MANILA, Philippines — Shuttered broadcasting company ABS-CBN Corp. will stop its local newscasts of “TV Patrol” beginning Aug. 28, marking the latest in a growing tally of casualties after 70 lawmakers voted to kill the company’s franchise bid last July 10.
The affected newscasts include TV Patrol North Luzon, TV Patrol Bicol, TV Patrol Palawan, TV Patrol Southern Tagalog, TV Patrol Central Visayas, TV Patrol Negros, TV Patrol Panay, TV Patrol Eastern Visayas, TV Patrol Northern Mindanao, TV Patrol South Central Mindanao, TV Patrol Southern Mindanao and TV Patrol Chavacano, said ABS-CBN Regional head Tata Sy in a statement.
The network was forced to air its content on social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube after it was ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission to stop all broadcasts last May 5 — a day after its congressional franchise expired.
—Miguel R. Camus