Home » NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop TVplus, Sky Direct broadcasts

NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop TVplus, Sky Direct broadcasts

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued two cease-and-desist orders (CDO), stopping ABS CBN’s digital broadcasts on TV Plus in Metro Manila and SKY Direct Satellite Broadcast Service nationwide.

In a report by ABS-CBN, NTC’s CDO will affect TVplus channels operating in Metro Manila, including Cine MO!, Yey!, TeleRadyo, and KBO. According to the NTC, these stations are part of the original CDO issued on May 5.

Additionally, ABS-CBN’s cable company SKY Cable Corporation was also ordered to stop the operations of its direct-to-home satellite transmissions nationwide. While the NTC had given SKY Cable Corp. provisional authority to operate and maintain a DBS service to 2021, the legislative franchise given by R.A. No. 7969, had already expired on May 4, 2020. The NTC has ordered Sky Cable Corporation to:

Immediately Cease and Desist operating its Direct Broadcast Satellite Service authorized under Case No. 2012-386.
Show cause in writing within ten (10) days why the radio frequencies assigned to it shall not be recalled for lack of the necessary Congressional Franchise as required by law; Failure to file an Answer within the period shall be considered Respondents’ waiver of its right to be heard, and the Commission shall render such judgment as the law and evidence may warrant.
Refund to all its subscribers those amounts representing unconsumed prepaid loads, deposits on subscriber equipment and devices, deposit or advance payment in monthly charges for postpaid subscribers, if any, charges collected from new applicants for DBS service, and other charges collected as of receipt of this ORDER, as may be applicable.

SKY Cable Corporation issues a statement

SKY Cable Corporation has issued a statement regarding the CDO and appeals to the NTC to extend the same privilege given in the past to other companies whose franchises have expired but are currently pending in Congress to continue its operations until a resolution is passed. See the statement below:

SKYdirect’s 1.5 million subscribers nationwide, including those in remote areas that do not receive television signals, will be deprived of access to the channels we carry that bring them news, information, education and entertainment starting tonight June 30, 2020, as Sky Cable Corporation complies with the cease and desist order (CDO) issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) stopping the company from operating its direct broadcast satellite service immediately.

In the spirit of fairness, we continue to appeal to the NTC to extend the same privilege given in the past to other companies whose franchises have expired but are currently pending in Congress to continue its operations until a resolution is passed.

We assure our subscribers that we will exhaust all legal remedies to resume our services.

We commit to attend to the concerns of our valued subscribers and partners arising from this decision. We will refund all unconsumed prepaid loads and advance postpaid payments. We appeal to our SKYdirect subscribers and partners for understanding and patience as we undergo this process.

Via