INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — ABS-CBN, the erstwhile giant in the broadcast industry, will soon pull the plug on 12 local “TV Patrol” programs, the latest unfortunate consequence of the denial of its bid for a 25-year franchise at the House of Representatives.
These local programs are set to air their final newscasts on Friday, August 28, the network announced Wednesday.
“Filipinos living outside Metro Manila across the country will lose a trusted source of local TV news and public service as ABS-CBN pulls the plug on the 12 local ‘TV Patrol’ programs,” ABS-CBN said in a statement.
“This unfortunate development is the latest service affected by the denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise by the House of Representatives last July 10, which also led to the closing of ABS-CBN Regional’s operations,” it added.
ABS-CBN Regional has been producing local “TV Patrol” editions for airing on the network’s 21 regional stations for over three decades, serving viewers in the provinces with local and national news presented in their own dialects.
These are the following:
– TV Patrol North Luzon (Baguio, Dagupan, Ilocos, Isabela and Pampanga)
– TV Patrol Bicol (Naga, Legazpi)
– TV Patrol Palawan
– TV Patrol Southern Tagalog (CALABARZON)
– TV Patrol Central Visayas (Cebu, Dumaguete, Bohol)
– TV Patrol Negros (Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental)
– TV Patrol Panay (Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras)
– TV Patrol Eastern Visayas (Samar, Leyte)
– TV Patrol Northern Mindanao (Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental Lanao Del Norte, CARAGA, Dipolog)
– TV Patrol South Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN, Cotabato)
– TV Patrol Southern Mindanao (Davao), and
– TV Patrol Chavacano (Zamboanga)
“ABS-CBN Regional serves Filipinos in remote areas not reached by other television signals. But more than delivering breaking news, ABS CBN Regional news teams are also the first to bring aid and relief to communities struck by calamities,” said ABS-CBN Regional head Tata Sy.
Aside from local TV Patrol newscasts, ABS-CBN Regional will also stop producing new episodes of its nine morning shows as well as its public service initiatives such as the “Grand Halad sa Kapamilya,” according to the network.
“Inspired by Kapitan Geny Lopez’ vision of building bridges in the air, ABS CBN Regional through its TV Patrol programs and public service has accomplished more than just building the proverbial bridges. In its distinctive way, ABS-CBN Regional helped build a nation,” Sy noted.
ABS-CBN Regional continued to produce newscasts and shows for streaming on its YouTube channel and Facebook pages after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease-and-desist order on May 5 that shut down ABS-CBN’s broadcast operations.