Consumer groups support TV5-ABS-CBN partnership

MANILA, Philippines — Consumer groups expressed support to the recently announced partnership of broadcast firms TV5 and ABS-CBN as a welcome development that would boost public awareness of critical information on issues and events that have direct impact to the daily lives of every Filipino.

“The fusion of TV5 and ABS-CBN is definitely good news to the viewing public as this will help democratize the dissemination of well-vetted news reports to the public which is a mandated responsibility of a TV franchise,” said Orlando Oxales, convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines.

“We look forward to enhanced public service programs that will keep Filipinos well informed of important information that are relevant to their everyday lives especially during times of crisis,” he said.

“CitizenWatch is hopeful that this union of TV5 and ABS-CBN will evolve into a positive force that will contribute to our common aspiration of recovering from these difficult times and wield the power of its broadcasting platform in the most professional and responsible manner,” said Oxales.

Louie Montemar, convenor of Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente, in a separate statement said the free-to-air broadcast platform of TV5 joining forces with the content and production talents of ABS-CBN “is an exciting development that will fill a void left when the Channel 2 franchise was not renewed by Congress.”

“This is an opportunity to create a new brand of credible public service that would deliver not just entertainment but would hopefully a developmental medium of education and good values freely accessible to everyone,” Montemar said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Gus Tambunting, chairman on the House Committee on Legislative Franchise, said in an interview he viewed the agreement as a simple business venture wherein a legitimate television network with a channel and franchise has partnered with a former television network known for producing widely popular content.

”In my opinion, this is just a simple business transaction wherein there is one company with a free channel and franchise, while another company formerly had a franchise and formerly featured good content. On a business point of view, it seems very sensible to give space to the former leading network,” Tambunting said.

Supporting Tambunting’s statement, Oxales said, “More than a legitimate partnership, the lost jobs and opportunities of linked industries when ABS-CBN lost its franchise will be given another chance to be part of a new network that should learn  from the hard lessons of the past and strive to build a progressive mover in nation building.”