ABS-CBN to stop 12 news programs in provinces

EMBATTLED media company ABS-CBN Corp. announced on Wednesday the shutdown of 12 of its news programs in the provinces.

In a statement, the Lopez-led company said its 12 TV Patrol programs will have their final newscasts on Friday.

“This unfortunate development is the latest service affected by the denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise by the House of Representatives on July 10, which also led to the closing of ABS-CBN Regional’s operations,” it said.

The network airs news programs on its 21 regional stations.

ABS-CBN’s Regional Head Tata C. Sy noted the network has been serving families in remote areas that are “not reached by other television signals.”

“But more than delivering breaking news, ABS-CBN Regional news teams are also the first to bring aid and relief to communities struck by calamities,” she added.

ABS-CBN Regional will also stop producing new episodes of its nine morning shows.

Last week, the network reported an attributable net loss of P3.16 billion for the second quarter from a profit of P695.80 million in the same period in 2019.

ABS-CBN’s total revenues for the second quarter dropped 55.17% to P4.68 billion from P10.44 posted.

The network announced last month that it would implement a retrenchment program effective at the end of business day on Aug. 31.

The company’s theme park business, KidZania Manila, will permanently close starting Aug. 31. — Arjay L. Balinbin