“To tell the story of the Filipino.”
That was the battlecry of the now-defunct free-to-air news channel CNN Philippines.
It was on this very day, the 16th of March in 2015, when the channel debuted on-air as the fifth localized version of global news brand CNN, months after it was first confirmed on October 14, 2014.
CNNPH transmitted on the television frequency owned-and-operated by Radio Philippines Network (RPN).
CNN Philippines initially boasted a line-up of original shows, led by the flagship ‘Network News’ with Pia Hontiveros, and international content from the main CNN channel in the United States like ‘Amanpour,’ ‘Reliable Sources,’ among others.
A year after its launch, in 2016, its local slate was further improved, adding the likes of ‘The Source,’ ‘Balitaan,’ and the morning and afternoon editions of ‘Newsroom.’
In May 2017, the news channel gained attention when it interrupted its regular primetime schedule to cover the onset of the siege in Marawi City, which escalated into a full-blown war days later.
They also done the same to report on the Resorts World Manila attack that same month.
The credibility of the our local CNN translated to the personalities that have been on the channel.
Leading the pack are some of the country’s well-respected journalists, namely Pia Hontiveros, Rico Hizon, Pinky Webb, Ruth Cabal, among many others who have come and went on the channel.
Aside from them, CNN Philippines also opened its doors to up-and-coming talents when it debuted ‘Newsroom Junior Edition’ in 2018.
Although the channel has gained a steady following and had been one of most trusted organizations in the Philippines, it did not translate to the financial well-being of the corporation behind it.
As per the financial statements Nine Media filed before the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC), it ended 2022 at a loss of more than Php 239 million, despite that period being an election year and NMC posting a revenue of Php 407.3 million.
Chiefly because its operational costs, which include salaries, production costs, and the license fee to use the CNN name, and the RPN airtime fee, cumulatively ballooned to nearly Php 515 million that year.
Hence, on January 29, 2024, local CNN franchise-holder Nine Media Corporation (NMC) announced that the newsroom would close down by the end of the month, with all productions and operations ceasing on the same day.
After the closure of CNN Philippines, NMC entered into a content partnership with Mediaquest and its subsidiary TV5 Network which saw more Kapatid content on the channel that had become RPTV effective February 1, 2024.