ABS-CBN to also stop TV Plus outside Metro Manila after NTC order

MANILA, Philippines — Beleaguered media giant ABS-CBN Corp. announced that it will stop the operation of its digital television transmission through TV Plus in all other areas outside Metro Manila starting Wednesday night after the state regulator ordered the immediate stoppage of the digital platform’s operation in the capital region.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said the decision to stop TV Plus operations outside Metro Manila is made as it seeks to clarify the scope of the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC).

READ: NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop TV plus in Metro Manila

“Viewers can still watch their favorite programs on CineMo, TeleRadyo, and Jeepney TV on SKYcable. TeleRadyo and Jeepney TV are also available in other cable TV operators nationwide,” ABS-CBN said in a statement Wednesday.

“We hope Congress approves our franchise and gives us the opportunity to return our service to all our TVplus viewers. We thank our viewers for their support and understanding,” it added.

On Tuesday, NTC issued two separate orders shutting down two more ABS-CBN businesses: Sky Direct and ABS-CBN TV Plus.

In ordering the shutdown of TV Plus in Metro Manila, the NTC argued that it was included in the list of radio and TV stations that they ordered closed in May.

NTC ordered ABS-CBN to stop its free-to-air TV on May 5, a day after its broadcast franchise expired.

Before ABS-CBN, however, the telecommunications regulator had allowed other broadcast companies with expired franchises to continue operating while their renewal was pending in Congress.

KGA