Tuesday, May 5, 2020

LOOK: ABS-CBN workers watch before Channel 2 goes off the air

MANILA - Looks of worry and disbelief were etched on faces of people working in the ABS-CBN newsroom on Tuesday night, especially those who have been with the company for a long time.

Earlier in the day, the Philippines' telecommunication agency ordered ABS-CBN to stop its TV and radio operations, shortly after the company’s 25-year operating franchise expired.















ABS-CBN CEO and President Carlo L. Katigbak watches TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN CEO and President Carlo L. Katigbak watches TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

Chief Operating Officer of Broadcast for ABS-CBN Cory Vidanes watches TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs chief Regina E. Reyes reacts during the broadcast of TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission for the network to stop broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News workers watch TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

TV Patrol executive producer Marielle Gaceta-Catbagan watches her program and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News workers watch TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

An ABS-CBN News worker watches TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News workers watch TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

The National Telecommunications Commission on Tuesday ordered ABS-CBN to stop its broadcast operations "due to the expiration of its congressional franchise" on May 4. 

The NTC said the network should "stop operating its various TV and radio broadcasting stations nationwide 'absent a valid Congressional Franchise as required by law'."

ABS-CBN Corp., which employs around 11,000 workers, stopped its broadcast operations in compliance with the order.

In a statement, the broadcast giant said the order was issued despite earlier legislative resolutions assuring the issuance of a provisional authority pending the renewal of its broadcast license. 

Several bills for the renewal of its franchise, which lapsed Monday, are pending at the House of Representatives. 

news.abs-cbn.com