ABC-5 president and CEO Antonio Cojuangco announced recently that the
network has entered into a major blocktime agreement with MPB Primedia, Inc.,
a Philippine corporation backed by Media Prima Berhad of Malaysia as part of a
long-term strategy to make the network more competitive. “This deal will ensure
a steady and sustainable flow of innovative programming that will differentiate
ABC-5 fromthe other networks, and at the same time guarantee that ABC-5 earns
a healthy profit from its airtime,” Cojuangco said.

Details of the network's new programming thrust will be announced soon, but
in principle MPB Primedia Inc.will produce and source most of the entertainment programs while ABC-5 will continue to be responsible for news programming and operation of the stations. These and other available details were announced by
top networkofficials Reggie D. Galura and Roberto V. Barreiro to the ABC
workforce in a general assembly convened at the Nova studios.


Media Prima Berhad is a leading media investment group in Malaysia with interests in television, radio, print
and content creation. Aside from the Philippines, it is looking for other investment opportunities across Asia.
With the new relationship between ABC-5 and MPB Primedia Inc., both parties may collaborate on potential
regional opportunities to fully benefit from the strategic partnership. It may also open the doors to exposing
Filipino creative and performing talents to the rest of Asia – which Cojuangco has already initiated through
“Cinemalaya,” the independent film movement that has produced internationally awarded digital films.

ABC-5 will order a new transmitter which is envisioned to be at par with that of leading networks to be operational
by the third quarter of this year. Other necessary automation equipment will also be procured.“Our objective in
the long run,” he added, “is to provide the audience with more quality programming.”



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