Marking the end of the historic and iconic channel 2 frequency.
On Tuesday, September 1, ALLTV, the flagship network of Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS), began airing an interstitial announcing the impending end of its analog broadcasts toward the end of next month.
The station that carries majority of programs from content producer ABS-CBN Corporation, which are then aired on VHF channel 2 in Mega Manila, will be pulling the plug on the said frequency on October 30, 2026.
The move is in line with the directive from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on the shutdown of all analog frequencies in the region by November 22, 2026, as the long-stalled transition to digital television will finally be implemented.
From that date onwards, the channel will only be seen exclusively on digital TV channel 16 in Mega Manila.
Affected by this shift are analog TV viewers of ALLTV in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
Those who are still using older analog antennas are required to replace that with a new digital set-top boxes that have antennas included upon purchase.
Viewers will then required to complete the installation and scanning process to receive the channels. The process can be completed by following the instructions set by the manufacturer.
After completing that, viewers will be able to continue watching ALLTV and other stations that remain available on analog TV, on top of digital TV-exclusive channels.
Aside from ALLTV, other networks that will have their analog signals switched off by the time of the November deadline are the following:
- PTV (ch. 4)
- TV5 (ch. 5)
- GMA (ch. 7)
- RPTV (ch. 9)
- A2Z (ch. 11)
- IBC (ch. 13)
- NET25 (ch. 25)
- GTV (ch. 27)
- One Sports (ch. 41)
- INC TV (ch. 48)
At present, other networks are still in the process of finalizing their analog switch-off date.
Meanwhile, for those already owning a digital set-top box, they need not to do anything as they will continue to receive signals as usual.
THE HIS2RY OF CHANNEL 2
It was back in 1969 when the frequency was first utilized by ABS-CBN following the adjustments made to accommodate the launch of Kanlaon Broadcasting System (later known as the Radio Philippines Network (RPN), now RPTV).
At that time, ABS-CBN, which was formed by the merger between ABS and CBN a few years earlier, was using both channels 3 and 9. However, it moved to channels 2 and 4, with KBS taking over channel 9.
The network would continue to be seen on channel 2 until September 1972, when the imposition of Martial Law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. led to the closure of all media establishments such as ABS-CBN.
The following year, in 1973, channel 2 would resurface on screens as the Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), owned by Marcos crony Roberto Benedicto.
It would have a brief run as City2 Television in the 1980s, before switching back to BBC-2 as the People Power Revolution deposed Marcos and the frequency was sequeatered by the administration of President Corazon Aquino.
She would later re-award channel 2 to the Lopez family, led by Eugenio “Geny” Lopez, Jr., which quickly revived ABS-CBN by September 1986.
For the next 34 years, the network, which was also known as the “Star Network” and “Kapamilya Network,” would be seen on two and with the term “Dos” being colloquially used to refer to ABS-CBN.
However, in May 2020, following the lapsing of its broadcast franchise, the NTC directed ABS-CBN to close down its free-to-air network on TV and radio, pending the status of its renewal bid before Congress.
Two months later, in July 2020, the Lower House voted to deny the bid and by September 2020, all frequencies once operated by the company were taken back by the commission.
In January 2022, the NTC awarded former ABS-CBN frequencies to other players, with the flagship station channel 2 on analog and DTT channel 16 given to AMBS.
Eight months later, in September 2022, AMBS launched ALLTV, carrying a mix of its own original productions and archived programs from its predecessor, ABS-CBN.
Over a year later, ABS-CBN and AMBS entered into a bigger partnership by letting ALLTV carry classic shows from Jeepney TV, noontime variety program It’s Showtime, flagship newscast TV Patrol, and the talk show Magandang Buhay starting April 2024.
It would be furthered in December 2025 as a licensing agreement that took into effect in January 2026 saw ALLTV fully embraced being a Kapamilya by getting an on-air branding as Kapamilya Channel sa ALLTV2.
That would only be an interim name as by March 2026, the channel has been given the name ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, featuring a mix of programs from the Kapamilya Channel and AMBS’ in-house productions.
