Advanced Media Broadcasting System

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Advanced Media Broadcasting System
TypePrivate
IndustryMass media, broadcasting
Founded1994
FounderJose Luis "Bobet" Vera
Jinji Buhain
Headquarters9/F Paragon Plaza, EDSA cor. Reliance St.,
Mandaluyong
,
Philippines
Key people
Manny Villar
Camille Villar
Willie Revillame
OwnerPrime Asset Ventures, Inc.
ParentPlanet Cable (Streamtech)

Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) is a broadcast media company in the Philippines. Its main offices and facilities are located at Paragon Plaza Building and at Starmalls EDSA Shaw complex, both in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.

Founded in 1994 by the Vera family, it is owned by the Villar Group-backed Prime Asset Ventures through Planet Cable.

History[]

Early years[]

The Vera family, under the aegis of Quest Broadcasting head, attorney Jose Luis Vera, established Advanced Media Broadcasting System in 1994 with its Congressional franchise granted the following year.[1] With the help of Jinji Buhain (niece of then-Manila Auxiliary Bishop Teodoro Buhain), AMBS bought 103.5 DWCS from the Archdiocese of Manila and changed its callsign to DWKX which gave the birth of adult contemporary station K-Lite. The station, along with four other Vera-controlled Metro Manila stations - (Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9 and 99.5 RT) and the Killerbee provincial network - formed The Radio Partners in the early 2000s before being reorganized in 2011 under the new Tiger 22 Media group.

Under Villar ownership[]

In 2019, AMBS was granted a 25-year legislative franchise extension under Republic Act 11253 albeit without President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's signature as the bill lapsed into law after 30 days of inaction.[2][3] The Vera family and AMBS president Andrew Santiago, however, decided to sell the company to Planet Cable of real estate magnate and businessman-politician Manny Villar after its FM station (K-Lite) struck its revenue low due the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5]

On January 5, 2022, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) awarded AMBS a provisional authority to operate for the digital Channel 16 frequency (previously assigned to ABS-CBN Corporation) for an 18-month test broadcast period; and for the analog Channel 2 frequency under a temporary assignment for simulcast purposes until analog shut-off in 2023.[6][7]

There are several speculating reports that AMBS is tapping prominent personalities and interested parties, among them are ABS-CBN,[8] Willie Revillame and a top network executive.[9]

Stations[]

Television[]

Analog
Callsign Channel Location Type
Provisional authority TV-2 Metro Manila Originating
Digital
Callsign Ch. # Frequency Power Area of Coverage
Provisional authority 16 485.143 MHz 10 kW Metro Manila

AMBS is currently on talks with TV host Willie Revillame on where the TV transmitter will be located and what programs will be aired on the channel. AMBS has not yet made an exact launching date.

Radio[]

Branding Callsign Frequency Location
103.5 K-Lite DWKX 103.5 MHz Metro Manila
Magic 106.3[Note 1] DXKM 106.3 MHz General Santos
Notes
  1. ^ Operated by Quest Broadcasting.

References[]

  1. ^ "Republic Act No. 8061". The Corpus Juris. 15 June 1995.
  2. ^ "Republic Act No. 11253". The Corpus Juris.
  3. ^ https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2019/07/17/republic-act-no-11253/
  4. ^ "House Concurrent Resolution No. 21" (PDF).
  5. ^ Fernandez, Daniza (September 23, 2021). "4 broadcasting franchise applications get Senate panel's nod". Inquirer.net. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  6. ^ Amojelar, Darwin (January 25, 2022). "Villar firm bags NTC license, to use ABS-CBN frequencies". Manila Standard. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Rey, Aika (January 25, 2022). "Manny Villar gets ABS-CBN frequencies". Rappler. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  8. ^ Serato, Arniel (7 February 2022). "Is Manny Villar interested in a partnership with ABS-CBN?; eyes industry veterans for AMBS". PEP.ph. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  9. ^ Plaza, Marane (7 February 2022). "GMA confirms Willie Revillame's departure; Willie spotted with Manny V". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
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