The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has temporarily granted Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc. (AMBS), a company linked to billionaire Manuel Villar Jr., the provisional license to operate broadcasting services in Metro Manila via the frequencies that were used to be held by ABS-CBN Corp.
In a statement sent to reporters on Tuesday night, the commission said AMBS was granted the provisional authority to “install, operate and maintain a Digital Television (TV) Broadcasting System in Metro Manila/Mega Manila using Channel 16.”
Planet Cable, a broadcaster owned by the Villar family, controls AMBS, which also requested a simulcast channel, which in this case, was channel 2.
“After the technical evaluation of AMBS’ request for a simulcast channel, Channel 2 (the paired analog channel in Mega Manila of digital channel 16) was temporarily assigned to AMBS. This temporary assignment is for simulcast purposes only, and only until the analog shut-off scheduled in 2023. The temporary assignment was granted to ensure service to both analog and digital TV signal users as the country transitions to full digital TV,” the NTC statement read.
NTC noted that the PA was granted following the guidance from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), a legal opinion from the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the concurrence of the Office of the President – Office of the Executive Secretary.
AMBS, it added, was the first applicant for an authority to install, operate and maintain a digital TV in Metro Manila in 2006. Since then it has been waiting for an available digital TV frequency after undergoing a quasi-judicial process which includes notice to all interested/ affected parties and hearing.
The Villar-controlled broadcasting company’s 25-year franchise was approved in 2019.
“AMBS was granted the PA after the determination of its legal, technical and financial qualification,” the statement read.
The BusinessMirror received a copy of the permit from a “concerned employee of the NTC” on Tuesday morning. The newspaper tried to verify the veracity of the tip, but NTC officials were not responding to our calls.
According to the test broadcast permit, AMBS was allowed to use the 55.25 MHz to 83.25 MHz frequencies for channel 2, which was previously held by ABS-CBN before it was forced to stop television broadcast after Congress refused to renew its franchise in 2020.
The permit read: “The operation of the subject radio station shall be done in accordance with the existing Radio Laws and Regulations.”