Some ABS-CBN shows to air on free TV channel 11 starting October 10
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 6) — Your favorite Kapamilya shows will be back on TV screens starting Saturday, October 10.
ABS-CBN officially announced Tuesday its broadcast deal with Zoe Broadcasting Network, a free-to-air channel owned by the family of religious leader and Congressman Eddie Villanueva.
Zoe TV was recently included on the lineup of channels offered by Lopez-owned SkyCable, as well as by the MVP Group's Cignal service. With the partnership, the channel has been renamed as A2Z. It may be viewed using TV sets in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
"ABS-CBN and Zoe are committed to work together to provide entertainment, public service programs, and educational content to the public," the Lopez-owned network said in a disclosure on Tuesday.
ABS-CBN shares saw a surprise lift this week – its first recovery in months since its franchise bid was denied by Congress – amid rumors of a deal that will bring back its shows on free TV.
ABS-CBN Corporation as well as ABS-CBN Holdings saw stock prices jump by 50 percent on Monday, riding on reports that some programs of the Lopez-owned network will find their way back to TV broadcasts five months after the network's shutdown.
The Kapamilya shares spiked to ₱10.58 apiece after Monday trading from a ₱7.06 rate last Friday, its best showing since July 10 – the last trading day before the House of Representatives denied the media giant a fresh franchise. The spike was partly tempered by the end of Tuesday trading, although still better than last week's average to close at ₱9 apiece.
READ: NTC orders recall of ABS-CBN's frequencies, channels in absence of legislative franchise
Zoe TV was recently included on the lineup of channels offered by Lopez-owned SkyCable, as well as by the MVP Group's Cignal service.
The channel confirmed its rebrand into A2Z complete with a new station icon, sparked by a blocktime deal with ABS-CBN. It added that existing content from CBN Asia, Knowledge Channel, and Light TV will continue to air on channel 11.
Zoe TV is currently run by Sherwin Tugna, a former congressman and Villanueva's son-in-law. It promises to provide content that will fulfill "spiritual, information, and entertainment needs" of Filipino audience.
ABS-CBN has been in tumult since it stopped its TV and radio broadcasts on May 5 upon the order of the National Telecommunications Commission, which came a day after its 25-year franchise expired.
The country's biggest media entity resorted to layoffs for senior officials and thousands of workers. Long-time chairman emeritus Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III also resigned from the ABS-CBN board of directors and from the family's other businesses, citing personal reasons.
ABS-CBN shares hit a peak of ₱23.50 each and a low of ₱6.77 so far this year. The stock price was above ₱60 five years ago, well before President Rodrigo Duterte unleashed public rants against the network.
READ: Duterte tells ABS-CBN execs to sell company
Currently, ABS-CBN airs its programs on digital, cable and satellite TV and via online livestreams like YouTube and Facebook to sustain content and allow audience to view their shows.
