ABS-CBN signed off Tuesday night “in compliance” with the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) order to stop the media giant’s broadcast operations following the lapse of its congressional franchise.
On Tuesday, the NTC ordered the network to immediately halt its TV and radio broadcast stations nationwide a day after its 25-year license to operate expired on May 4. ABS-CBN was given 10 days to respond and convince the agency to revoke the order.
“In compliance with the NTC order, ABS-CBN goes off air on all TV and radio stations nationwide,” the network said in a statement on its social media accounts as it went off air right after its evening newscast TV Patrol.
ABS-CBN, however, is allowed to continue delivering news and information via its other platforms such as its websites and the ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel).
“ABS-CBN News remains committed to serving the Filipino and it will continue to deliver crucial and timely information through news.abs-cbn.com and the ABS-CBN News Channel,” the network said.
Minutes before it signed off, TV Patrol aired a video paying tribute to ABS-CBN’s six decades as a leading broadcast network.
During the news program, ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak also delivered a message calling on the public to show its support for its 11,000 employees and for the sake of Filipinos needing its service, especially in this time of pandemic.
“Mga Kapamilya, kung naging mahalaga sa inyo ang ating ABS-CBN, hinihingi po namin na tayo ay patuloy na magtulungan para mapanatili ang serbisyo na naidudulot ng ating istasyon. Alang-alang po sa mahigit 11,000 na nagtatrabaho sa ABS-CBN at sa kanilang mga pamilya namaapektuhan ang kabuhayan at maaring mawalan ng trabaho. Alang-alang po sa milyong-milyong Pilipino na kinakailangan ang serbisyo ng ABS-CBN lalong lalo na sa panahon ng pinakamatinding krisis sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo,” Katigbak said.
“Lalo na ngayon sa pinakamalalang panahon ng sakit at gutom. Ipadama, isaad at ipadinig po natin ang ating nararamdaman sa pagsasara ng ating ABS-CBN. Sa oras na ito, kami naman po ang humihingi ng inyong pagdamay. Maraming salamat po mga kapamilya,” he added.
Network chairman Mark Lopez, on the other hand, asked for prayers for the network to resume its broadcast operations. He also thanked those who have already expressed their support.
“Hindi po ito ang panahon para bumitaw lalo na’t alam naming marami pa kaming maitutulong. Samahan ninyo kaming manalangin na muling ibalik ang ABS-CBN upang tuluyan kaming makapaglingkod sa pamilya at sambayanang Pilipino. Taos-puso po ang aming pasasalamat sa pagmamahal at suporta ninyo mga Kapamilya,” Lopez said.
