Six years ago, on May 5, 2020, the terrestrial network of ABS-CBN, owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation, which operates the following broadcast services in Mega Manila on Analog RF Channels 2 and 23 (S+A), Digital RF Channels 16 and 43, Radio Stations 630 KHz AM (DZMM Radyo Patrol 630) and 101.9 MHz FM (MOR Manila), and all other TV and Radio Stations of the Kapamilya Network elsewhere in Mega Manila, shut its airwaves down by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
The shutdown of its broadcast operations occurred at 19:52, following the expiration of its 25-year broadcast franchise license and a Case And Desist order against it, as granted by Congress. And when this happened on-air, Peter Musngi, the resident voiceover of ABS-CBN, aired this final word before it turned into a black screen: “This is ABS-CBN Corporation Channel 2, in the service of the Filipino. Now signing off.”
Following these current events affecting the broadcast company and its on-air operations, thousands of ABS-CBN employees lost jobs as a result of the retrenchment, with some of the on-ground, on-air, and online properties ending their operations (but some of them later returned in further months or years), and the forced shutdown of Sky Direct and Digital RF Channel 43 on June 30, 2020, as a result of the NTC-issued Alias Case and Desist Order of these services affected.
The franchise renewal was a big hurdle for the network. However, on July 10, 2020, the House Committee of Legislative Franchises, with a vote of 70-11-2-1, decided not to renew the broadcast franchise for 25 years, resulting in the ABS-CBN Network being taken off the air, and its frequencies being recalled two months later.
The former frequencies of ABS-CBN were currently allocated to AMBS for Channels 2 and 16 and Aliw Broadcasting Corporation for Channel 23. Sonshine Media Network International, owned and operated by Swara Sug Media Corporation, which broadcast on a former ABS-CBN-owned frequency of Channel 43, was forcibly shut down by the government due to a similar Case and Desist Order in late 2023.
For the past six years, ABS-CBN has been tapping into partnering with other broadcast networks to deliver its shows on-air, including Zoe Broadcasting Network for A2Z on Channel 11 in 2020, followed by TV5 in 2021 (until January 1, 2026), GMA Network for Star Cinema film airings, It’s Showtime, two Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Editions, and two Kapuso-Kapamilya Collab Primetime Dramas, including Unbreak My Heart (2023) and The Secrets of Hotel 88 (2026), BEAM TV for Knowledge Channel and formerly PIE (with Kroma), MediaSerbisyo and PRTV for DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and DZMM Teleradyo (formerly Radyo 630 and Teleradyo Serbisyo), and AMBS’ ALLTV2 for the airing of your favorite Kapamilya shows that you probably watching on their frequencies formerly owned by ABS-CBN right now (Analog Channel 2 and Digital Channel 16), which previously aired Jeepney TV sa ALLTV2 in 2024.
ABS-CBN had also partnered with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Viu (as of 2026) to allow Kapamilyas to stream their favorite original series and in-advance episodes with their subscription, apart from their own streaming service, iWant, formerly known as iWantTFC from 2020 to 2025. Their original series and in-advance episode content on these streaming platforms include “How To Spot A Red Flag”, “What Lies Beneath”, “Blood vs. Duty”, “The Alibi”, and the upcoming original releasing via Prime Video on May 8, 2026, “Love Is Never Gone”.
The live streaming service of Kapamilya Online Live, launched months after the signing on of Kapamilya Channel on June 13, 2020, was notable for Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11 Big Night, which achieved the highest number of peak concurrent viewers of 2.26 million people, making a record for online viewing.
The said edition of PBB was known for its Big 4 housemates, Fyang Smith, Kai Montinola, Kolette Madelo, and Rain Celmar, as well as its ex-housemates who have, including the PBB Gen 11 Big 4, appeared in any part of the in a TV or digital series, a film, a song or a music video, an on-ground event or concert, in an on-air performance or appearance (i.e., ASAP XP and It’s Showtime), and many others, which include JM Ibarra, Jarren Garcia, Jasmine Dudley-Scales, Dylan Yturralde, Binsoy Namoca, Dingdong Bahan, Patrick Ramirez, Jan Silva, JP Cabrera, Therese Villamor, Joli Alferez, Gwen Montano, Marc Nanninga, and Kanata Tapia. These housemates are part of Star Magic, the talent agency of ABS-CBN.
Since then, ABS-CBN has become known as the “global storytelling company” from a broadcast network since May 5, 2020. The network, as stated in its recent official statement, has made significant progress both strategically and financially, transforming into a content company that continues to tell Filipino stories that bring joy, inspiration, and entertainment, while also delivering credible, relevant, and accurate news to its audiences.
The network took a moment to express a big thanks to their partners, advertisers (like what you’ve seen the number of TV ads for today, during Blood vs. Duty and The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan, as counted by the DRPS PHCA TV Ad Listings), artists, journalists, workers, and their audiences, for their continued trust and belief, and for standing with ABS-CBN through this journey. The progress that the network has achieved would not have been possible without their support.
ABS-CBN will remain “in the service of the Filipino”, before and after the forced shutdown, for the hearts of the Filipinos nationwide and worldwide.
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