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ABS-CBN migrates to digital space

 ABS-CBN Corp. is doubling down on digital content as it confronts a new era without a broadcast franchise.

The company announced on Friday the launch of Kapamilya Online Live, which made its debut on its widely followed social media presence on Facebook and YouTube.

Through Kapamilya Online Live, ABS-CBN will stream popular entertainment programs such as Ang Probinsyano, It’s Showtime and ASAP Natin ‘To.

It adds to the company’s other platforms such as the recently launched Kapamilya Channel, which is available on Skycable and other pay television outlets around the country.

“With Kapamilya Online Live, ABS-CBN is poised to make an impact on the media landscape again, similar to what it did in broadcasting,” ABS-CBN said in a statement on Friday.

ABS-CBN Entertainment has more than 50 million followers combined in Facebook and Youtube.

While there is no subscription fee, internet costs are not free and in some areas, more expensive.

Nevertheless, the new direction will help blunt the effects of the loss of its broadcast franchise—which allowed it to reach tens of millions of viewers and listeners around the country through free TV and radio broadcasts.

“By livestreaming our shows on our Facebook and YouTube accounts for free without any subscription fees, we hope to be able to reach more Filipinos and stay true to our promise to continue to serve Filipinos in whatever way we can,” ABS-CBN chief operating officer for broadcast Cory Vidanes said in the statement.

ABS-CBN was ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission to stop all TV and radio broadcasts last May 5, a day after its franchise expired and while bills for renewal languished in Congress for years.

The NTC last month further told the company to also stop its satellite TV service and digital TV operations, affecting millions of other viewers.

ABS-CBN relies on advertising on free-to-air TV for the bulk of its earnings. After lawmakers voted to deny ABS-CBN a new franchise, the company announced mass layoffs by Aug. 31 this year and the collapse of various divisions around the country.

It would keep GMA as the sole free-to-air TV network in the country.

Apart from entertainment, ABS-CBN News will continue to house news programs TV Patrol and The World Tonight on its Facebook page with 20 million followers and YouTube channel with over 9.8 million subscribers.

https://business.inquirer.net/304140/abs-cbn-migrates-to-digital-space

What Does God’s Sovereignty Mean To Me?

Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning.  The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south.  Zechariah 9:14

Two brothers are scuffling in a disagreement.  Down on the floor they tumble, fists flailing.  Soon enough, the older brother manages to end up on top of the younger brother, who wails, “You’re not the boss of me!”    And, it’s true.  Mom or Dad is the real boss.  Hopefully we have long ago abandoned tussles with our siblings, but how often do we wrestle over the right of God to rule in our lives?

The word that we use to describe God’s rule, His authority over us, is sovereignty.  When we say that God is sovereign, it means that He has absolute right over us, his children.  What He wills is absolute.  God’s sovereignty over us comes with important benefits.  It means that we can know that it is He—not fate or chance—which rules the day and rules this world.

Let me point out four major benefits of God’s sovereignty:

First, it means that the responsibility for running the world—even my own personal life—has been lifted from my shoulders.  That’s good news.  It’s exactly what Paul was driving at when he wrote, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8;28).  Notice the words: “we know”—not “we hope,” not “we think” or even “we believe.”  Also notice the phrase, “God works….”  The outcome isn’t dependent on my clever manipulation of the circumstances.  I’m not the one who has to make it happen.  I can trust the Father.

Benefit #2:  A sense of wholeness and peace becomes my inheritance.  I may not understand everything that God does.  And certainly, I may not sense everything that God is doing, but I can rest in the confidence that because He is in control, I can turn off the light at night and say, “God, thank you for being with me today.  Thank you for being with me now while I sleep.”  You don’t need to keep one eye open because Psalm 121 assures us that God doesn’t slumber or sleep.  The world is not spinning out of control, whatever you read or saw online today.

 Benefit #3:  Knowing that God is sovereign gives me a sense of security both spiritually and emotionally.  Jesus told His disciples that they did not chose Him, but rather He chose them.  So, what does that mean to you?  If you are a follower of Christ, this means, based on what it says in the Bible book of Ephesians 1, that God chose you before the foundation of the world.  You are no accident, no chance of fate, no accident of your parents.  You are a unique person made in the image of God, and He chose you to be His son or daughter.  You are a child of the king, and no one can ever rob you of that birthright.

Benefit #4: Knowing that God is sovereign gives me confidence when I pray.  Because I am God’s child, I come boldly into the presence of the Father, I can talk plainly and directly with Him, understanding that He knows my frailties and weaknesses.  He understands, and best of all, He sorts out the dumb things I ask for and gives me what I really need.  He does this because of His great love for me as His child, a truth which I cannot understand. But for the rest of my life I can bask in the warmth of it.  Take time today to read the Bible book of Romans chapter 8, especially the last half where Paul so beautifully tells that nothing can separate us from the love of this sovereign, loving God, neither now nor for all eternity.

Resource reading: Romans 8:31-39

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/what-does-gods-sovereignty-mean-to-me/