http://www.abc.com.ph/features/features032808_aoc.html ABC Signs Content Partnership with Malaysia-Backed Group] ABC.com.ph]

A public advisory was plugged, informing that ABC aired its final sign-off on August 8, 2008. Sentro was the final program at that day. A final sign-off was aired that featured some of the station's flagship programs over the years. It had a theme song called Footprints in the Sand By Leona Lewis. At the end of it there was a voiceover (Michael Knight) saying "Thank you for watching. This is ABC 5 signing off.". After the sign-off a timer was on the screen that counted down until TV5 would be launched. On August 9, 2008 at 19.00 (7:00 PM) local time, TV5 new programs started [ [http://services.inquirer.net/mobile/08/07/17/html_output/xmlhtml/20080716-148713-xml.html Tony Boy takes a partner] INQUIRER.net] [ [http://www.tv5.com.ph From ABC-5 to TV5] ] [ [http://www.pep.ph/guide/2310/ABC-5-changes-name-to-TV5 From ABC5 to TV5] ] . However, despite the name change, the corporate name will still be Associated Broadcasting Company and Tonyboy Cojuangco will remain its CEO [ [http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080729-151459/Tonyboy-still-CEO-of-TV5 Tonyboy still CEO of TV5] ] .

TV5 was formally launched on August 9, 2008 by switching on its 120-killowatt transmitter and a big welcome party by the big stars of the network. From that date, TV5 would broadcast 24 hours a day with all new programs; Shall We Dance, some shows in Nick on ABC, Wow Mali (revived as Lokomoko), Kerrygma TV, Light Talk & Sunday TV Mass were the only ABC 5 programs carried-over to the line-up of TV5 where the latter will continue to be broadcast until ABC's contract with the PBA expires in 2008.

logans

Program production

TV5 News

Competition

On its second month since its re-launch last August 9, 2008, TV5 has been reportedly on Top 3 based on the [http://www.agbnielsen.net AGB Nielsen] survey. [ [http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-09-04&sec=3&aid=71913 TV5 ranks on Number 3 in NUTAM] ] [ [http://www.tv5.com.ph/mediacentre_pr6.html TV5 is now the No. 3 TV network] ]

ABC Sports

ABC Sports was 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 was also responsible for the televising of many sports events such as the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, and the WNCAA. In August 2008, ABC became TV5 and dropped all sports related programs except for My MVP.

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. Currently, the network conducts test broadcast on UHF Channel 47. [ [http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/01102008/companies04.html ABC on Channel 47] ] The management of ABC is planning for digitalization by the last quarter of 2010. [cite web | last = Amojelar | first = Darwin | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Regulator orders shift to digital television by 2015 | work = | publisher = The Manila Times | date =November 6, 2006 | url= http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/nov/06/yehey/business/20061106bus6.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = March 20 ]

TV and radio stations nationwide

International broadcast

TV5 programs are shown in the United States, Singapore, Sydney, Hongkong and Canada via The Mabuhay Channel exclusively on StarHub.

Entities and ventures

ubsidiaries

*Operation Tulong Bayan [ [http://www.abc.com.ph/corpinfo_tulongbayan.html Operation Tulong Bayan project] ]
*Dream Satellite TV

Affiliates and productions

*MPB Primedia, Inc.
*Unitel Pictures [ [http://www.pep.ph/news/18652/TV5-unveiled-via-grand-press-launching Unitel Pictures] ]
*Pixelgrain, Inc. [ [http://www.pep.ph/news/18652/TV5-unveiled-via-grand-press-launching Laurice Guillen's company] ]

References

* [http://www.tv5.com.ph TV5]

ee also

*List of Philippine media companies
*Philippine television networks

Related

* [http://pinoytv.pitas.com History of Philippine television]
* [http://services.inq7.net/express/06/07/25/html_output/20060725-11557.xml.html Lavish party to announce ABC 5 is a serious player]
* [http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=102344 Solar joins ABC 5 And RJTV 29]

External links

* [http://www.tv5.com.ph Official Site]
* [http://telebisyon.net/programa/TV5/weekly/ Program Schedule] at Telebisyon.net
* [http://www.tv5.com.ph/programguide.html Program Schedule] at TV5 Website
* [http://www.mabuhaychannel.com/ Mabuhay Channel website]