ABS-CBN has asked the Congress for fairness after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on June 29 said they will issue a cease and desist order (CDO) against the network for airing their programs on Channel 43 and its TV Plus digital box.
The network’s president and CEO Carlo Katigbak pleaded before the legislators for fairness and due process at the hearing regarding their bid for the renewal of franchise.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said they will “stop” the airing of ABS-CBN programs on Channel 43 of AMCARA Broadcasting Network as well as its TV Plus digital box after their analysis found that the network allegedly violated their original CDO that was issued on May 5.
READ ALSO: National Telecommunications Commission orders ABS-CBN shutdown
However, Katigbak said that Channel 43 was not covered by the CDO, and that they have a block time arrangement – an arrangement where a company can buy airtime from a duly licensed broadcaster – with AMCARA, which he claimed is common in the broadcasting industry.
“The reason we continue to see our channels on TVPlus is we have a block time arrangement with AMCARA. This is common in the broadcast industry,” Katigbak told the legislators.
He also requested that they be given due process, noting that the Congress has allowed other companies to operate even after their franchises expired, as long as their renewal applications are pending.
“Our appeal to Congress is, in the spirit of fairness, please consider that you have allowed other companies to operate before even after their franchises have expired for so long as Congress continues to hear their application for a renewal,” he told lawmakers.
The CEO also said that if they cut their services, about 55 million people will have no access to entertainment, news, and information.
“There are about 11 million homes that have access to our service. If we cut it, that’s almost 55 million people that will lose access to their entertainment, their news and information,” Katigbak added.
SEE ALSO: ABS-CBN now off-air; responds to NTC’s cease and desist order
