ABS-CBN ceases TV and radio broadcast, asks for support from the Filipino people

By Joseph Almer Pedrajas

ABS-CBN, with all its TV and radio stations across the country, has gone off air around 7:50 p.m. of Tuesday.

This came after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order, directing the network to stop its operations, particularly broadcasting through its stations, after its 25-year congressional franchise expired on May 4.

Carlo Katigbak, president and CEO of ABS-CBN Corporation, called on the Filipino people to continue their support in an address he delivered through TV Patrol, ABS-CBN’s last program before the shut off.

“Mga Kapamilya, kung naging mahalaga sa inyo ang ABS-CBN, hinihingi po namin na tayo ay patuloy na magtulungan para mapanatili ang serbisyong naidudulot ng ating istasyon (To our Kapamilya, if ABS-CBN has become important to you, we ask for your support to be able to keep the service that the station brings),” he said.

“Alang alang po sa sa mahigit 11,000 nagtatrabaho sa ABS-CBN at sa kanilang mga pamilya na maaapektuhan ang kabuhayan. Alang alang po sa milyon-milyong Pilipino na kailangan ang serbisyo ng ABS-CBN, lalong lalo na sa panahon ng pinakamatinding krisis sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo. Lalo na ngayon sa pinakamalalang sakit at gutom (This is for the sake of the 11,000 ABS-CBN workers and their families who will be affected, for the sake of the millions of Filipinos who need ABS-CBN’s service, most especially in this time of crisis in the Philippines and the whole word, in time of grave disease and hunger).”

Mark Lopez, the company’s chairman, added that while the shutdown “pained” them, he was grateful for viewers who have loved and supported them throughout the years.

“Samahan n’yo po kami sa panalangin na muling ibalik ang ABS-CBN upang tuluyan kaming makapaglingkod sa pamilya at sambayanang Pilipino (Join us as we pray for the return of ABS-CBN, so we could continue providing service to your families and the Filipino people),” he said.

After TV Patrol’s three hosts—Ted Failon, Bernadette Sembrano, and Noli de Castro—delivered their extro, the network then signed off by playing the country’s national anthem.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/05/abs-cbn-ceases-tv-and-radio-broadcast-asks-for-support-from-the-filipino-people/