AMCARA Broadcasting Network
A Philippine television broadcasting company that operated UHF stations later used by Studio 23 and ABS-CBN Sports and Action.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
AMCARA Broadcasting Network was a Philippine television broadcasting company associated with the development and operation of UHF television services in the country. The company was incorporated on April 11, 1994, and was based on Katipunan Avenue in Loyola Heights, Quezon City. It was majority-owned by the heirs of Arcadio M. Carandang, a pioneer of Philippine television who had worked for ABS-CBN. AMCARA became closely identified with DWAC-TV Channel 23 in Metro Manila. The station's frequency had originally been associated with Ermita Electronics Corporation and began broadcasting in 1992 with satellite-fed music programming. After AMCARA acquired the station in July 1996, DWAC-TV conducted test broadcasts in September of that year using MTV Asia programming. In October 1996, the service developed into Studio 23, an entertainment-oriented UHF station operated in cooperation with ABS-CBN. Studio 23 initially combined music-video programming with locally produced and acquired programs, and its early identity was built around the slogan “Premium Television.” During the late 1990s and 2000s, Studio 23 broadened its schedule beyond music and imported entertainment. The station carried American series, reality programming, youth-oriented shows, technology features and news. Its programming later became more accessible to Filipino mass audiences through Taglish content and the slogan “Kabarkada Mo!” Programs associated with the channel included the English-language newscast News Central, the technology program Digital World, the youth talk show Y Speak and the Tagalog entertainment-news program Wazzup Wazzup. Studio 23 also supported ABS-CBN franchises such as Pinoy Big Brother and Pinoy Dream Academy. Sports became another major part of the relationship between AMCARA's terrestrial facilities and ABS-CBN. Beginning in 1998, Studio 23 was used to showcase the Metropolitan Basketball Association, ABS-CBN's first major professional sports programming initiative. The station subsequently carried competitions involving the UAAP, NCAA and Philippine Basketball League, as well as other local events that promoted Filipino athletes and school-based sports. ABS-CBN's relationship with AMCARA was formalized through a 49% controlling stake that was completed in 2009. The arrangement integrated the companies' UHF television operations and created the Studio 23 Network, which operated under the business name Studio 23, Inc. The AMCARA name ceased to be used as the principal terrestrial broadcasting identity, although AMCARA facilities and corporate references remained relevant to the operating structure. Studio 23 ended its commercial broadcast on January 17, 2014. The following day, its channel space was relaunched as ABS-CBN Sports and Action, a free-to-air sports and action service managed by ABS-CBN Sports. ABS-CBN later divested its 49% interest in AMCARA on January 24, 2019, transferring the stake to Rodrigo V. Carandang, one of AMCARA's majority shareholders. Carandang became chairman, while former GMA Network vice-president Jose Antonio Veloso became president. ABS-CBN also reported that it had stopped paying blocktime fees to AMCARA in 2019. The company became involved in the wider regulatory crisis surrounding ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN Sports and Action went off the air on May 5, 2020, following the National Telecommunications Commission's cease-and-desist action after ABS-CBN's legislative franchise expired. AMCARA's own legislative franchise expired on July 16, 2020. During a congressional hearing in June 2020, the blocktime arrangement between ABS-CBN and AMCARA was questioned by lawmakers and regulators, with critics alleging that it functioned as a nominal or “dummy” relationship; ABS-CBN characterized it as a standard commercial agreement. On January 5, 2022, the NTC reassigned AMCARA's former UHF frequencies, channel 23 and channel 43, to other broadcasters. These developments ended AMCARA's role as an active terrestrial television network.
History
AMCARA Broadcasting Network, Inc. was incorporated in 1994 and became one of the corporate entities involved in the expansion of Philippine UHF television. Its ownership was associated with the heirs of Arcadio M. Carandang, a television pioneer who had worked for ABS-CBN. The company was headquartered in Quezon City and later became best known through its operation of facilities used by Studio 23 and ABS-CBN Sports and Action. AMCARA acquired DWAC-TV from Ermita Electronics Corporation in July 1996. The station had begun broadcasting in 1992 with satellite-fed music programming and had subsequently carried Channel [V] material. In September 1996, DWAC-TV began test broadcasts of MTV Asia programming from Singapore. By October, it had developed into Studio 23, an ABS-CBN-associated UHF service initially promoted as “Premium Television.” Its early schedule mixed music programming with locally produced shows and imported entertainment, with limited overnight transmission because of operating constraints. Studio 23 gradually became a broader general-interest service. After MTV Asia moved to another local frequency, the station used programming from ABS-CBN's Myx music service and strengthened its entertainment schedule with reality television, American series and youth-oriented formats. By the 2000s, it had adopted the slogan “Kabarkada Mo!” and increased its Taglish programming. News Central served as its English-language newscast from 1999 to 2010, while Digital World addressed technology and internet culture. Y Speak, Wazzup Wazzup and other programs targeted younger Filipino viewers. The station also supported ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother and Pinoy Dream Academy franchises. Sports became a defining part of the AMCARA-associated television operation. In 1998, ABS-CBN Sports used Studio 23 to broadcast the Metropolitan Basketball Association, a professional league organized around a home-and-away model. Although the league's franchise was later sold after financial losses, the broadcast marked an important step in ABS-CBN's sports strategy. Studio 23 subsequently carried collegiate competitions including the UAAP and NCAA, the Philippine Basketball League and other local sporting events. ABS-CBN completed the acquisition of a 49% controlling stake in AMCARA in 2009. The transaction integrated the companies' UHF operations and produced the Studio 23 Network, operated under the business name Studio 23, Inc. AMCARA stopped functioning as the principal on-air terrestrial brand, although its studios and corporate identity continued to be relevant to the arrangement. Studio 23 closed on January 17, 2014. On the next day, ABS-CBN launched ABS-CBN Sports and Action in the same general channel space. The new service was managed by ABS-CBN Sports and focused on sports and action-oriented programming. In January 2019, ABS-CBN sold its 49% stake in AMCARA to Rodrigo V. Carandang, who became chairman. Jose Antonio Veloso, formerly associated with GMA Network, became president. ABS-CBN's 2019 third-quarter reporting also indicated that it had stopped paying blocktime fees to AMCARA. The company was subsequently affected by the regulatory conflict surrounding ABS-CBN's expired legislative franchise. The NTC ordered ABS-CBN services off the air in May 2020, and ABS-CBN Sports and Action stopped broadcasting on May 5. AMCARA's own franchise expired on July 16. During a June 2020 congressional hearing, legislators and regulators scrutinized the blocktime relationship between the two companies. ABS-CBN president Carlo Katigbak defended the arrangement as commercially standard, while critics characterized it as a dummy structure or other improper use of broadcast rights. AMCARA's former frequencies were ultimately reassigned by the NTC on January 5, 2022. Channel 23 was assigned to Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, while channel 43 was assigned to another broadcaster. With the expiry of its franchise, the disappearance of its associated services and the reassignment of its former frequencies, AMCARA no longer operated as an active terrestrial television network.
- 2022
Former UHF frequencies are reassigned
[1]The NTC reassigned the former channel 23 and channel 43 frequencies to other broadcasters on January 5.
- 2020
AMCARA's legislative franchise expires
[1]The company's legislative franchise expired on July 16 amid the broader shutdown of ABS-CBN-related services.
- 2019
ABS-CBN exits AMCARA
[1]ABS-CBN divested its 49% interest, with Rodrigo V. Carandang becoming chairman and Jose Antonio Veloso becoming president.
- 2014
Studio 23 is replaced by ABS-CBN Sports and Action
[1]Studio 23 ended commercial broadcasting on January 17, and ABS-CBN Sports and Action launched in the former channel space on January 18.
- 2009
ABS-CBN takes a 49% controlling stake
[1]ABS-CBN's investment integrated AMCARA's UHF operations into the Studio 23 Network.
- 1998
Studio 23 expands into major sports broadcasting
[1]ABS-CBN Sports used Studio 23 to carry the Metropolitan Basketball Association, beginning a longer-term focus on Philippine sports.
- 1996
DWAC-TV is acquired and Studio 23 begins
[1]AMCARA acquired DWAC-TV in July; test broadcasts began in September and the Studio 23 service launched the following month.
- 1994
AMCARA Broadcasting Network is incorporated
[1]AMCARA Broadcasting Network, Inc. was incorporated on April 11, establishing the corporate entity that later operated UHF television facilities.
Products and positioning
A Philippine UHF broadcaster whose facilities supported youth entertainment, music, news and sports programming, particularly through its long-running relationship with ABS-CBN.
UHF television station · 1992
DWAC-TV Channel 23
AMCARA's principal Metro Manila-associated UHF facility. It began as a music-oriented service, was acquired by AMCARA in 1996 and became the terrestrial home of Studio 23 before later carrying ABS-CBN Sports and Action.
Television network · 1996
Studio 23
An entertainment and youth-oriented UHF television service launched through AMCARA's relationship with ABS-CBN. Its programming included music, imported series, reality television, youth talk, technology, news and sports. It ceased commercial broadcasting in January 2014.
Sports and action television network · 2014
ABS-CBN Sports and Action
The successor service to Studio 23 in the former channel space. It was managed by ABS-CBN Sports and carried sports and action programming until it went off air in May 2020 after regulatory action against ABS-CBN services.
Controversies
2020
AMCARA–ABS-CBN blocktime arrangement controversy
During a congressional hearing concerning ABS-CBN's broadcasting authority, lawmakers and regulators questioned whether the blocktime arrangement between AMCARA and ABS-CBN was a genuine commercial agreement or an improper nominal structure. ABS-CBN defended the arrangement as standard commercial practice.
Brand decisions
2020
Broadcast operations cease after franchise expiryOtherBackground
AMCARA's legislative franchise expired during the regulatory crisis that also removed ABS-CBN services from Philippine broadcast television.
Action taken
AMCARA's franchise expired on July 16, following the May shutdown of ABS-CBN Sports and Action.
Aftermath
The company no longer had an active terrestrial broadcasting operation, and its former frequencies were later reassigned.
2019
ABS-CBN divests its AMCARA stakeM&ABackground
ABS-CBN ended its ownership relationship with AMCARA after years of operating associated UHF services.
Action taken
ABS-CBN sold its 49% interest to Rodrigo V. Carandang.
Aftermath
Carandang became chairman and Jose Antonio Veloso became president; ABS-CBN also stopped paying blocktime fees to AMCARA according to its 2019 third-quarter reporting.
2014
Studio 23 is replaced by ABS-CBN Sports and ActionGeneration changeBackground
ABS-CBN decided to replace the youth-entertainment positioning of Studio 23 with a dedicated sports and action service.
Action taken
Studio 23 ended commercial broadcasting on January 17, and ABS-CBN Sports and Action launched the next day.
Aftermath
The channel space continued to support ABS-CBN programming but no longer operated under the Studio 23 identity.
2009
ABS-CBN acquires a controlling stakeM&ABackground
ABS-CBN sought to integrate the UHF broadcasting operations associated with Studio 23 and AMCARA.
Action taken
ABS-CBN completed the acquisition of a 49% controlling interest in AMCARA and incorporated the operations into the Studio 23 Network.
Aftermath
AMCARA ceased to be the principal terrestrial on-air brand, while its facilities remained connected with the Studio 23 operation.
Recent events
- 2022
Former AMCARA frequencies reassigned[1]
Regulation · Other
On January 5, the National Telecommunications Commission assigned the former channel 23 frequency to Aliw Broadcasting Corporation and the former channel 43 frequency to another broadcaster.
- 2020
ABS-CBN Sports and Action goes off air after regulatory order[1]
Regulation · Other
The service went off air on May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease-and-desist order following the expiry of ABS-CBN's legislative franchise.
- 2020
AMCARA legislative franchise expires[1]
Regulation
AMCARA's legislative franchise expired on July 16, limiting the legal basis for its terrestrial broadcasting operations.
- 2019
ABS-CBN divests its stake in AMCARA[1]
M&A · Leadership change
ABS-CBN divested its 49% interest in AMCARA on January 24. Rodrigo V. Carandang became chairman and Jose Antonio Veloso became president.
- 2014
Studio 23 ends commercial broadcasting[1]
Product generation · Other
Studio 23 ceased commercial broadcasts on January 17, ending the channel identity associated with AMCARA's principal UHF facility.
- 2014
ABS-CBN Sports and Action launches on the former Studio 23 channel space[1]
Product launch · Product generation
ABS-CBN launched ABS-CBN Sports and Action on January 18 using the former Studio 23 channel space and associated broadcast infrastructure.
Sources1 sources
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