Vice Ganda urges ‘trolls’ to move on from franchise issue: ‘ABS-CBN is no longer after any franchise’
Vice Ganda. Image: screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment
Vice Ganda shut down claims that ABS-CBN artists are making efforts to be granted a franchise, stressing that the network no longer applied for such.
The comedian’s statement came after a contestant sang Top Suzara’s “Sabihin Mo Na” in the “Tawag ng Tanghalan” segment on “It’s Showtime,” as seen on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel yesterday, April 27.
After the performance, Vice Ganda asked the contestant what he would want to say to the next president of the Philippines. The contestant answered his wish for jobs affected during the pandemic to return, adding in particular the jobs lost when ABS-CBN was not granted its franchise.
Vice Ganda then addressed the issues alleging that ABS-CBN artists are only attempting to revive the lost franchise.
“Para lang po sa kaalaman ng nakararami, wala na po kaming inaasahang prangkisa dahil ‘yung dati namin prangkisa meron na pong nagmamay-ari no’n,” he said. “Wala na po kaming hinahabol na dating prangkisa dahil ang prangkisa namin ay may nagmamay-ari na at pagmamay-arian nila ‘yan nang ilang dekada. ‘Yung sinasabi nilang ‘Ang habol, ang gusto lang namin’ — wala na pong inapply na franchise ang [ABS-CBN].”
(For everyone’s information, we are not hoping for any franchise anymore because the franchise that we had already has another owner. We are no longer after our old franchise because it is already owned by someone else and they will be owning it for decades. So for those who are saying, “We are after [the franchise], we only want [the franchise] — ABS-CBN did not apply anymore for any franchise.)
Vice Ganda also urged “trolls” to “move on” from the issue, adding that the network continuously offers job opportunities by producing content on different platforms.
“So malinaw ‘yan ha, do’n sa mga shunga-shungahan na troll,” he stated. “[ABS-CBN] is no longer after any franchise… Wala na po kaming inaasahan, tapos na po ‘yung chapter na ‘yon.”
(So that should be clear for those trolls who are acting stupid. ABS-CBN is no longer after any franchise. We are not hoping anymore because that chapter is already done.)
Manny Villar-owned Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc. (AMBS) took over the television broadcast frequencies previously held by ABS-CBN Corporation, after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted AMBS on Jan. 6 a “test broadcast” permit to use the coveted channel 2 spectrum. According to NTC, the permit will be effective until the final shut off of analog TV, earlier set in 2023.
Meanwhile, Vice Ganda earlier declared his support for presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo in a recent campaign rally held in Pasay. He officially endorsed Robredo by raising her hand in front of the crowd, which, according to the event organizers, is estimated to have been over 400,000. JB
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