The abrupt shutdown of the giant media network ABS-CBN was one of the most talked-about issues in the Philippines, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic that we are facing.
The cessation order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) forced the network to sign off as their franchise has already expired.
Meanwhile, Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines (FICTAP) brought up their claims about why the franchise should not be renewed, even though their allegations were already dismissed during a hearing at the senate.
On her Twitter account, @iamkarendavilla, Broadcast Journalist Karen Davila tackled FITCAP’s false claims in a series of Publication Material (PUBMAT) and corrected the fake news.
Ano po ba katotohanan sa mga akusasyon ng FICTAP laban sa ABSCBN? Basahin po: pic.twitter.com/AO2u5oUvKL
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) May 6, 2020
First of all, FICTAP’s assertion that ABS CBN has not done anything for the past years to renew its franchise is not true. In fact, 11 bills seeking the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise were still pending before the House Legislative Franchise Committee, the first of which was filed at least in the 18th Congress in July 2019.
In ensuring that ABS-CBN continues to operate as Congress tackles the bills requesting its renewal, House leaders on the NTC have given the network a provisional authority to operate.
Second, FICTAP argues that six (6) more channels under ABS-CBN need six (6) more franchises. But under Republic Act No. 7966, the 1995 law that granted ABS-CBN its franchise does not use the term “channel” at all.
Instead, the legislation assigns a “frequency” that can carry a single analog channel but also multiple digital channels in today’s technology. This digital paves the way for, “a more efficient use of the frequency since the spectrum used for a single analog SDTV (standard definition television) channel can now accommodate multiple digital SDTV channels and a combination of services for several types of reception in one frequency channel.”
Third claim, KBO, a pay per view channel is illegal under the franchise.
In the Senate hearing on February 24, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra pointed out that the for commercial purposes in the Franchise Act of ABS-CBN was “broad enough” to require the pay-per-view element.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said at the same hearing that ABS-CBN could be fined only P200 for the introduction of the KBO service without waiting for the Agency’s guidelines.
Furthermore, since FITCAP considers ABS-CBN a competitor, their views can hardly be called impartial.
Netizens, who found the ABS-CBN shutdown an injustice, sought other media networks’ help in spreading this right information to the masses.
https://twitter.com/AvidDiva5/status/1258018444236095488?s=20
Nkapost po ba ito sa fb? Andami kasing tanga sa FB. Paniwalang-paniwala dun kay Tamano.
— Josh V. (@jfvelasco24) May 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/Elish0511/status/1258049561873969157?s=20
These facts are just proof that ABS-CBN has not been found to have committed any serious infringement but not to have been granted a franchise.
Malacañang, the Office of the Solicitor General, and the NTC are now pointing out the failure of the House of Representatives that led to the closure of ABS-CBN as its legislative franchise expired on Monday, May 4.
