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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
ABS-CBN Corporation, the premiere media and entertainment company in the Philippines, may have lost its stance and position as a dominant force in the local broadcasting scene due to the expiration and non-renewal of its legislative broadcast franchise in 2020 leading to its indefinite absence from television and radio but it has re-emerged itself "like a phoenix" and is taking plight towards its new chapter as the leading content creator in the country, crafting encouraging and impactful stories that resonates with the daily lives of the ordinary Filipino and the challenges of the modern Filipino family and sharing them across the country and the globe through multiple platforms.
At its Virtual Stakeholders Meeting held last June 20, 2024 which happens to be the anniversary of Lipa City's cityhood, ABS-CBN President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carlo L. Katigbak credited the company's re-emergence and newfound excellence to its partners and stakeholders, more particularly the Filipino viewing audience, who have been highly instrumental in the stories they help produce that redefine the perseverance and resilience of the Filipino above all else and the talent they help craft and develop to become the best in their own right in their respective fields. He also noted that ABS-CBN’s success has always been dependent on great storytelling talent – writing, acting, directing, producing – and talent in journalism and music, saying, “Your heart for telling meaningful and relevant narratives and your passion for public service through transformative stories truly make ABS-CBN extraordinary. To my fellow Kapamilyas, you are all part of this storytelling culture, you are the heart and soul of ABS-CBN." Among the notable accomplishments that ABS-CBN has achieved throughout its new direction include:
• Star Cinema's 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and 2024 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) entry "Rewind", now the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time with over Php1B overall box-office gross sales - a first in Philippine cinema - amidst uncertainty and skepticism regarding the industry
• "FPJ's Batang Quiapo", now the number one primetime series in the country, continuing its dominance in the local weekday primetime space once accomplished by "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano"
• "It's Showtime", regaining its prominence as the number one noontime show in the Philippines since its maiden airing on GMA-7 last April 6, 2024
• "Linlang" starring Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, among the most watched series on Prime Video
• BINI, the "Nation's Girl Group", becoming the nationwide pop phenomenon of 2024 with its recently-released tracks "Pantropiko" and "Salamin, Salamin" topping global streaming music charts
• "TV Patrol", ABS-CBN's flagship primetime newscast, widely recognized among the most trusted brands in broadcast journalism
On the other hand, ABS-CBN does not see the emergence of additional news organizations such as the Bilyonaryo News Channel coming to Cignal on pay TV and BEAM TV on digital free TV as a threat. Instead, it views this development as beneficial for the public’s access to reliable information and as a countermeasure against fake news. “We see the presence of more news organizations as a good step towards providing the public with reliable information, especially in the face of organized disinformation and fake news. But we also see this as a call to progressively improve our own service,” said Katigbak that ABS-CBN News, the corporation's integrated news division, will continue delivering reliable and timely information on TV and digital platforms with ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel) improving its lineup of news, interviews, business updates, and global shows and expanding its digital content and reach and TV Patrol continuing to offer the biggest news of the day, supported by professional, credible and dedicated journalists.
2024 has been a better and stronger year for ABS-CBN considering that many of its programs and movies are reaching a wider audience anew and newly-gained prominence in the local entertainment scene. With this in mind, the corporation is charting a new course in its 're-emergence' journey as it emphasizes the development of more homegrown contents while slowly stirring away from crafting local adaptations of acquired foreign franchises as part of its continuing commitment to produce quality content featuring true, compelling and relevant stories. Katigbak shared, “ABS-CBN will still have the next franchises for other shows like Big Brother, Idol Philippines, Minute to Win It, and Deal or No Deal. But on top of that, we will also continue to work on developing our own in-house formats so we don’t have to rely on foreign licensees for many of our programs." This comes on the heels of the finale episode of "The Voice Teens Philippines" Season 3 which marks the final season of The Voice of the Philippines on ABS-CBN after ten years which is now held by GMA Network since the middle of 2023.
Despite the continuing challenges within the company and beyond and the evolving developments in the broadcasting and entertainment industry, Katigbak reiterated on ABS-CBN continuing to provide and deliver quality content, "Whether in movies or other mediums, our success hinges on collaborating with top talent across creative, performing, and production sectors. ABS-CBN is dedicated to working with the best talent in the industry to maintain the excellence of our storytelling." Also, Filipino viewers and consumers should expect more engaging, encouraging and game-changing future collaborations between ABS-CBN and its digital and broadcast partners where their shows and movies are currently available to air and binge. ABS-CBN's plight towards a new direction and better year in 2024 is something that we did not expect above everything else, but it is what we can anticipate to enjoy and love as today's modern world continues to evolve and face new challenges threatening its stability and security.
