Although, that led to the company’s pivot from a terrestrial broadcast network into a local content production powerhouse.
On July 10, 2020, 70 lawmakers in the House of Representatives approved the resolution that denied the bid of media giant ABS-CBN to renew its legislative franchise and be granted a new 25-year franchise.
This meant that all bills filed that sought to renew the Kapamilya network’s franchise were effectively “laid on the table.”
As a result of the non-renewal of its franchise, ABS-CBN retrenched thousands from its 11,000 workers, which was trimmed down to little less than 6,000 (as of 2022).
The network also had to close down entire business divisions, such as its current affairs, sports, regional network, and themed parks on August 31, 2020.
Following that, in September 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission recalled all TV and radio frequencies previously operated by ABS-CBN until its shutdown on May 5, 2020.
Since then, ABS-CBN had largely pivoted into a content production company, and entered into blocktime or partnership agreements with Zoe TV (for A2Z), TV5, GMA, GTV, among others for the free-to-air broadcast of these programs.