NTC allows 2 firms to use channels formerly used by ABS-CBN

MANILA – The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has granted provisional authorities (PA) to two separate companies to use channels 23 and 43 — both previously used by broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp. — to operate on digital television (TV) in Mega Manila.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NTC said it granted a provisional authority to Aliw Broadcasting Corporation (Aliw) to “install, operate, and maintain” a digital TV broadcasting system using channel 23 in an order promulgated on Jan. 5, 2022.

“Aliw was the second applicant to install, operate, and maintain a digital TV in Metro Manila as filed on 30 July 2007, under Cast No. 2007-0126. ALIW has been waiting for an available digital TV frequency since 2007 after undergoing a quasi-judicial process which includes notice to all interested/affected parties and hearing,” the NTC said.

On the other hand, the NTC granted the Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC), the legal operating name of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) founded and led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a provisional authority to install, operate, and maintain digital TV channel 43.

Both companies, it said, were granted the provisional authorities after the determination of their “legal, technical, and financial qualification.”

“Prior to the grant of the PA, the NTC sought policy guidance from the DICT, a legal opinion from the DOJ (Department of Justice), and the concurrence of OP-OES (Office of the President – Office of the Executive Secretary),” the NTC said.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles clarified that when the NTC sought the legal opinion and concurrence of the DOJ and OP-OES on the matter, it was a “purely legal question” and no names of individuals or companies were discussed.

“When the NTC went to the OP-OES, it was only to seek guidance on the authority to assign available and unused frequencies. Again, there was no mention of any name or entity whatsoever,” Nograles said.

The decision to grant PAs to allow the operation of channels previously used by ABS-CBN, he said, was “up to the NTC based on their rules, regulations, and existing laws.”

On Tuesday, the NTC granted a PA to the Villar-led Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Inc. to install, operate, and maintain digital TV channel 16 and temporary simulcast on analog TV channel 2.

It noted that the temporary assignment to use Channel 2 was granted “for simulcast purposes only” until the analog TV shut-off in 2023 as part of the country’s full transition to digital TV.