Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media

Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc., commonly known as BEAM, is a Philippine telecommunications and broadcasting company whose principal activities center on UHF television, digital terrestrial television, and related multimedia distribution. The company operates broadcast frequencies that include Channel 31 in Metro Manila and a network of regional UHF outlets. Its business model has historically combined the operation of broadcast facilities with the carriage of programming supplied by blocktimers and other content partners. BEAM was established in 1993 by the Canoy family, the owners of Radio Mindanao Network. The company initially had a limited operating footprint and, at the time of its legislative franchise, owned an FM radio station in Dagupan. Its congressional franchise was granted in 1995, providing the legal basis for the construction and operation of radio and television facilities under Philippine broadcasting regulation. The frequencies later associated with BEAM had previously been used by Radio Mindanao Network-affiliated television services. These included Cinema Television, or CTV-31, and E! Philippines, which operated in the Philippines from 1993 until 2003. This earlier history is relevant to BEAM's position in the development of UHF television in the country, although BEAM itself was established as a separate corporate enterprise. A major ownership transition occurred in 2009, when Bethlehem Holdings, Inc. acquired BEAM from the Canoy family. Bethlehem Holdings is a media investment vehicle associated with the Globe Telecom retirement fund group. The transaction formed part of a broader period of investment by the Globe-related group in Philippine broadcast assets, including the acquisition of a substantial interest in Altimax from Mel Velarde. During 2014, BEAM began moving selected analog transmission facilities toward digital broadcasting using the ISDB-T standard. The transition was intended to support the emerging Philippine digital terrestrial television market and to make more efficient use of the company's spectrum. BEAM described its future digital service as a platform capable of carrying several free-to-air digital channels, with content to be developed through local and international partnerships as well as blocktime arrangements. BEAM's broadcast footprint includes Metro Manila Channel 31 and regional UHF facilities, including an identified digital service in Dagupan. Its activities have therefore covered both infrastructure and programming distribution rather than a single conventional television network format. The company has also been associated with plans to expand digital terrestrial television into additional key regional areas. On July 30, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11482, renewing BEAM's legislative franchise for another 25 years. The renewed franchise authorizes the company, for commercial purposes, to construct, install, operate, and maintain radio and television broadcasting stations, including digital television systems, relay stations, and associated facilities throughout the Philippines. The renewal provides the statutory foundation for BEAM's continuing operations and possible digital expansion.

Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media was established in 1993 by the Canoy family, whose business interests included Radio Mindanao Network. The company entered the Philippine broadcast sector during a period when UHF television was being developed as an additional platform alongside established VHF networks. BEAM's congressional broadcast franchise was granted in 1995. At that stage, the company had a relatively small operating base and owned an FM radio station in Dagupan. The broadcast frequencies later operated by BEAM have an earlier connection with Radio Mindanao Network-affiliated services. In Metro Manila, Channel 31 was used by Cinema Television, commonly identified as CTV-31, and later by E! Philippines. Those services operated from October 31, 1993, through June 1, 2003. Their presence established a history of UHF television use on frequencies that subsequently became part of BEAM's operating portfolio. In 2009, Bethlehem Holdings, Inc. acquired BEAM from the Canoy family. Bethlehem Holdings was described as a media investment company connected with the Globe Telecom Retirement Group Fund. The acquisition occurred alongside Globe-related investment activity in other Philippine broadcast assets, including a large stake in Altimax acquired from Mel Velarde. After the transaction, BEAM became associated with a broader investment approach linking telecommunications interests, media infrastructure, and digital broadcasting opportunities. The company began a more explicit shift toward digital terrestrial television in 2014. BEAM started converting analog facilities in important cities to digital transmission using the ISDB-T standard, the digital television technology adopted for Philippine terrestrial broadcasting. The transition was intended to improve spectrum efficiency and create capacity for multiple free-to-air services. Rather than relying solely on a single internally produced television schedule, BEAM pursued blocktime arrangements and potential partnerships with local and foreign content providers. BEAM's digital strategy contemplated a multiplexed platform with as many as seven digital free television channels. The company identified Metro Manila Channel 31 and regional UHF outlets as part of its broadcast network, while further digital expansion was planned for other important regional areas. Dagupan was identified as a digital broadcast location. The available reference material does not establish a complete list of launched subchannels, their individual programming identities, or the final timetable for every regional deployment. The company's legal operating position was reinforced in 2020. On July 30 of that year, Republic Act No. 11482 was signed into law, renewing BEAM's legislative franchise for 25 years. The renewed authority covers commercial radio and television broadcasting, digital television systems, relay stations, and associated facilities throughout the Philippines. This renewal supports BEAM's continued role as a broadcast infrastructure and digital television operator, although detailed current programming and network performance information is not established by the supplied sources.

• 2020

  Legislative franchise renewed

  [1]Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Republic Act No. 11482 renewed BEAM's Philippine broadcast franchise for another 25 years.

• 2014

  Digital transition begins

  [1]Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  BEAM began transitioning analog facilities in key cities to ISDB-T digital broadcasting and explored partnerships for additional free-to-air digital channels.

• 2009

  Bethlehem Holdings acquires BEAM

  [1]Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Bethlehem Holdings acquired BEAM from the Canoy family as part of Globe-related investment activity in Philippine broadcasting.

• 2003

  Earlier UHF services leave the frequencies

  [1]Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Radio Mindanao Network-affiliated CTV-31 and E! Philippines ended their use of the relevant UHF frequencies on June 1.

• 1995

  Congressional broadcast franchise granted

  [1]Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  BEAM received a congressional franchise supporting its operation of broadcast facilities in the Philippines.

• 1993

  BEAM is established

  [1]Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Canoy family established Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media in the Philippines.

A Philippine broadcast-infrastructure and digital television operator focused on UHF transmission, regional reach, multiplexed free-to-air services, and partnerships for locally and internationally sourced programming.

• Television broadcasting · 1993

  BEAM UHF television broadcasting

  BEAM operates UHF television facilities in the Philippines, including Channel 31 in Metro Manila and regional outlets. The service is built around the operation of transmission infrastructure and the distribution of programming supplied through blocktimers and other content arrangements.

• Digital television · 2014

  BEAM digital terrestrial television

  BEAM's digital television initiative uses the ISDB-T standard and is intended to support multiplexed free-to-air channels. The company has pursued digital conversion of analog facilities and identified regional expansion, including a digital service in Dagupan, while seeking programming and distribution partnerships.

• Radio broadcasting · 1995

  BEAM radio broadcasting

  Radio broadcasting forms part of BEAM's franchised business scope. The company initially owned an FM radio station in Dagupan, and its renewed franchise covers the construction and operation of commercial radio stations and associated facilities throughout the Philippines.

• 2020

  Pursuit of renewed national broadcast authorityStrategy

  Background

  BEAM required continuing legislative authority to operate commercial radio, television, digital television, relay stations, and related facilities in the Philippines.

  Action taken

  Republic Act No. 11482 renewed the company's legislative franchise for 25 years and authorized its continued construction and operation of broadcast facilities nationwide.

  Aftermath

  The renewal provided the legal basis for BEAM's ongoing broadcast operations and future digital terrestrial television expansion.

  Source

• 2014

  Shift from analog transmission toward ISDB-T digital broadcastingGeneration change

  Background

  The Philippine broadcasting market was moving toward digital terrestrial television, creating an opportunity to use spectrum more efficiently and carry multiple free-to-air services.

  Action taken

  BEAM began transitioning analog facilities in key cities to ISDB-T and explored local and international partnerships for digital channel content.

  Aftermath

  The initiative positioned BEAM as a potential multiplex operator and digital television platform, although the supplied sources do not document the complete rollout of every planned channel.

  Source

1. 1Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Mediaen.wikipedia.org