With ABS-CBN shut, Andanar hopes PTV can compete in the ratings

Now that ABS-CBN is out of the game, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar hopes that state-owned People’s Television Network (PTV) could compete with other networks in the ratings.

During the House hearing on PCOO’s budget, House committee on appropriations chairperson Rep. Eric Yap asked Andanar whether PTV aims to compete with big networks, such as GMA Network when it comes to ratings since ABS-CBN is now shuttered since it was denied a franchise.

“Ngayong wala na ang ABS-CBN, mayroon ba tayong pangarap, may goals ba tayo sa PTV-4 na maging isang kalaban ng GMA, makapagcompete tayo sa kanila?” Yap asked.

(Now that ABS-CBN is out, do we have aspirations, goals for PTV-4 to compete with GMA, other networks?)

To which, Andanar answered: “Yes, we have a plan to at least be able to compete as far as ratings are concerned.”

“The PTV, being a government-owned and controlled corporation, it also has to make its own money from advertisers.”

Andanar said the PTV has likewise “beefed up” its news from morning to evening.

House appropriations panel chairperson Rep. Eric Go Yap questioned the qualifications of the current officer-in-charge of PTV, which he claimed is a production assistant “with no managerial experience.”

Yap likewise questioned the alleged poor working conditions and the wages of PTV employees.

“Ang gobyerno ngayon, natutulungan pa ‘yung employado nila. Ang sa akin, bakit natin hahayaan na yung mga cameraman P17,000 lang ang sahod tapos kulang sa PPE, kulang sa gamit?” Yap asked Andanar.

In response, Andanar said his office has been trying to address the labor issues inside PTV.

The PCOO was supposed to present its P1.59 budget for 2021, however, the hearing was suspended after lawmakers lambasted the red-tagging activities of one of its officials. [ac]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1333349/with-abs-cbn-shut-andanar-hopes-ptv-4-can-compete-with-ratings

‘ABS-CBN Frequencies Now Open To Other Broadcast Networks’

House legislative franchises committee vice chairmen Jonathan Sy-Alvarado and Michael Defensor said Congress would not reserve the frequencies until ABS-CBN Corp. applies for a franchise again in 2022.

The frequencies left by broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp. with the rejection by Congress of its franchise renewal application may now be given to other companies, ranking lawmakers disclosed on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

House legislative franchises committee vice chairmen Jonathan Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan’s first district and Michael Defensor of Anakalusugan party-list said the former ABS-CBN frequencies could now be given to other franchise applicants. They said Congress would not reserve the frequencies until ABS-CBN applies for a franchise again in 2022.

“It’s now open for application by other broadcast companies,” Alvarado told The Philippine STAR.

Defensor confirmed this, saying the frequencies of ABS-CBN may now be offered by the government to interested companies.

“Technically, the frequencies of ABS-CBN are returned to the state,” Defensor said.

Alvarado said their panel had received information that several companies have signified interest in applying for the frequencies.

“The challenge for them really is to match the capacity of ABS-CBN and its asset of having the most number of regional stations in the country. But I have not heard of any instance when the NTC rejected an applicant for an available frequency,” Alvarado said, referring to the National Telecommunications Commission.

ABS-CBN’s franchise covered five AM and 18 FM radio stations, 42 analog and 10 digital television stations nationwide.

Alvarado, also chairman of the committee on good government and public accountability, did not disclose which companies have expressed interest in the former ABS-CBN frequencies, saying only that it would be “best to wait.”

“It would be NTC (that) would know who these applicants are,” Defensor noted.

The STAR learned from insiders that the Manila Broadcasting Company of the Elizalde group is among the firms that have expressed interest in the franchise.

“It’s really a profitable slot. That’s why it is expected that many are interested,” explained the source, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the matter.

The development came after the proposal to temporarily use the frequencies of ABS-CBN for the distance learning program of the Department of Education (DepEd) did not push through.

Citing “numerous violations” of franchise and related laws allegedly committed by the network, the House committee on legislative franchises voted 70-11 to reject ABS-CBN’s application for a franchise last July 10.

The network’s 25-year franchise was valid only until May 4. A day after the franchise lapsed, the NTC ordered ABS-CBN to cease its television and radio operations.

President Duterte had repeatedly made public his opposition to the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise and even advised the Lopezes to just sell their shares.

In April 2017, Duterte accused the network of “swindling” him for not airing his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential campaign, and airing instead a negative ad paid for by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of his staunchest critics.

Last February, ABS-CBN Corp. chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak apologized during a Senate hearing, saying the network was sorry if Duterte had been offended. Katigbak denied insinuations of bias on the part of the network.

Shortly after, Duterte said he had accepted the apology, but clarified that he would leave the fate of ABS-CBN’s franchise to Congress.

Thousands of ABS-CBN workers had to be laid off following the decision of the House not to renew the network’s franchise.

The Supreme Court has dashed ABS-CBN’s last hope of getting back on air as it dismissed the network giant’s petition assailing the NTC’s May 5 cease and desist order against the network. The SC said the petition had become moot and academic.

In a statement on Aug. 25, SC Public Information Office chief Brian Keith Hosaka said the justices, sitting in full court, cited the House legislative franchises committee’s decision not to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise as the ground for dismissing the network’s petition.

Those broadcast frequencies cannot be left idle until ABS-CBN "comes back", because that would literally look like special treatment for them.

pag nakabalik na ang ABS-CBN sa airwaves Full Digital na ang broadcast nila kasi useless na mag invest pa sa analog malapit na ang ASO.

https://www.onenews.ph/abs-cbn-frequencies-now-open-to-other-broadcast-networks

4 Ways To Grow Your Faith

 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 5:11-12

G.K. Chesterton told the story of a yachtsman who set sail from England, determined to reach an exotic South Sea island. But after many stormy days at sea, he sighted land. Beaching his boat, he ventured inland to find a pagan temple before him.   In the spirit of Indiana Jones, he was determined to claim it for England so he scaled the walls and bravely planted the Union Jack at its pinnacle, only to discover that what he had scaled was the Brighton Pavilion on England's south coast.  He thought he had sailed in a straight line, but in the storm he had been blown off course and had actually gone in a circle without knowing it.  As David Wells put it, "He imagined that he was the first in the land, but it turned out that he was the last."

We smile at the comedy of the error, yet more than a few people I know launch out in the venture of faith, only to hit stormy waters and find themselves going the opposite direction of heaven's shore.  Casualties of the faith.   How do you keep from being a fatality in the storms of life?  The following are guidelines that will help you when you feel tempted to retreat.

Guideline #1:  Learn about the nature and character of God.   Actually, faith rests upon the character of God.  Faith comes by hearing, says Paul, and hearing comes from the Word of God (see Romans 10:17).  What we know of God, we have gleaned from the Bible, a book that has been a map for pilgrims and travelers for centuries.  If you believe that the Bible contains God's direction for living, you then are confronted with the issue of whether or not God will keep His promise.  The more you know of the character of God, the greater will be your faith.

Guideline #2:  Realize that winds of testing only strengthen your faith when you remain faithful and steadfast.  Some folks become Christians with the anticipation that they will never, ever again face problems.  They are the ones who become disappointed.  Remember, God never promised to exempt you from storms, but to be with you and to take you through the storm.  Literally dozens of promises in the Bible can be found to that effect.  Notice that the storm strikes both the believer and the unbeliever alike.  The one is not subjected to great force because of his wickedness, nor is the other spared because of his faith; yet God has promised to be with His children in the storm.  That's the difference.

The Bible promises a blessing for those who are tested.  James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote that "the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:3).

Guideline #3:  Rest in the assurance that God is still in charge no matter how hard the wind blows.   Now I freely admit that sometimes when the storm is raging, you wonder.  The dog gets sick, your husband is out of town, the kids have to be taken to the doctor, the babysitter can't sit, and the car won't start.  "God," your heart cries out, "why me?"  Things must have looked pretty bad to Daniel as his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he saw the lions licking their chops at the thought of fresh meat—him.   Please remember the storm will pass, and God will be there to welcome you at the beginning of another day.  God will never leave you in the lurch.  Here's the promise: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Guideline #4: (Most important!).  Realize the walk of faith is one step at a time, one day at a time, one problem at a time.  God's will is like a flashlight in a dungeon:  It doesn't shine around corners but gives you just enough light for the next step.  That's as far as you need to go for today.

Resource reading: Philippians 1:12-30.

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/4-ways-to-grow-your-faith/