CNN Philippines

CNN Philippines
Type Broadcast commercial television network
Country Philippines
Availability Nationwide
Founded October 14, 2014
Slogan We Tell the Story of the Filipino
Broadcast area
 Nationwide
Owner Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific (Time Warner)
Nine Media Corporation (Radio Philippines Network)
Key people
 Amb. Antonio L. Cabañgon-Chua (Chairman, Radio Philippines Network, Nine Media Corporation)
Reggie D. Galura (President & CEO, Nine Media)
Robert T. Rivera (President & CEO, RPN)
Pal Marquez (Vice President for News and Current Affairs)
Jing Magsaysay (Senior Vice President for News and Current Affairs)
Ferdie Aboga (News Production senior manager)
Pia Hontiveros (Chief Correspondent)
Launch date
 March 16, 2015
Former names
 Talk TV (March 2, 2011 – October 29, 2012)
Solar News Channel (October 30, 2012 – August 22, 2014)
9TV (August 23, 2014 – March 15, 2015)
19 (UHF) (Digital test broadcast)
9 (VHF)
Picture format
 HDTV 1080i (HDTV)
SDTV 480i (SDTV)
Affiliation Radio Philippines Network
CNN International
Official website
 www.cnnphilippines.com
Language English (main)
Filipino (Tagalog) (secondary)

CNN Philippines (abbreviated CNN PH) is a television network in the Philippines. It is owned and operated by Nine Media Corporation together with Radio Philippines Network (RPN) as the main content provider under the license of US-based media company Turner Broadcasting System (a division of Time Warner). Replacing 9TV,[1] CNN Philippines is the local franchise of the Cable News Network (CNN). It is also the fifth local franchise of CNN in Asia, after CNN Indonesia, CNN Türk, CNN Arabic and CNN-IBN (India).[2]

CNN Philippines' local live programming has been produced from the Upper Ground Floor of the Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Mandaluyong City with their transmitter at No. 97, Panay Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City.[3][4]

On October 14, 2014, Turner Broadcasting System together with Nine Media inked a five-year initial brand licensing agreement, until 2020, that will build the alliance between the two news agencies, both on television and online.[5] CNN PH has been launched since March 16, 2015, 6:00 am PST and currently being seen on RPN's flagship station DZKB-TV, channel 9 in Mega Manila and among all regional relay stations in the Philippines. It operates 18 hours and 30 minutes a day every Monday to Friday from 6:00 AM to 12:30 AM, and 18 hours a day every Saturday and Sunday 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM on free TV while its programming broadcasts 24 hours daily on cable, satellite and live streaming providers.[4]

Background

Under the brand licensing agreement between Turner Broadcasting System and Nine Media, the latter will pay CNN an undisclosed amount of monthly fee for programs and expertise from CNN International and CNN/U.S. that will air in the CNN Philippines in exchange of locally-produced news, current affairs and lifestyle programs and rolling news coverage from 9News, all based on the standards of CNN. Also, 9News will be trained by CNN staff at the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia to enhance their reporting that will also help them to contribute reports for CNN International along with its news bureaus scattered worldwide; as consultants from the latter will help Nine Media/RPN for further development and expansion of CNN Philippines. The official news website, 9news.ph will be redesigned and changed into CNNPhilippines.com.[6]

On the day of the soft launching of CNN Philippines held last October 14, 2014, at the Solaire Resort & Casino, CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker released a statement that said:

The global news gathering power of CNN combined with the local perspective Nine Media Corporation brings enables us to provide first-class news and information to millions of Filipinos in a way that we have not been able to previously. I couldn't be happier to welcome CNN Philippines to the CNN family.[3][7]

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Sonny Coloma was the guest of honor at the trade launch of CNNPH at the Philippine International Convention Center the following day. RPN, the broadcaster of CNNPH, is formerly under the portfolio of PCOO, also known as Media Ng Bayan, from 1986 (sequestration from the Benedicto family, the original owner of RPN) until 2011 (when Solar Entertainment Corporation privatized the station); although PCOO still owns 20% minority share on RPN.[8]

History

TalkTV (2011–2012)

The channel was first known as TalkTV from March 2, 2011 to October 29, 2012 on SBN Channel 21. TalkTV is formed by the Solar Television Network, by-then owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation after the latter lead the privatization of former state-sequestered Radio Philippines Network (RPN) in 2011. The first programs that aired on the channel are Dateline NBC, Today Show, Today's Talk, NBC Nightly News, Inside Edition, Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman.[9]

Solar News, known for its back-to-basics and unbiased journalism was formed in January 2012 during the coverage of the Impeachment Trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. Post-EDSA revolution ABS-CBN newsmen Pal Marquez, Jing Magsaysay and Pia Hontiveros together with former ANC anchors Claire Celdran, Mai Rodriguez and Nancy Irlanda known as the pillars of Solar News. Reportorial team then was composed by former reporters of RPN NewsWatch, the sole and longest running English newscast of Radio Philippines Network, which was stopped airing in 2012 as an effect of RPN's privatization.[9]

The 15-minute news bulletin Solar News Update (now Headlines) first aired in March 2012, followed by the primetime newscast Solar Network News and Solar Nightly News started airing in June 18 and July 16 of the same year and Daybreak and Newsday in October 1, 2012. Last October 30, 2012 at 05:30 am (UTC +8:00), TalkTV had finally signed-off to make way for the launching of the first 24-hour English news channel on both cable TV and free-to-air TV, Solar News Channel.[9]

Solar News Channel (2012–2014)

Main article: Solar News Channel

Dubbed then as the "First 24/7 All-English News Channel on Free TV", Solar News Channel (SNC) replaces TalkTV. SNC was launched at 5:45am of October 30, 2012 on Channel 21.[10]

During the first months of the operations, the channel was producing major local newscasts including a native language newscast Solar News Cebuano, a sports newscast Solar Sports Desk and public affairs programs Legal HD, Medtalk, News.PH, Opposing Views, Elections 2013 and News Cafe. 60 Minutes, Top Gear, Undercover Boss and the "Stories" Documentaries block was also launched during the SNC's time. SNC launched its own mobile application for smartphone users. Its consists of features such as live streaming, catch-up episodes (newscasts and Stories) and latest news from the network's website, solarnews.ph.[11]

In November 2013, San Miguel Corp. President and COO Ramon S. Ang personally acquired the minority stake of STVNI. Tiengs was the majority stockholder then of STVNI.[12] In December 1, 2013, SNC moved to RPN Channel 9 for the improvements of the signal and to cater a wider audience. RPN's former occupant and SNC's affiliate ETC transferred to their former home SBN Channel 21 (ETC was aired in SBN-21 from 2008-2011 then at RPN-9 from 2011-2013). Solar News Channel then began to phase out its Solar branding on its newscast as it leans away from the Tiengs. It is also launched the Kapampangan national newscast, Kapampangan News and the public service program Serbisyo All Access which shown in Filipino language. Solar News Channel was closed down before midnight of August 22, 2014.[13]

9TV (2014–2015)

Main article: 9TV

SNC relaunched as 9TV since August 23, 2014, the Solar brand on Channel 9 was retired after the ALC Group of Companies bought out the 34% Tiengs group stake with Solar TV and RPN 9. The Tiengs was losing money after they invested in RPN 9 and the group are focuses instead on the cable channels of the Solar Entertainment Corporation. Solar News was then rebranded as 9News as the programming and personnel was retained. Kids Weekend, Home Shopping Network, TV Mass for the Homebound and local informative shows including Something to Chew On, Boys Ride Out, Drive, Good Company, Two Stops Over and Bogart Case Files were part of the 9TV's programming line-up.[14]

Controversies also hounded 9TV as one of the motorpool drivers of the news division allegedly violated traffic rules after the news crewcab was entered a no-left/no-entry road (counterflow) while on hazard in the Balara area last September 14, 2014. 9News management then imposed a disciplinary actions and penalties against the driver and his designated reporter and cameraman.[15] In October 14, 2014, Cabangon-Chua announced their partnership with the Cable News Network.[16]

As a part of transition to CNN Philippines, 9TV temporarily used green screen as its news studio on January 5, along with the renovations of the newsroom and the strategic hiring of the personnel, and its newscasts began adopting the CNN graphic package more than a week later (January 15, 2015), in time for 9TV's coverage of Pope Francis's visit to the country. Several foreign non-CNN programs (except Undercover Boss and 60 Minutes) were also dropped in February, including NBC Nightly News (which was, in any way, unrelated to the suspension of its news anchor Brian Williams on February 10, 2015, a few weeks before its axing to the 9TV programming, due to controversies regarding to the Iraq War helicopter incident).

CNN Philippines was launched after a few weeks of preparation on March 16, 2015.

Programming

Affiliate

References

  1. ↑ Abadilla, Emmie (15 October 2014). "RPN rebranded as CNN Philippines". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Frater, Patrick (October 13, 2014). "CNN to Launch Local Service in Philippines from 2015". Variety. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 9News Online (2014). "Turner, Nine Media to launch CNN Philippines". 9news.ph. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "First on MNP: 9TV to rebrand as CNN Philippines". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "9TV is CNN Philippines". Rappler. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  6. ↑ CNN Philippines to start airing 1st quarter 2015 retrieved October 15, 2014.
  7. ↑ GAME CHANGER | CNN international news soon on Philippine free-to-air TV retrieved October 14, 2014
  8. ↑ rappler.com (October 2, 2012). "RPN-9 to cut 200 jobs, may stop airing 'Newswatch'". rappler.com. Retrieved December 10, 2014. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Agustin, Victor C. (February 25, 2011). "Tiengs move into news". Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Solar News on free TV, moves to channel 9". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "CNN Philippines". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "MVP-Ang rivalry set to spill over into television with San Miguel acquisition of Solar stake". November 9, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ Solar News Online (August 13, 2014). "Solar News Channel turns into 9TV". 9news.ph. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Solar News Channel now 9TV". philstar.com. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "EXCL: Video of Counterflowing ‘Media Man from 9NEWS’ Stirs Controversy". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "9TV forges partnership with CNN". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2015.

External links