Cabangon-Chua acquiring RPN-9

August 21, 2014

Antonio Cabangon-Chua of Aliw Broadcasting is taking over as chairman of the television network.

MANILA, Philippines – Former ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chua is expanding his media empire consisting of a radio broadcast firm and a business newspaper, with the acquisition of Radio Philippines Network Inc. (RPN-9).

He is set to become chairman of RPN-9, replacing Wilson Tieng, who owns Solar Entertainment Corporation, an industry source said. Solar has a 33% stake in RPN-9, which is partly owned by the government.

The source said talks between the groups of Cabangon-Chua and Tieng for the acquisition of Solar’s stake in RPN-9 are ongoing. The acquisition is in line with the Cabangon-Chua group’s goal of becoming a big player in business and sports coverage.

Cabangon-Chua heads the ALC Group of Companies, which is engaged in media, insurance protection, pre-need assurance, automotive, banking and finance, security, education, hotels, and real estate.

A former ambassdor to Laos, Cabangon-Chua owns Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, which runs radio DWIZ and newspaper Business Mirror.

Both Cabangon-Chua and Tieng refused to comment on the reported buyout, saying they are bound by confidentiality agreement.

RPN-9 is also 32% owned by the Benedicto family’s Far East Managers and Investors Inc. The Benedictos are closely associated with the late President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda.

In 2012, cash-strapped RPN-9 let go of about 200 jobs, and converted billions of pesos worth of debts into equity, resulting in the entry of Solar and the Benedicto family.

Malacañang announced last year that the government would privatize RPN-9 and another state-run station, IBC 13, which was sequestered from Marcos cronies in 1986 and eventually becoming the third giant network.

RPN-9’s franchise was estimated at P800 million ($18.23 million), while IBC 13’s physical assets and franchise were earlier valued at P1.2 billion ($27.37 million).

RPN renamed to 9TV

Solar specializes in the creation, promotion, and distribution of entertainment and sports content programming. Its roster of entertainment and sports channels include ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Solar Sports, and Basketball TV.

On its website, it announced that RPN-9 would officially rebrand its name to 9TV starting August 23, marking the beginning of the channel’s thrust to reach a wider audience and strengthen the presence on free TV.

The company said in a statement that 9TV would continue to focus its programming on providing news and information, high-quality local entertainment and broadcast of the MBA games on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; and will beef up its weeknight primetime programs thru foreign canned shows in the U.S. and Tagalog-dubbed telenovelas, and beef up its weekend programming to cater to more viewers.

Similarly, RPN News and Public Affairs under Media ng Bayan will be known as 9News. It added that 9News would continue to be the credible and consistent source of news and information, offering News You Can Use and “back-to-basics journalism."

Tieng tried to lure businessmanRamon Ang to invest in Solar, but the investment never materialized.

Ang, who is president and COO of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation, is set to formalize an agreement to acquire a minority interest in listed GMA Network Inc. (GMA 7)