Due to reported unsettled financial obligation that has allegedly strained the relationship between the two media giants.
In a bombshell report by online news publication Bilyonaryo late Wednesday night (December 3), it said that it had obtained a copy of a letter sent by the management of TV5 Network, Inc. to its content provider, ABS-CBN Corporation.
According to the said article, a demand letter was allegedly sent by TV5 to ABS-CBN, where the Kapatid channel particularly accused the Kapamilya network of breaching the content supply agreement that was signed in June 2023.
“The demand was prompted by ABS-CBN’s commission of serious breaches in relation to its contractual obligations, particularly its willful failure, despite repeated demands, to remit TV5’s rightful share of collected revenues pursuant to Section 7.5 of the Agreement,” according to the said letter as obtained by Bilyonaryo.
Channel 5 reportedly demanded payment of PHP946.16 million (as of October 30, 2025) and said that these revenues are held by the other party “in trust for TV5.”
In addition, TV5 also claimed that ABS-CBN’s meetings to discuss payment plans were merely a “ploy to delay” the remittance.
“When we were finalizing the terms of the settlement agreement and payment plan, we received an email from ABS-CBN stating that you cannot comply with the payment schedule that we were discussing. Furthermore, there is no indication of any future payments,” TV5 reportedly stated in the letter.
TV5 also said that these actions made by ABS-CBN had “deprived” them of “substantial financial resources for its operations.”
Hence, the network decided to pull the plug on its supposed five-year partnership just halfway through it, with the effectivity date of the termination having been set on January 2, 2026.
“This termination is without prejudice to TV5’s continuing rights and remedies under the Agreement and under the law, including the collection of all amounts due and payable to TV5 prior to and after the effective date of termination.”
According to Bilyonaryo, TV5 has since directed ABS-CBN to immediately begin dismantling their joint operations as the agreement comes to an end.
ABS-CBN, TV5 COLLABORATION
It was back in January 2021 when ABS-CBN and TV5 first engaged in a blocktime agreement for the broadcast of the weekly variety show ASAP and the movie block FPJ Da King.
Two months later, in March 2021, the partnership reached a new level when ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida drama line-up, led by FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, was added to the TodoMax Primetime block of TV5.
In the succeeding months and years, both parties have engaged in more partnerships, such as the addition of It’s Showtime and Magandang Buhay to the Kapatid network’s programming grid in July 2022 and February 2023, respectively.
At one point, ABS-CBN was also set to invest in TV5 by acquiring a 34.99% stake in August 2022, however that plan fizzled out as soon as members of the House of Representatives—the same body that turned down the renewal of the Kapamilya network’s franchise in 2020—aired their concern over the deal.
Despite that setback, the partnership continued, with the networks teaming up for a pair of afternoon dramas in 2023 via Pira-Pirasong Paraiso and Nag-aapoy na Damdamin.
But the tie-up was shaken in June 2023 when It’s Showtime bade farewell to TV5 after just almost a year of airing after the network signed on the TVJ group for the launch of E.A.T. (now Eat Bulaga) on channel 5 after their dissociation with TAPE, Inc. the month prior.
However, later that month, both parties reached a landmark five-year content supply deal, which include top-rating primetime dramas like FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.
COMING TO TV5 IN 2026
In its recent thaksgiving and trade launch event, TV5 had already announced multiple programs that it will be presenting to Kapatid viewers in 2026.
The list is led by the first series team-up between Enrique Gil and Andrea Brillantes for A Secret In Prague; Piolo Pascual and Derek Ramsay’s The Kingdom (The Series); Iñigo Pascual’s The Good Doctor; My Bestfriend Emman with JM De Guzman, Shaina Magdayao, and Ai-Ai Delas Alas; and Project Loki starring Dylan Menor, Jayda Avanzado, and Marco Gallo.
They are also preparing to air reality shows like the return of Artista Academy hosted by Julia Barretto and the dance competition Isayaw Mo.
WHAT COULD BE NEXT FOR ABS-CBN
At present, ABS-CBN also has existing partnerships with other TV stations, such as its other erstwhile rival GMA Network (for It’s Showtime and Pinoy Big Brother), A2Z, and ALLTV.
The reported termination of its deal with TV5 could mean that most Kapamilya programs might return to limited reach anew via the A2Z channel.
Although, there remains a probability of an expanded tie-up with ALLTV, which is already operating some former ABS-CBN frequencies in the provinces and carrying shows via the Jeepney TV block.
Moreover, there is also growing buzz for a possible expanded partnership with GMA Network, specifically for its GTV channel to carry some ABS-CBN show.
Albeit, all of these remain unconfirmed by all parties, considering the nature of this developing story.
OFFICIAL STATEMENTS
Following the publication of the story, ABS-CBN has issued the following statement and disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange to clarify the news report.
It confirmed that it has received a letter from TV5, which may result to the dissolution of the partnership in 30 days’ time.
However, it denied the insinuation that it has “willfully delayed payment,” citing the network’s financial setbacks since its franchise was not renewed in 2020.
Furthermore, the amount was also not confirmed, citing that the figure remains “disputed.”
Meanwhile, in its separate statement issued on Thursday afternoon, TV5 said that while it values its partnership with ABS-CBN, the latter was not able to meet its financial obligations as specified in its 2023 content supply agreement.
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[…] statement comes hours after a bombshell report by online news publication Bilyonaryo, where it said that TV5 has issued a demand letter versus ABS-CBN over unpaid […]