The Impact of ABS-CBN Denied Franchise on the Lives of its Artists

Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network (ABS-CBN) or popularly known as the Kapamilya Network is the largest media company in the Philippines, subjected to three main platforms: television, radio, and online media. According to Statista, a company that provides market and consumer data, the network has a revenue valued at approximately 40.1 billion Philippine pesos in 2018 (Sanchez, 2020). But on Friday, July 10, the house committee rejects franchise renewal for the ABS-CBN. What would be the impact of its shutdown on the lives of Kapamilya artists?

Vice Ganda and other artists join the rally for ABS-CBN franchise renewal. Photo by Jire Carreon/Rappler

In the entertainment and media industry, artists hold a major role in generating income for the company. They also one of the stakeholders who benefit the most as a partition for their work. Hence, the denied franchise for ABS-CBN negatively affects the lives of its artists. On May 5, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order against the giant network forcing to shut its television and radio broadcast operations nationwide. Back then, it immediately affects the artists for they have agreed to take a pay cut in their talent fees to help the network deal with the impact of the shutdown (Buan, 2020). The Kapamilya stars join a rally outside Batasang Pambansa, last week, before the decision on ABS-CBN’s franchise was released. And now, the worst has come as the network may stay off-air for the remainder of the Duterte presidency. Shutting down the leading broadcasting network in the country renders approximately 11,000 workers jobless including the artists. The signed artists are directly affected in the closure from their television shows up to the commercials airing on the channel. ABS-CBN have been given them opportunities and fulfilled their dreams through the program. A lot of celebrities are the breadwinner of their families and can provide support because of the highly paid job. Some of them also help charities for the needy. Without their source of income, it would definitely change their lives big time. They should find another job to sustain the needs of their families who are dependent on them. Celebrities who have business other than being an artist should now focus on it. But it would be also difficult during these hard times because of the pandemic that causes significant economic damage.

Nevertheless, if they want to continue their career path as an artist, they still have a choice to transfer with another network. Like in the case of Myrtle Sarrosa, former ABS-CBN actress. She signed a contract with GMA-7 on February 21, 2020, after seven years in her late network (Anarcon, 2020). Network transfer in the Philippines is quite normal. Stars are labeled as Kapamilya or Kapuso and transferring to another network after a project has been a usual career move for many. Other stars and personalities who had careers in the Kapamilya network for several years and transferred to the Kapuso network are Rayver Cruz, Kiray Celis, Jason Abalos, Coney Reyes, Atom Araullo, Derek Ramsay, Kisses Delavin, Paul Salas, and Coney Reyes (Green, 2020). But still, they are not safe from the rumors about leaving the network while on its lowest point which helped them reach the top.

Besides transferring to another network, they can also enter the Youtube industry and continue to be a media star. In fact, many Kapamilya stars have already started their own channel. They gained a lot of subscribers even in a short period of time because of their popularity. The only difference is Youtube being limited only in the online world while television networks can reach a larger audience. Also, they can still be aired on ABS-CBN online media.

The denied franchise renewal of ABS-CBN badly affects the careers and lives of Kapamilya actors/actresses. But because of their fame, they can find another way to earn living. Celebrities must frequently on exposure if they want to protect their shining names. Less exposure means less popularity, and less popularity will eliminate them in this type of career.

References

Martha Jean, S. (2020, April 29). Media industry in the Philippines.    Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/topics/6119/media-industry-in-the-philippines

Buan, L (2020, June 27). Artists, managers of shuttered netwrok ABS-CBN take pay cut. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/265056-abs-cbn-artists-managers-take-pay-cut

James Patrick A. (2020, February 21). Myrtle Sarrosa transfers to GMA-7 after seven years with ABS-CBN. Retrieved from https://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/149533/myrtle-sarrosa-transfers-to-gma-7-after-seven-years-with-abs-cbn-a724-20200221

Jhen G. (2020, June 12). Former Kapamilya Stars who Transferred to GMA Did the Right Decision?. Retrieved from https://philnews.ph/2020/06/12/former-kapamilya-stars-who-transferred-to-gma-did-the-right-decision/

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