ALLTV reportedly teaming-up with ABS-CBN for ‘TV Patrol,’ ‘It’s Showtime’

Kapamilya shows might soon find their “way back home.”

Speculations are rife that media giant ABS-CBN owned by the Lopez Group and Manny Villar’s Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) are in advanced stages of talks for the latter to air productions of the former.

As per circulating reports, the “new channel 2” is looking to broadcast the “old channel 2’s” flagship newscast ‘TV Patrol,’ which is celebrating its 37th anniversary today.

Apart from that, other ABS-CBN shows like ‘It’s Showtime’ and Kapamilya dramas might also be included in ALLTV’s programming line-up in the future.

It is important to note that since its launch in 2022, ALLTV has been airing Kapamilya programs by way of old ABS-CBN drama productions like ‘Doble Kara,’ ‘Ngayon at Kailanman,’ ‘Sana Dalawa Ang Puso,’ among others.

Since the rumors about the deal first broke out, both ABS-CBN and AMBS have remained silent on the matter.

However, this week, the Kapamilya network sent out a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange to dispel another speculation.

There, the company denied anew the earlier rumors that they are applying for a new broadcast franchise, saying that “ABS-CBN Corporation disposed of assets that the company no longer needed to various broadcasting networks after we ceased operations as a broadcasting company.”

“It is not true that ABS-CBN is applying for a new franchise nor does it intend to buy back any of the assets it sold,” the former leading television network added.

Despite that move, ABS-CBN did not make any comments about the news on the alleged deal with AMBS that has been circulating in private fora for weeks now.

THE TALE OF TWO CHANNEL 2s

ABS-CBN, originally formed as the Bolinao Electronics Corporation, and later as Alto Broadcasting System in 1953, was the Philippines’ oldest and largest television network prior to its second network shutdown almost four years ago.

That year, ABS-CBN’s 25-year legislative franchise to operate its vast TV and radio network in the Philippines lapsed, leading to the cease-and-desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on May 5, 2020.

In September 2020, the NTC recalled all frequencies it previously granted ABS-CBN, including VHF channel 2 after the House of Representatives denied the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise in July 2020.

After those events, ABS-CBN has largely transitioned into becoming a major content provider to A2Z, TV5, and erstwhile-rival GMA Network, on top of its digital media partnerships.

In 2022, ABS-CBN’s former television frequency was awarded by the NTC to Manny Villar’s Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS).

On September 13, 2022, AMBS launched ALLTV and even acquired some past ABS-CBN dramas like ‘Doble Kara’ and ‘Ngayon at Kailanman’ to be reaired on the said station.

Due to massive financial losses, ALLTV ceased the production of its handful original shows in March 2023, and has since pivoted generally into a movie and archived programming channel.

At present, only its weekday news bulletin ‘ALLTV News’ and Anthony Taberna’s ‘Kuha All’ are the fresh original content aired by the Villar-owned TV station.

It remains to be seen how ABS-CBN’s existing partnerships with other networks will look like once the rumored tie-up with ALLTV comes into play.

Trendrod remains open for comments from ABS-CBN and ALLTV and will carry them on this site as soon as they become available.

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