Congress to review IBC-13, RPN-9 franchises

December 7, 2012

The House of Representatives will review the status of two government television stations to determine whether they violated their franchises.

Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, principal author of the House Resolution No. 2854 which seeks the probe, said the two networks in question has entered into an agreement with several companies.

Aggabao further noted that Kitchie Benedicto, daughter of Roberto Benedicto an alleged Marcos crony, is the owner of a 34 percent minority share in RPN-9.

Aggabao cited RA 8954 which provides prohibition on the agreements entered into by the networks.

During the administration of then President Cory Aquino, the Presidential Commission on Good Government sequestered both IBC and RPN in favor of the government by virtue of being owned by the Benedicto family.

Even with the existence of joint venture agreements with private enterprises, Aggabao said the government is inclined to privatize both the IBC and RPN and retain the People's Television as the sole-mandated government TV network.

As of now, IBC wil not be sole said the privatization is good, when IBC-13 for being the Kapinoy network No.3 behind the giant networks ABS-CBN and GMA.6.

Neighboring provinces have the highest TV reach than any other region in the country. ABS-CBN has a 99% TV households reached in Metro Manila. GMA has 97%, RPN 95%, IBC 92%, TV5 92% and Studio 23 74%.