TV5 is a Philippine free-to-air commercial broadcast television and radio network based in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, with additional studios and transmitter facilities in Novaliches, Quezon City. It is the flagship property of TV5 Network Inc., a subsidiary of MediaQuest Holdings, which is controlled by the telecommunications company PLDT, Inc. TV5's main television station, DWET-TV, broadcasts on VHF Channel 5 for analogue broadcasting, UHF Channel 18 for digital, and UHF Channel 51 for digital test transmission. The latter is licensed to its sister company, Mediascape/Cignal TV. The network owns and operates seven TV stations and has 14 selected affiliate stations across the Philippines. TV5's programming is available throughout the Philippines, and its content can be accessed internationally via satellite through Kapatid International, AksyonTV International, and PBA Rush.
History
Early years (1960–1986) On June 19, 1960, Joaquin "Chino" Roces, owner of the Manila Times, obtained a radio-television franchise through Republic Act 2945. He established the Associated Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), with the initial studios located along Pasong Tamo in Makati, Rizal (now part of Metro Manila). ABC's first radio stations were DZMT (1100 kHz), DZTM (1380 kHz), and DZWS (1070 kHz). Established in July 1962 as DZTM-TV Channel 5, ABC became the seventh television network to operate in the Philippines. From July 1962 to September 1972, ABC operated radio and television services. On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law, resulting in the forced shutdown of ABC and the Manila Times.
Return and growth (1986–2003) After the People Power Revolution in 1986, Chino Roces advocated for the network's reinstatement with President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino. Following Roces' death in 1988, his son Edgardo Roces along with Edward Tan took over efforts to revive the network. Tan and Roces secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission to increase capitalization. Soon after, they received a permit to operate from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). In 1990, ABC completed construction of its studio complex and transmitter tower in Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. Test broadcasts began later that year, featuring Japanese documentaries. On February 21, 1992, the network returned to the air. The flagship station adopted the call sign DWET-TV under a new corporate entity as ABC Development Corporation, with Associated Broadcasting Company adopted as on-air and trade name, a nod to its pre-martial law incarnation. Early in the network's revival, it expanded to Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Naga, Bacolod, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos. By the end of 1993, the network ranked third in ratings, with two more stations planned in 1994 ahead of its satellite broadcast launch. In the 1990s, ABC aired a public service announcement titled Dial His Mother's Number daily at 6:00 pm, before the station ID and, on weekdays, the news program Balitang-Balita. It ran until 2004, after Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco purchased the network and became its CEO. On February 4, 1994, ABC launched nationwide satellite broadcasting. The network experienced rapid growth under Chief Operating Officer Tina Monzon-Palma. On December 9, 1994, ABC obtained a 25-year legislative franchise through Republic Act No. 7831, which authorized the network to establish and operate television and radio stations countrywide. In 1998, ABC began airing Three Minutes a Day with Father James Reuter, SJ, a short daily gospel reflection produced by the Family Rosary Crusade that aired from Monday to Saturday. It aired until ABC's final sign-off on August 8, 2008, the day before the network relaunched as TV5. In 2001, ABC started producing local versions of popular game shows, including The Price Is Right (hosted by Dawn Zulueta), Wheel of Fortune (hosted by Rustom Padilla), and Family Feud (hosted by Ogie Alcasid). The move came during a period of game show popularity among Philippine networks. In 2001, ABC began airing a daily 3 o'clock Prayer from the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Mandaluyong. The segment also ended with ABC's farewell broadcast on August 8, 2008.
Cojuangco era (2003–2008) In June 2003, the joint consortium of Tan and Roces sold ABC TV and radio stations to a group led by businessman Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco Jr. Cojuangco, the former chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and owner of Dream Satellite TV and Bank of Commerce, formally acquired the assets in October of the same year. Cojuangco became the president and CEO of ABC, with Jose T. Pardo, a former secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, serving as the network's board chairman. Under the new management, changes were made to the news and public affairs division, broadcast equipment was upgraded, and the network acquired broadcast rights for Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games. Network executives led by Roberto Barreiro coined a new slogan, "Iba Tayo!" ("We're Different!"), replacing "Come home to ABC!". ABC aimed to differentiate itself with fresh programming formats targeting the growing middle- to upper-class youth market. ABC continued to support the Family Rosary Crusade until August 3, 2008, days before its relaunch as TV5. The network featured the religious pre-identification campaign "Please Pray the Rosary" announcement before its programs, although this was gradually phased out during the programming revamp. In 2005, ABC received the "Outstanding TV Station" award at the 2005 KBP Golden Dove Awards, and several programs on the network also received awards in their respective categories. In early 2007, ABC implemented budget cuts that mainly affected its news department, resulting in significant layoffs and a diminished capacity for coverage before the 2007 general elections. In November 2007, ABC launched new sports programming, including NBA basketball, professional boxing, and WWE events, as part of a five-year deal with Solar Entertainment. Due to high costs and poor ratings, the programs were dropped throughout 2008. The NBA review show House of Hoops was cut back and eventually cancelled by April 2008. The PBA, which was previously aired on ABC, did not have its contract renewed and instead found a new home on RPN through a partnership with Solar Entertainment, leading to RPN's privatization by Solar in 2011.
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