TV5 Network — BrandWiki

TV5 Network

Overview

TV5 Network Inc.

trade name	TV5
former name	Associated Broadcasting Corporation (1960–1972) Associated Broadcasting Company (1992–2008) / ABC Development Corporation (1992–2015)
type	Subsidiary
foundation	June 19, 1960
founder	Joaquin "Chino" Roces
location	TV5 Media Center, Reliance cor. Sheridan Sts., Brgy. Highway Hills
location city	Mandaluyong, Metro Manila

location country	Philippines

area served	Worldwide

key people	Manuel V. Pangilinan (Chairman) Guido R. Zaballero (President and CEO) Dino M. Laurena (COO, Media 5) Pierre Buhay (CFO)

industry	Mass media Entertainment

services	Broadcasting Motion pictures TV production Cable television Internet Streaming service Record label Satellite television Film distribution

products	Television program Films Music Web portals

brands	TV5 One Sports RPTV One News One PH One Sports+ PBA Rush Sari-Sari Channel NBA TV Philippines BuKo UAAP Varsity Channel True FM Kapatid Channel AksyonTV International Sulit TV Kapatid Livestream

revenue	₱1.977 billion

revenue year	FY 2022

operating income	₱909 million

income year	FY 2022

assets	₱9.56 billion

assets year	FY 2022

equity	₱3.95 billion

equity year	FY 2022

owner	MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. (29.13%) Upbeam Investments Inc. (28.87%) Telemedia Business Ventures Inc. (25%) Med Vision Resources Inc. (16.70%)

num employees	501-1,000+

num employees year	2024

parent	PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund (MediaQuest Holdings)

divisions	Alagang Kapatid Foundation TV5 Entertainment (Cignal Entertainment) Star Worx MQ Worldwide News5 Pilipinas Global Network Ltd. Regional5 Rescue5 Sports5 (One Sports)

subsid	Media5 Marketing Corporation MQ Digital MQ Live MQuest Music MQ Studios Nation Broadcasting Corporation UXS, Inc.

homepage	tv5.com.ph

footnotes	‡R1R‡ ‡R2R‡‡R3R‡

TV5 Network Inc., commonly referred to as TV5, is a Philippine media company headquartered in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. It primarily operates in radio and television broadcasting, and manages several subsidiaries and affiliates in various media-related ventures.[4] TV5 is owned by MediaQuest Holdings, a subsidiary of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund (which is managed by some PLDT key personnel for the pension benefit of PLDT employees). The company is led by Manuel V. Pangilinan.[5]

TV5 was founded on June 19, 1960, by owner of the Manila Times Joaquin "Chino" Roces as Associated Broadcasting Corporation, The company launched its first radio station DZMT, Its first broadcast on television was launched in July 1962, and the television station was known as DZTM-TV Channel 5.

In 1990, the company became known as Associated Broadcasting Company or ABC Development Corporation led by businessman Edward Tan and Roces' son Edgardo, a group of new shareholders initiated efforts to restore the network's operations. In October 2003, ABC was acquired by a group led by businessman Antonio "Tonyboy" O. Cojuangco Jr.

On August 8, 2008, ABC was rebranded as TV5 as it entered a partnership with MPB Primedia Inc., a local company backed by Media Prima Berhad. On October 20, 2009, MediaQuest Holdings acquired ABC Development Corporation and its blocktimer MPB Primedia Inc. from a joint consortium led by former PLDT Chairman Antonio "Tony Boy" O. Cojuangco Jr. and Malaysia-based media conglomerate Media Prima Berhad. Manuel V. Pangilinan expressed that he had intended to acquire ABC as early as 1999. It then changed its corporate name to TV5 Network Inc. in 2015, when the network identity became TV5.

History

1960-1972: Founding of ABC

Joaquin "Chino" Roces, owner of The Manila Times, was granted a radio-TV franchise from Congress under Republic Act No. 2945 on June 19, 1960.[6] He then founded the Associated Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), which became the seventh television network in the Philippines when it launched Channel 5 with the call sign DZTM-TV and established its first studios along Pasong Tamo in Makati in July 1962.[7] ABC operated radio and television services from July 1962 until September 23, 1972, when President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. Both ABC and The Manila Times were shut down as a result.

1990–2003: Revival after the revolution

Broadcast assets

TV5

TV5 or simply 5 (formerly known as ABC) is one of the major television networks in the Philippines and the flagship TV network. Founded on July 1962, it is branded as the Kapatid (Sibling) Network in reference to the company's logo. Its headquarters are at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong and alternative studios at the TV5 Broadcasting Complex in Novaliches, Quezon City.

One Sports

One Sports is a TV5 Network Inc.'s sports channel with Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as its primary content provider, which aired on its flagship station, UHF channel 41, and was launched on March 8, 2020. One Sports serves as a sports channel for TV5 with its programs primarily produced by its sports division of the same name. It was formerly called 5 Plus, when it was launched on January 13, 2019, and AksyonTV, a Filipino-language news channel launched by TV5 in 2011–2019. It is also available in most satellite and cable TV systems.

RPTV

News5 Digital

News5 Digital (News5.com.ph), formerly known as News5 Everywhere, is the official news portal, online video and audio content management platform, and Social TV of TV5. It also serves as an online and on-demand streaming portal for TV5 and AksyonTV as well as an online citizen journalism portal for News5.

One Sports

One Sports (OneSports.ph) is the official sports webpage of TV5 Network, Inc. in the Philippines, in conjunction with One Sports. Its content draws on the resources of both local and international sports news.

MQ Digital

MQ Digital, an online programming division of TV5, provides an array of online-exclusive content with various genres that can be viewed on all platforms through the online portals of TV5, One Sports, News5 Digital, and GG Network.

Kapatid Livestream

International presence

Pilipinas Global Network Ltd.

TV5's international presence is overseen by Pilipinas Global Network Ltd. (PGN), a joint subsidiary of TV5 Network Inc. (40%) and its parent the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (60%), Founded on March 16, 2011, at the British Virgin Islands, it has two subsidiaries of its own, PGN (Canada) Ltd., based in British Columbia, and the PGN (US) LLC., incorporated through the Delaware General Corporation Law and currently based on California. Through these subsidiaries, PGN acts as the sole and exclusive distributor and licensee of the programs, shows, films, and channels of TV5 through international syndication and its owned-and-operated channels, the Kapatid Channel International and AksyonTV International.[82]

Before this, TV5 (formerly ABC-5) aired its programs through an international channel, The Mabuhay Channel, and its counterpart in Canada. The Mabuhay Channel features a wide array of programming from movies, music, sports, entertainment, and current affairs to children's and lifestyle programming from ABC-5 as well as PTV-4, RPN-9

Defunct services

AKTV

AKTV was a primetime sports programming block produced by the Sports5 division of TV5 and was aired on the state-run Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC). Formed by a block time agreement on February 28, 2011, it was launched on June 5, 2011, by an AKTV Run at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay. Due to high airtime cost and low ratings caused by the impending privatization of IBC, AKTV ceased airing in May 2013 although TV5 continues to use IBC's Broadcast City facilities for its sports programming as TV5's parent, MediaQuest Holdings, has a potential bid for its privatization that was aimed to happen by 2016. MediaQuest could not join the privatization bid due to ownership rules and regulations that MediaQuest owns TV5 and AksyonTV.

Dream FM Network

Dream FM Network was the original radio network of ABC Development Corporation when it was reopened in 1992. With its flagship station DWET 106.7 FM Manila (now airing as Energy FM which is owned by Ultrasonic Broadcasting System), DYET 106.7 FM Cebu (now DYQC 106.7 FM, airing as DWIZ News FM 106.7 under the auspices of Aliw Broadcasting Corporation

Other assets

Divisions

TV5 Entertainment
News5
One News
One PH
Star Worx
Sports5
MQ Digital

MQ Studios

Studio5, Inc., doing business as MQ Studios (formerly Studio5) is a Philippine film, television production and distribution

External links

References

Media Ownership Monitor Philippines – TV 5 Network, Inc. VERA Files, retrieved November 24, 2016^
Annual Financial Statement 2022^
General Information Sheet of TV5 Network, Inc. as of Dec. 29, 2022 Securities and Exchange Commission, June 2, 2025

2009–2016: Acquisition by MediaQuest, expansion, relocation, and renaming

On October 20, 2009, Media Prima announced that it would be divesting its 70% share in TV5/MPB Primedia and selling it to the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company's broadcasting arm, MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. as Media Prima had incurred losses during the 2008 financial crisis. MediaQuest also acquired Cojuangco-owned ABC Development Corporation and its television stations by the end of 2009. The two acquisitions were completed on March 2, 2010, as announced by PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, who had previously intended to acquire ABC as early as 1999.[12] TV5 was reformatted on April 4, 2010, with a new lineup of programming and branding as the "Kapatid" ("sibling") network.[13] ABC's radio arm Dream FM was retained under Cojuangco management after the latter had transferred its ownership to Interactive Broadcast Media. By July 2011, Dream FM Network was closed, and its Manila station was sold to Ultrasonic Broadcasting System and relaunched as 106.7 Energy FM.

Upon acquisition, TV5 expressed interest in acquiring the 27.24% controlling share of Indosiar Karya Media to transform the network as the pan-regional multimedia leader in Southeast Asia. The agreement was to be reached by 2011, but it was never completed because Indosiar merged with Surya Citra Media, a subsidiary of Emtek, in 2013.[14][15]

On October 1, 2010, TV5 took over the management of MediaQuest's Nation Broadcasting Corporation stations. DWFM was relaunched as a TV5-branded news radio station on November 8, 2010, and Radyo5 92.3 NewsFM and DWNB-TV were relaunched on February 21, 2011, as AksyonTV, a news channel based on TV5's newscast Aksyon.[16][17]

In June 2011, Sports5 began a deal with the state-run Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation to produce sports programming for the network under the brand AKTV. TV5 continued to use IBC-13's Broadcast City facilities for sports events after the block-time deal ended on May 31, 2023, as MediaQuest Holdings was a potential bidder for IBC-13's privatization.[18][19][20]

In co-ownership with Pilipinas Global Network Ltd., international channels Kapatid TV5 and AksyonTV International were launched in April 2011. The channels were available in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Guam, and the United States.

TV5 expanded to social media with the online lifestyle site Kristn.com, the Pinoy online music portal Balut Radio, and the news video content site News5 Everywhere.[21] Kristn.com and Balut Radio have been inactive since December 2014.

Rey Espinosa stepped down as ABC Development Corporation President and CEO on June 1, 2013, to pursue his new post as associate director of the First Pacific Company Ltd, PLDT's majority owner. He was replaced by Noel C. Lorenzana, the Head of the Individual Business for the PLDT Group.[22]

By December 23, 2013, the network had relocated and begun broadcasting from new headquarters, a 6,000 square meter TV5 Media Center located in Reliance, Mandaluyong. This vacated Novaliches complex as well as its studios in Delta Theater (Quezon City), Broadway Centrum (New Manila), Marajo Tower (Bonifacio Global City) and the PLDT Locsin Building (Makati). The transmitter and corporate offices of TV5 remained in Novaliches, Quezon City. Phase 1 (News5 Center) was completed on the same day, while Phase 2 of the building (Entertainment Building, now the Launchpad Center) was completed in 2017. It houses TV5, and their sister companies Cignal Digital TV, Voyager Innovations, and Philex Mining.[23][24][25][26][27][28]

After failure to acquire a stake in GMA Network, TV5's ultimate parent, PLDT, increased funding for TV5. PLDT's subsidiary, ePLDT, Inc., invested P6 billion in the form of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) in MediaQuest to sustain the growth of TV5 and affiliate Cignal TV. PLDT also looked to install new platforms and technology that would suit consumers' preferences. TV5 Chairman Manny Pangilinan predicted that TV5 would "break-even" by 2017.[29][30]

In response to the process of shifting to digital terrestrial television, TV5 invested P500-700 million in the next four years in preparation for its shift to digital TV. Currently, TV5 and AksyonTV are conducting digital test broadcasts on channels 42 and 51, operated by TV5 affiliates Nation Broadcasting Corporation and Mediascape, respectively. It also plans to convert its UHF stations that operate TV5 and AksyonTV, to DTV transmitters.[31][32]

In December 2014, ABC Development Corporation partnered with Singapore-based studio Brand New Media to launch a multi-channel datacasting service, 4ME Philippines. 4ME will feature original content, produced both in the Philippines and internationally, for a network of lifestyle channels covering food, health, fashion, tech, comedy, travel, home, entertainment, celebrity, sport, outdoor adventure, and music. With the domain name TV4ME.ph, 4ME was targeted to launch in 2015.

In 2015, the company rebranded from ABC Development Corporation to TV5 Network, Inc.

TV5 Network, Inc. also launched its digital library of original online content called Digital5, using the company's online portals to produce exclusive programs that cater to different audiences on different platforms.[33]

On August 3, 2015, TV5 Network, Inc. and Cignal TV collaborated with Viva Communications to form an entertainment network called the Sari-Sari Channel (or Sari-Sari Network; SSN) that would air programs and films from both the Viva portfolio and TV5. By October, TV5 partnered with SSN, agreeing to let the latter handle the production of all the entertainment programs of TV5,[34] with Viva's Vic del Rosario Jr. appointed as the network's chief entertainment strategist.[35] The partnership ended in June 2016 due to a lack of success.[36]

After President Rodrigo Duterte came into office on June 30, 2016, many news anchors such as Cherie Mercado and Martin Andanar left the network to work for his administration.[37]

2016–present: Renewed strategy, pandemic, and partnership with Nine Media

On October 1, 2016, Media5 president and former Gilas Pilipinas and PBA head coach Chot Reyes became the network's officer-in-charge, replacing the network's president for four years, Noel Lorenzana, who retired from his position on September 30.[38] In the same year, the network halted production on entertainment programs after it shifted its strategy toward broadcasting American television shows and films dubbed in Filipino,[39][40] and made a deal with filmmaker Brillante Mendoza to produce television films and series for the network.[41] Sebastian Duterte, son of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, was recruited in January 2017 to star in the unscripted travel show Lakbai for his appeal to the millennial market.[42][43][44] By February 2017, more than 100 employees were laid off on short notice, most of whom were members of the ABC Employees Union.[45]

On February 17, 2018, TV5 launched its new slogan, "Get It on 5!". Along the launch, the network also started its five-brand strategy, consisting of News5 (News), ESPN5 (Sports), On5 (Entertainment and other content), D5 Studio (Digital), and the newly revived Studio5 (Films and Originals). By March, the network made a deal with Netflix to stream its new action series Amo, directed by Mendoza, becoming the first Philippine-produced series on the platform.[46]

In October 2018, TV5 was acquired by MediaQuest Holdings and discontinued the use of the TV5 Novaliches facilities.

On April 22, 2019, TV5 Network was granted a 25-year legislative franchise extension under Republic Act No. 11320, which lapsed into law after 30 days of inaction by President Duterte. The law grants TV5 Network a franchise to construct, install, operate, and maintain, for commercial purposes, radio broadcasting stations and television stations, including digital television systems, with the corresponding facilities such as relay stations, throughout the Philippines.[47][48]

After the retirement of Chot Reyes as TV5's president and CEO, he was replaced by Media5 President (TV5's sales and marketing arm) Jane Basas.

On February 4, 2020, Robert P. Galang was appointed as the new president and CEO of TV5 Network and Cignal TV, replacing Basas, who was appointed as the new Chief Marketing Officer of Smart Communications.

On August 15, 2020, TV5 Network announced a partnership with its sister company, Cignal TV, to become TV5's main content provider. This focus on the network's programming efforts signaled the willingness of TV5 to compete again with the GMA Network, TV5's longtime rival among other TV networks in the Philippines after the expiration of the congressional franchise of ABS-CBN in May 2020.[49][50][51] In 2021, TV5 and rival network ABS-CBN signed a deal that lets ABS-CBN programs to be broadcast in TV5 along with its own shows and also released a new cable channel named BuKo that airs comedy shows which is only available in Cignal. TV5 also released a new digital TV set-top box called Sulit TV, which transmits TV5's digital frequencies as well as other available digital channels, competing with ABS-CBN TV Plus and GMA Affordabox.

In September of the same year, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) inked a deal with Cignal to launch the UAAP Varsity Channel to air UAAP basketball and volleyball events simulcast on TV5 and One Sports.

In January 2021, TV5 started broadcasting selected programming produced by ABS-CBN to expand its nationwide reach, following the shutdown of ABS-CBN's free-to-air network on May 5, 2020. On January 24, the Kapatid network began to simulcast ABS-CBN's Sunday noontime programming block, followed by ABS-CBN's prime time block on March 5, 2021, the noontime show It's Showtime on July 16, 2022, and afternoon block on July 25, 2023.[52][53][54][55]

In June 2022, ABS-CBN engaged in advanced talks with TV5's parent company, MediaQuest Holdings, to allow its resources to combine after Villar Group-backed Advanced Media Broadcasting System acquired ABS-CBN's former frequency. Operations were slated to begin in October 2022 as ALLTV-2, becoming the flagship station of ALLTV.[56][57] On August 10, 2022, ABS-CBN and MediaQuest Holdings signed a "convertible note agreement" for the ABS-CBN's investment into TV5 Network. ABS-CBN acquired 34.99% of TV5's common shares, with an option to increase its stake to 49.92% within the following eight years, with MediaQuest remaining TV5's controlling shareholder with 64.79% of its common shares. Meanwhile, MediaQuest Holdings executed a "debt instruments agreement," in which they would acquire a 38.88% minority stake of ABS-CBN's cable TV arm Sky Cable Corporation through Cignal TV, with an option to acquire an additional 61.12% of Sky Cable shares within the following eight years.[58][59][60]

On February 1, 2023, Guido R. Zaballero was appointed president and chief executive officer of TV5 Network.[66] Zaballero, formerly the product manager of Smart Communications' Talk 'N Text cellular service and the vice president and head of marketing for Cignal TV,[67] assumed the position following the retirement of Robert P. Galang, who headed Cignal TV and TV5 since 2020.[66] Basas assumed the post of president and CEO of Cignal TV, concurrently with her role as the president and CEO of MediaQuest.[68]

On April 1, 2023, the high-definition feed of TV5 was launched on Cignal Channel 15 (HD), as announced on March 21, 2023.[69]

On April 16, 2023, the main channel switched its airing on the channel feed and its programming to a widescreen format (16:9), as opposed to a full-screen format (4:3).[70][71]

In June 2023, the comedy trio of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon (TVJ) signed a "long-term" agreement with MediaQuest to produce content for TV5 and other MediaQuest properties. On July 1, 2023, TVJ's noontime variety show, E.A.T., premiered on TV5 and eventually returned to its original name, Eat Bulaga![72][73][74][75]

In October 2023, TV5 President Guido Zaballero announced that the broadcast of the PBA games would be transferred to A2Z, with TV5's programming focusing more on entertainment and news programs.[76][77][78] That same year, TV5 entered into an acquired agreement with Nine Media Corporation (NMC) to broadcast Eat Bulaga! on Saturdays and select PBA games on Saturdays and Sundays, both on CNN Philippines, starting January 6, 2024 to expand channel's weekend programming lineup.[79]

On February 1, 2024, following the closure of CNN Philippines, TV5 launched a new free-to-air channel RPTV in partnership with NMC and Radio Philippines Network (RPN).[80]

On November 4, 2024, TV5 entered an airtime lease with Bright Star Broadcasting Network Corporation for the transfer of its radio division, True FM (formerly Radyo5) to 105.9 FM. Before this, Radyo5 was on NBC's 92.3 FM from November 8, 2010, to November 3, 2024, until Philippine Collective Media Corporation took over the operations of this frequency and rebranded as Favorite Music Radio.[81]

TV5 Network

History

1960-1972: Founding of ABC

1990–2003: Revival after the revolution

Broadcast assets

TV5

One Sports

RPTV

News5 Digital

One Sports

MQ Digital

Kapatid Livestream

International presence

Pilipinas Global Network Ltd.

Defunct services

AKTV

Dream FM Network

Other assets

Divisions

MQ Studios

External links

References

2003–2009: Cojuangco era, rebranding as TV5

2009–2016: Acquisition by MediaQuest, expansion, relocation, and renaming

2016–present: Renewed strategy, pandemic, and partnership with Nine Media

True FM

Other notes

Balut Radio

Kristn

TV4ME Philippines

Catsup

InterAksyon

AksyonTV

5 Plus

ESPN5

MQ Studios

Subsidiaries and affiliates

History

1960-1972: Founding of ABC

1990–2003: Revival after the revolution

Broadcast assets

TV5

One Sports

RPTV

Internet and social media

News5 Digital

One Sports

MQ Digital

Kapatid Livestream

International presence

Pilipinas Global Network Ltd.

Defunct services

AKTV

Dream FM Network

Other assets

Divisions

MQ Studios

External links

References

2003–2009: Cojuangco era, rebranding as TV5

2009–2016: Acquisition by MediaQuest, expansion, relocation, and renaming

2016–present: Renewed strategy, pandemic, and partnership with Nine Media

True FM

Other notes

Balut Radio

Kristn

TV4ME Philippines

Catsup

InterAksyon

AksyonTV

5 Plus

ESPN5

MQ Studios

Subsidiaries and affiliates

Corporate social responsibility