After failing to secure an approval on the 16th Congress (adjourned on June 6), ABS-CBN has to deal now with the 17th Congress to push its renewal bid as their franchise expires in 2020. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is set to have a good number of allies in the 17th Congress. As for every law, Duterte, as president, will need to sign the congress-approved legislative franchise for enactment.
Official statement on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN Corporation’s franchise to operate and maintain television and radio broadcasting stations will expire in 2020.
ABS-CBN opted for an early renewal application in September 2014 and went through the normal legislative process. But due to time constraints, ABS-CBN later decided to withdraw the application with the intent of seeking renewal in the 17th Congress.
Claims that the franchise will not be extended are purely speculative.
For the franchise renewal, we believe that our government will uphold the ideals of democracy including the rights to freedom of speech and expression.
ABS-CBN is committed to be in public service by providing news and information that matter to the Filipino, as we have been doing for the past decades.
