Aksyon TV

AksyonTV (Action TV) is a 24-hour non-stop news and sports-related television network in the Philippines. Owned and operated by ABC Development Corporation, it occupies the frequency previously used by MTV Philippines, a subsidiary of MTV Networks Asia Pacific and Nation Broadcasting Corporation.

AksyonTV is co-owned by the Nation Broadcasting Corporation. It carries newscast, news analysis, news talk radio, documentary talk shows and sports news with special focus on Philippine current affairs. AksyonTV is available in most parts of the Philippines via its relay and affiliate stations, as well as cable, satellite and Internet. It is free-to-air for all viewers in Metropolitan Manila through local UHF channel 41 and UHF channel 29 for Cebu and Davao. It started broadcasting on February 21, 2011. AksyonTV studios are located at 762 Quirino Highway San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City while its television transmitter is located at Antipolo City. It is the first 24-hour news channel of free-to-air TV and the first 24-hour Filipino language news channel.

It was announced in early 2011 that it would launch an international channel to support AksyonTV’s local presence. In July 2011, Pilipinas Global Network Ltd., a company owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and ABC Development Corp. based in British Virgin Islands will oversee the operation of AksyonTV International. The news channel will be primarily accessible to viewers in the Middle East, North Africa and some parts in Europe and North America.

History
Originally, local UHF channel 41 was intended to broadcast local programming under the supervision of Nation Broadcasting Corporation. Sometime in 2000, MTV Networks Asia Pacific, operator of MTV (Music Television) brand in Asia wanted to transmit its music channel on terrestrial television in the Philippines. Eventually, MTV Networks Asia Pacific entered into an agreement with Nation Broadcasting Corporation to transmit its localize music channel via its UHF channel and started broadcasting MTV Philippines on January 1, 2000 until the partnership ended on February 15, 2007.

On March 2, 2010 MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., a Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company subsidiary, Philippines largest telecommunication company, announced the acquisition of ABC Development Corporation, broadcaster of TV5. On October 1, 2010, through its flagship station, it took over the management of Nation Broadcasting Corporation and its radio and television businesses, particularly 92.3 News FM and UHF channel 41. Consequently, UHF channel 41 went on air and began its initial test broadcast of its radio station 92.3 News FM from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time, UTC+8). In December 2010, ABC Development Corporation announced plans to launch its own news and sport-related channel. On February 21, 2011, AksyonTV started its commercial broadcast.

Controversy
On March 16, 2011, ABC Development Corporation (ABC) and Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) filed a complaint to local regulator in the Philippines, the National Telecommunications Commission against Sky Cable Corporation, one of ABS-CBN Corporation subsidiaries, broadcaster of ABS-CBN and TV5’s competitor. In its complaint, ABC and NBC criticized SkyCable for its inaction to the request of the latter and subsequently non-inclusion of AksyonTV to its lineup, despite local laws instructing all cable and satellite companies operating in the Philippines to carry all free-to-air networks. Under Memorandum Circular 4-08-88 (or otherwise known as the “Must Carry Rule”), all entities in the cable and satellite businesses are required to include all free-to-air channels on its system regardless of its capabilities. SkyCable on the other hand revoke its compliance to the order due to system capacity and will conform once an additional facility is in place. On April 1, 2011, SkyCable announces the inclusion of AksyonTV on its channel lineup effective May 4, 2011 but made it earlier on April 30, four days from the planned May 4 launch. Recently, on July it was moved its channel assignment on SkyCable from channel 61 to channel 59.

Programming
AksyonTV is presented in English and Filipino languages. Programming is distributed equally between news coverage, sports coverage (since June 2013 after the expiration of Mediaquest-IBC 13 blocktime agreement), special coverage, weather and talk shows. AksyonTV's programs comprises a combination of live news reports, documentaries, sports and current affairs programming. Its existing lineup of programming draws upon TV5’s own resources and its news partners. It also airs simulcasts programs of Radyo5 92.3 News FM and news programs of TV5.

Affiliate and relay stations

 * Further information: AksyonTV stations