History of Television Broadcasting in the Philippines
1950s
UST demonstrated its home-made receiver, while FEATI opened an experimental television
station two years later.
On October 23, 1953, the Alto Broadcasting System (ABS), made its first telecast as DZAQ-TV
Channel 3.
ABS was owned by Antonio Quirino, the first telecast was that of a party at the Quirino
residence. The station operated on a four-hours-a-day schedule (6-10PM).
ABS was sold to Lopez family and transformed into ABS-CBN.
By 1957, the Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN), operated two TV stations: DZAQ
Channel 3 and DZXL-TV Channel 9.
1960s
By 1960, DZBB-TV Channel 7 or the Republic Broadcasting System was operated and owned
by Bob Stewart.
In 1961, the National Science Development Board was established and used local TV for
education.
In 1963, RBS TV Channel-7 Cebu was launched. An educational television in physics, Filipino,
and the social sciences were produced.
By 1966, there was 18 privately owned TV channels; ABS-CBN was the biggest network under
Martial Law regime.
By 1968, ABS-CBN provided Filipinos with live coverage of the Mexico Olympics and the
historic landing of Apollo 11 in 1969.
1970s
During Martial Law, Ferdinand Marcos ordered the closure of all except for the three television
stations: Channels 9, 13 and 7.
ABS-CBN was taken from the Lopez family, and Eugenio Lopez Jr. was imprisoned.
In 1973, KBP was organized to provide a mechanism for self-regulation in the broadcast
industry.
By the latter part of 1973, Channel 7 was heavily in debt and was forced to sell 70% of the
business to a group of investors, who changed the name from RBS to Greater Manila Area (GMA)
Radio Television Arts.
Stewart was forced to cede control to Gilberto Duavit, and RBS reopened under new
ownership with a new format as GMA-7.
When the smoke cleared, the viewers had 5 channels: Channels 2, 9, 13, 7 and 4.
DZXL-TV Channel 9 of CBN was sold to Roberto Benedicto and changed the name from CBN
to KBS (Kanlaon Broadcasting System).
A fire destroyed the KBS television studios, the people of Benedicto took over the ABS-CBN
studios.
By August 1973, KBS broadcasted on all ABS-CBN channels.
By 1974, Salvador Tan reopened Channel 2 as the Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
1980s
In 1980, Channels 2, 9, and 13 moved to a new Broadcast City in Diliman, Quezon City.
In 1980, GTV Channel 4 became known as the Maharlika Broadcasting System.
When Benigno Aquino was died in 1983, GMA Channel 7 gave 10 seconds of airtime for his
funeral procession
In 1984, Imee Marcos failed to attempt to take over GMA Channel 7.
On February 24, 1986, MBS Channel 4 was taken over by rebels.
On September 14, 1986, ABS-CBN Channel 2 resumed broadcasting after 14 years.
On November 8, 1988, GMA launched the "Tower of Power".
In 1988, MBS/PTV Channel 4 was launched as "The People's Station”.
1990s
In the 1990s ABS-CBN launched the Sarimanok Home Page.
On February 21, 1992, ABC Channel 5 reopened.
In 1997, the Mabuhay Philippines Satellite Corporation launched Agila II.
By 1998, there were 137 television stations nationwide.
On April 19, 1998, ZOE TV 11 was officially launched.
2000s
In 2007, ABS-CBN applied a license to NTC.
In 2008, Sky Cable and Cignal were the first cable network to adopt digital television.
In 2009, ABS-CBN began to test digital transmission using the European DVB-T standard.
In July 11, 2009, ABS-CBN launched Balls HD in Sky Cable.
2010s
In 2010, Government-controlled TV stations in Manila started to test digital transmission using
the Japanese ISDB-T standard.
In June 2010, NTC announced that Philippines will adapt the ISDB-T standard.
In 2011, ABS-CBN started to test ISDB-T transmission and released trial version of set-top
boxes. GMA7, TV5, and other TV networks also began their own test. GMA7 opposed the NTC and
asked to reconsider the European DVB-T.
On February 11, 2015, ABS-CBN launched its ABS-CBN TV Plus.
On October 3, 2015, ABS-CBN became the first national Philippine TV network to broadcast in
HD on cable.
2020s
On March 1, 2020, GMA Network celebrates its 70th anniversary of broadcasting.
On May 5, 2020, ABS-CBN was ordered to stop broadcasting by the NTC after its franchise
expired.
On June 26, 2020, GMA Network launched its digital set-top box, GMA Affordabox.
On July 10, 2020, the Philippine Congress rejected its franchise renewal due to alleged
violations in their franchise and other legal issues.
On October 6, 2020, ABS-CBN and ZOE Broadcasting Network entered an agreement.
On October 10, 2020, ZOE TV rebranded into A2Z Channel.