ABS-CBN - Wikipedia

Main article: History of ABS-CBN

As a free-to-air television channel (1953–1972; 1986–2020)

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Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC) was founded on June 13, 1946.[20] It was established by James Lindenberg, one of the founding fathers of Philippine television[21][22] and an American electronics engineer who went into radio equipment assembly and radio broadcasting. In 1949, James Lindenberg shifted Bolinao to radio broadcasting with DZBC[23] and planned the introduction of television to the Philippines in 1953.[24]

 

In 1951, Lindenberg partnered with Antonio Quirino, brother of then-Philippine president Elpidio Quirino, to try television broadcasting. In 1952, BEC was renamed Alto Broadcasting System or ABS (with Alto Sales Corporation as its corporate name). Alto was a contraction of Quirino and his wife's first names, Tony and Aleli. Despite little money and resources, ABS was able to put up its TV tower by July 1953 and imported around 300 television sets. The initial test broadcasts began in September of the same year. The first full-blown broadcast was on October 23, 1953, at a party in Quirino's home. The first program to air was a garden party at the Quirino residence in Sitio Alto, San Juan. After the premiere telecast, the station followed a daily four-hour schedule from 6:00 to 10:00 PM.[24]

 

ABS-CBN's first television broadcast was on October 23, 1953, as Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) on DZAQ-TV, three months after the first broadcast of Japan's NHK General TV and Nippon Television. It is the first television network in Southeast Asia to broadcast in color, the first television network in the Philippines to formally launch a digital terrestrial television service, and the first broadcast television network in the Philippines to formally launch in HD.[25]

The flagship television station of ABS-CBN was DWWX-TV (ABS-CBN TV-2 Manila). As such, the network was informally referred to as "Channel 2" or "dos" (Spanish for two) even if the network was seen in other channel numbers elsewhere in the country. The network operated across the Philippine archipelago through the ABS-CBN Regional division which controlled 80 television stations.[26][27] Its programs are also available outside the Philippines through the global subscription television channel The Filipino Channel (TFC). From 2011 to 2020, the network had on test broadcast for digital terrestrial television using the Japanese standard ISDB-T in select areas in the Philippines. On October 3, 2015, ABS-CBN started to broadcast in high-definition quality through its affiliate direct-to-home cable and satellite television providers.[25]

As of May 5, 2020, all terrestrial broadcast operations have halted completely as per a cease-and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission. All frequencies formerly assigned to ABS-CBN have since been reassigned to other networks (including AMBS' All TV, which ironically, would begin simulcasting selected ABS-CBN programs nearly two years later).[28][29][30][31][32][33][34]

As a content producer and distributor (2020–present)

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ABS-CBN restructured its operations starting 2020, prioritizing and focusing content creation, digital distribution, and global partnerships across cable, satellite, and over-the-top (OTT) platforms. These operations are managed by ABS-CBN under its parent company, ABS-CBN Corporation.

On June 13, 2020, ABS-CBN launched the Kapamilya Channel, a 24-hour pay television network designed to continue the company's programming through alternative platforms. Serving as the flagship channel of the company, the channel was introduced with a high-definition (HD) feed, replacing the former ABS-CBN HD channel, which originally launched on October 3, 2015. It is available nationwide via major cable and satellite providers, including Streamtech's Planet Cable, Converge ICT's Vision and its sister company Sky Cable.[35]

Following the introduction of its cable channel, the company launched Kapamilya Online Live on August 1, 2020, as its flagship free livestreaming service on YouTube and Facebook. The platform features current programming, same-day broadcasts, and archived content, mirroring the shows aired on its cable counterpart with slight variations due to copyright restrictions. It marked the country's first full-day digital entertainment service by a major television network, offering continuous programming through social media livestreams.[36]

ABS-CBN merged its streaming services iWant and TFC Online in 2021 to launch the upgraded iWantTFC platform, integrating domestic and international content libraries into a single streaming service. The platform offers live channels, video-on-demand, and exclusive digital content. iWant relaunch on July 10, 2025, with enhanced features including support for 4K streaming, aiming to provide a sleeker and improved viewing experience.[37]

ABS-CBN expanded its domestic television presence through a series of blocktime agreements with multiple broadcast networks. Programming became available on A2Z Channel 11 through a partnership with ZOE Broadcasting Network,[38] followed by a similar arrangement with TV5, which began airing select ABS-CBN shows and later included its primetime lineup.[39] A separate content deal with Advanced Media Broadcasting System allowed ABS-CBN to air current and archived programs on All TV starting in May 2024.[40][41] The company also launched collaborative projects with GMA Network, featuring shared production and on-air crossovers, marking a notable shift in the historically competitive landscape of Philippine television.[42] On May 29, 2025, at 8:00 PM, Media Serbisyo Production Corporation a joint venture with Prime Media Holdings officially relaunched the DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and DZMM TeleRadyo brands, resuming 24-hour news and public service broadcasts on AM radio and television.[43] Concurrently, ABS-CBN strengthened its digital distribution by partnering with international streaming platforms such as Netflix,[44][45] Amazon Prime Video,[46] Viu,[47] iQIYI,[48] and WeTV iflix.[49][50][51]