Television in the Philippines

Television was introduced in the Philippines in 1953 with the opening of DZAQ-TV Channel 3 of
Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) in Manila. The station was owned by Antonio Quirino, The station
operated on a four hour-a-day schedule (6 – 10 p.m.) and telecast only over a 50-mile radius.
This television station was later bought by the Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN), owned by
the Lopezes, in 1956 where they started radio operations. This gave birth to ABS-CBN, one of the
country and Asia’s major television broadcast network.

1946 to 1959

James Lindenberg

 an American engineer who began assembling transmitters on June 13, 1946

 established the Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC)
 first to apply for a license for establishing a TV station
 his request was granted on June 14, 1950 but due to lack of materials because of strict
import controls, he branched into radio broadcasting

Antonio Quirino

 brother of late President Elpidio Quirino

 was denied a license for TV broadcast, in fear that it would be used for his then brother’s
election propaganda in 1953
 bought 70% of BEC stocks which gave him power to control the franchise; Lindenberg
was part-owner and was the general manager
 changed the name of BEC to Alto Broadcasting System (ABS)

October 23, 1953

 the first official telecast through the launching of DZAQ-TV

 four men underwent training in the US to achieve this, namely: Arcardio Carandang,
Romualdo Carballo, Harry Chaney, and Jose Navarro

The first ABS studio was a makeshift barn along Florentino Torres St. in Manila. Using transmitters
from RCA, telecast were being received in Manila and its neighboring provinces. Their first
transmitter was located in San Juan. At first they were able to round up fifty-two advertisers for
their premiere, but it was difficult because not everyone had televisions and TV reception
depended on electrical power, which is not always available. Most programs on telecast were:

 borrowed films from foreign embassies

 imported old cowboy movies
 actual coverage of events

Father James Reuter

 a Jesuit with radio & TV training in the US

 produced the 1st play on Philippine TV, Cyrano de Bergerac, a 3-hour play on live
telecast and starred by students

In the beginning, Philippine TV networks would buy the rights of airing mediocre American TV
programs and serials since it was cheaper than producing local shows. In order to entice
advertisers as well as to encourage increased viewership, simultaneous airing of programs on
radio and television resorted to promotional gimmicks. Many popular radio shows,
including, Tawag ng Tanghalan, Kuwentong Kutsero, and Student Canteen, started their life on
TV this way.

1955

 Radiowealth started manufacturing TV Sets

 Carlsound, Reco, and other local outfits also started seeting up assembly plants
1958

 Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) opened in April owned by Eugenio & Fernando
Lopez
 The Lopezes bought ABS from Quirino and merged the two companies under the name
Bolinao Electronics Corporation and then became the former name of ABS-CBN
 DZXL-TV 9 was established on April 19, 1958 and gave Lopezes control over both
channels
 the combined ABS & CBN TV stations moved to new studios in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay
City, while ABS Radio moved to CBN building in Intramuros

1960s

 TV sets became the most sellable appliance in the urban areas

 Other VHF TV stations opened
 DZTV TV opened, run by Inter-Island Broadcasting Corporation (IBC)
 Among the top rated programs in the 1960s were The Nida-Nestor Show, Buhay Artista,
and Pancho Loves Tita, Tawag ng Tanghalan
 news and public affairs programs were pioneered by Channels 2 and 5
 The Big News on ABC Channel 5 and The World Tonight on ABS-CBN Channel 2 were the
first news programs on Philippine television, followed in that same period by ABS-CBN
Channel 9's Newswatch
 ABS-CBN also pioneered Filipino-language news programming, with Channel 2
having Balita Ngayon and Channel 4 having Apat na Sulok ng Daigdig, with Orly
Mercado as its first presenter.

1961

 DZBB TV opened in October 29, 1961

 DZFM opened, owned by the Philippine government
 DYCB Channel 3, the pioneer provincial television channel, was opened in Cebu City,
bringing four hours of locally produced programming with relays of Manila programs.

1962

 DZTM TV owned by Roces family was established

 DZRH TV was established in April 11, 1962 by the Manila Broadcasting Company owned
by Manuel Elizalde

1963

 BEC’s channel 3 staged the 1st ever colored TV broadcast

1966

 Colored broadcasting began in this period

1967

 BEC officially changed its name to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation

 Radiowealth pioneered in the production of 19-, 21- and 25-inch models of color TV sets,
favored by advertisers like Procter and Gamble, Philippine Refining Company, Colgate-
Palmolive, Del Rosario Brothers, and Caltex.

1969

 DZAQ TV transferred to Channel 2 and its sister channel DZXL TV transferred to Channel 4
 DZKB TV was established, run by Roberto Benedicto
 The first live telecast via satellite in the country, which was the live television coverage of
the Apollo 11 historic moon landing
 KBS-9 introduced the longest running sitcom John en Marsha by Ading Fernando and
starred Doplhy and Nida Blanca

1971

 the Philippines was the third country to manufacture color TV sets through Radiowealth
1972

 the growth of National TV industry was unstoppable

Martial Law era

 Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under martial law in September 1972, which led
to the taking over of all media firms
 Military control was evident among the TV and radio systems and only announcements
and propaganda regarding the Marcos regime was broadcast
 Media outlets who practiced criticism in the administration was shut down
 DZXL TV Channel 4 of ABS CBN was seized by the Office of Press Secretary Francisco
Tatad and National Media Production Center and renamed DWGT TV Channel 4, the
government channel
 DZKB-TV Channel 9 and DZTV-TV Channel 13 were eventually controlled by the then
Ambassador Roberto Benedicto
 Bob Stewart's DZBB-TV Channel 7 was later allowed to operate with limited three-month
permits
 ABS-CBN was seized from the Lopez family, and Eugenio Lopez Jr., then president of ABS-
CBN, was imprisoned
 By the latter part of 1973, GMA Network, which was then under blocktimer Philippine
Productions, was sold to Felipe Gozon the family lawyer of Stewart because foreigners
are not allowed to own businesses in the Philippines, who later changed the name from
RBS, to GMA Radio-Television Arts, to Global Media Arts, or simply GMA Network,
popularly known as GMA-7
 KBS Channel 9 and BBC Channel 2 served as vehicles of propaganda for the government
 Department of Public Information, reviewed everything that was to be aired on radio
and TV set up the rules and regulations. Through other government agencies, policies on
ownership, allocation of frequencies, station distribution, and program standards were
promulgated
 The 1974 Miss Universe Pageant, the 1975 Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier heavyweight fight,
the 1981 visit of Pope John Paul II was shown worldwide. When Benigno Aquino was
assassinated in 1983, it was a small item on television news. During his historic funeral
procession, GMA-7 was allowed by only ten seconds of airtime coverage.
 Jump-started the beginnings of satellite broadcasts linking the entire country by ABS-CBN
thru trial runs followed by RPN, IBC, BBC, GMA and MBS which started simulcasts of
programs from Manila to the provinces across the country's 3 major island groups
 For most of the period, RPN and IBC were the most-watched channels in the ratings.
However, before the EDSA Revolution, GMA managed to beat the two channels and
stayed at the position for the next two years

1973

 The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas was created and allowed for self-
regulation

1974

 A presidential decree created the Broadcast Media Council

1980

 Channels 2, 9 and 13 moved to the newly built Broadcast City in Diliman, Quezon City
 Gregorio Cendaña was named Minister of Information
 DWGT-TV Channel 4 became known as the Maharlika Broadcasting System and
converted to color

1984

 Imee Marcos, daughter of then president Ferdinand Marcos, tried to take over GMA 7
but was successfully prevented by GMA executives Menardo Jimenez and Felipe Gozon