ABS-CBN's Channel 2 went off air but other operations can still be accessed
MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission on Tuesday ordered ABS-CBN to shut down some of its TV and radio operations, after its legislative franchise expired.
Hours after the network received the order, ABS-CBN ceased broadcasting after airing TV Patrol, its premiere news program on its free channel.
Shortly after, DZMM, whose anchors previously said was supposed to air until 11:00 p.m., also shutdown.
RELATED: ABS-CBN's last moments before going off the air for now
The NTC order covers 42 television stations across the country, including flagship and free channel 2 and regional channels, 10 digital broadcast channels, 18 FM stations and five AM stations.
ABS-CBN said in a report that its online portals for news, entertainment and sports portals are still accessible. Its YouTube channels, for entertainment and news, are also still up.
It also said that iWant, its video streaming service and application, still delivers content online.
Cable news channel ANC is still airing, “as the NTC order does not cover cable news channels.”
“Star Cinema will also be unaffected by the NTC’s cease and desist order,” the report also read.
NTC order can be subjected for review
The government regulator gave ABS-CBN 10 days upon receipt of the order to explain why the frequencies assigned to it should not be recalled.
While the order is immediately executory, which the network complied with Tuesday, it can still be subjected to judicial review, said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
Guevarra said the network may elevate it to the regional trial court or Court of Appeals.
Meanwhile, bills for its franchise renewal have been stuck in the House of Representatives’ legislative mill.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said in an interview with CNN Philippines last week that “there is no intention” to close down the media network.
Franchise laws emanate from the House of Representatives.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III wrote in a tweet on Tuesday night: “ABS Franchise, bring it to the Senate, we will approve it!”
The closure of ABS-CBN comes at a time when the Philippines and the rest of the country are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives globally.
Following the expiry of broadcast corporation 's legislative franchise, the Philippine government issued a cease and desist order dated yesterday, forcing the shut-down of broadcasting operations by the company. Later in the evening, the network signed off and went off-air. The last time the Philippine government ordered the network to shut down was during the martial law imposed by former Philippine President  back in 1972.
ABS-CBN logo.
Republic Act No. 3846, also known as the "Radio Control Law", states "no person, firm, company, association, or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio transmitting station, or radio receiving station used for commercial purposes, or a radio broadcasting station, without having first obtained a franchise therefor from the Congress of the Philippines." Since ABS-CBN's legislative franchise, Republic Act No. 7966, expired on Monday, the network no longer had a valid franchise to continue airing their programs. The  (NTC) issued a cease and desist order to the network yesterday, and in compliance, the network signed off that night.

The network tried to renew their franchise as early as July 2019, but all eleven of the legislative bills filed have been stuck in . The franchise of ABS-CBN expired on Monday, the same day Congress reconvened after their  Break, which began on March 13. Though the NTC is allowed to provide the network a provisional license while its application to the Congress is still being decided upon, the commission refused to provide the network with said license. A number of  condemned the act of the NTC, citing the move as a "grave abuse of governmental power" and "contrary to law".

ABS-CBN Corporation is the largest television and radio broadcasting company in the Philippines with over 42 television stations, 10 digital channels, and 18 FM and five AM radio stations, and has been broadcasting for over 65 years. Philippine President  threatened the network's franchise renewal before, after the network didn't carry some of his campaign commercials, which they've said was due to a lack of airtime, and he accused the network of "swindling". Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a  petition on February 10, accusing the network of violating its franchise. After a Senate hearing was conducted on February 24, the Senate did not find the network had breached laws, nor its franchise terms. ABS-CBN CEO  said refunds for Duterte's unaired political ads were offered, of which some were not accepted by his campaign. Katigbak apologized to Duterte during the hearing, which the President accepted according to a statement by the Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The network's news channel, ABS-CBN News Channel, is still on air, as the network claims the cease and desist order did not cover their news channel's franchise.