Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network based in Quezon City. It is a state broadcaster owned by the Government Communications Group as part of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). IBC was also known as "The Kaibigan Network" (the Filipino term for "friend") from 2019 to 2023. That was dropped in favor of the government slogan "Bagong Pilipinas", which is shared with PTV.
IBC and the government-owned media companies People's Television Network and the Presidential Broadcast Service-Bureau of Broadcast Services are the media arm of the PCO, and it is a secondary state broadcaster primarily presenting education, culture, arts and sports programming. Its studios, offices and broadcast facilities are in Quezon City.
As a government-run station, IBC received funding from the General Appropriations Act (the annual national budget) and sales from blocktimers (purchasers of airtime), advertisers and others. IBC operates two digital television channels: Congress TV and DWAN 1206 TV. Before its affiliation with the PCO, it was the sister network of Radio Philippines Network: a state-owned network of which the PCO owns 20 percent.
History Beginnings Inter-Island Broadcasting Corporation was established on October 1, 1959, when DZTV Channel 13 in Manila aired a test broadcast. On March 1, 1960 at 6:30 pm, DZTV-TV 13 was launched. It became the country's third television station after the monopoly of DZAQ-TV of ABS and DZXL-TV of CBN, owned by the Lopez family's Bolinao Electronics Corporation (now ABS-CBN Corporation). Its original location was on the corner of P. Guevara St. (formerly Little Baguio) in San Juan from 1960 to 1978. American businessman Dick Baldwin was the station's first owner, and programming primarily consisted of programs from the American television network CBS and a few local shows.
Andrés Soriano Sr. of San Miguel Corporation acquired the network in 1962. Soriano was also the majority owner of the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) and The Philippine Herald newspaper. Soriano's media interests were the Philippines' first tri-media organization. As the television arm of the RMN, it partnered with the RMN radio stations for coverage of the general elections of 1969 and 1971.
Between 1970 and 1972, IBC launched its color transmission system (Vinta Color, named after the vintas from Zamboanga) and was the third network in the Philippines to convert to all-color broadcasts after ABS-CBN and KBS. President Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law on the country in September 1972, shutting down all television and radio networks except KBS (which was owned by Roberto Benedicto). A few months later, IBC was allowed to return to the air. ABS-CBN veteran Ben Aniceto was the station manager of DZTV Channel 13 from 1973 to 1976.
Benedicto years
The network was acquired on February 1, 1975 by Roberto Benedicto (who also owned Radio Philippines Network and Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation) from the Soriano group due to a constitutional prohibition of media ownership by non-Filipinos or by corporations not fully Filipino-owned. The company name was changed to Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation. IBC launched an FM station, DWKB-FM, that year. The network introduced its vinta logo, two versions of which were used until 1978. Among its top-rated programs were the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Tarzan film series starring Johnny Weissmuller; the showbiz talk shows See-True and Seeing Stars, hosted by Inday Badiday and Joe Quirino respectively; and the comedies Iskul Bukol, Chicks to Chicks, and T.O.D.A.S.: Television's Outrageously Delightful All-Star Show.
With income generated by its programs, the network built and moved to Broadcast City with sister networks RPN and BBC in July 1978. The complex covers in Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City.
After the People Power Revolution In 1986, the People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution) ousted Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino as president of the Philippines. After the revolution, IBC, RPN and BBC were sequestered and in turn nationalised by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) for allegedly being part of the Marcos regime's crony capitalism. A board of administrators was created to run the networks.
Aquino turned IBC and RPN over to the Government Communications Group and, with an executive order, awarded BBC's Channel 2 to ABS-CBN. When BBC closed on March 20, 1986, the IBC and RPN absorbed most of its employees; this led to the doubling of the network's expenses and a three-fold increase in the cost of programming.
IBC rebranded in 1987 with a new slogan ("Life Begins at 13") and a butterfly logo formed from the letter E and the number 13. The network was struggling with increased competition from the other networks, particularly ABS-CBN (which rose to number one by 1988). IBC scored a victory when it acquired Loveli-Ness, starring Alma Moreno, from ABS-CBN in 1988. The cost of programs, talent fees and TV rights increased, however, until IBC could no longer afford to produce its own shows except for news and current-affairs programs and special events.
In 1989, IBC changed its slogan to "Pusong Pinoy, Pusong Trese" ("Heart of Filipino, Heart of Thirteen"). Advertising support began to decrease due to sequestration, internal problems, and management changes.
Islands TV-13 By 1990, IBC 13 was last in the ratings. It inaugurated a new transmitter with an effective radiated power of 320 kW at the Coca-Cola plant in Roosevelt Avenue, San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City on February 23 of that year, providing a clearer and stronger signal to the greater Luzon area. Islands Broadcast Corporation, led by Alfonso Denoga and Gil Balaguer, took over IBC 13's management and marketing that October. The network was rebranded as "Islands TV-13" (pronounced on air as "Islands TV one-three").
In November 1990, IBC became a government-owned station with a compromise agreement between the PCGG and Roberto Benedicto. Ratings and income suffered due to mismanagement, causing labor unrest. In March 1993, the Makati City RTC issued an order terminating Islands Broadcast Corporation as IBC 13's marketing and sales agent due to unpaid financial obligations to the network.
Return to operations, Pinoy ang Dating, and Vintage Television
In October 1992, Islands TV-13 was rebranded as IBC. Management and marketing were returned to IBC's board of directors. IBC launched its new slogan, with a Grace Nono music video on May 27, 1994. Programming improved, but the battle for audience share continued; advertisers became more responsive to marketing efforts. The following year, IBC began to broadcast nationwide via satellite.
Vintage Enterprises moved to IBC as part of the launch of Vintage Television (VTV), a primetime block which aired on IBC with PBA, Blow by Blow and other Vintage Sports-produced programs after moving from the People's Television Network (PTV)another government-owned stationin February 1996. The block helped IBC-13 move to third place in the primetime ratings, primarily due to the PBA games. At that time, IBC installed a Harris 60-kilowatt transmitter in San Francisco del Monte (downgraded two years later to 50 kW) for clearer reception and began using the APSTAR 1 satellite to broaden its international reach. Viva Entertainment subsidiary Viva Television acquired Vintage Enterprises (including VTV on IBC) in 2000 and changed its name to Viva TV, a primetime IBC sports and entertainment block which continued until 2002. Rehabilitation of the transmitter and other technical facilities began for the network's flagship and provincial stations.
On September 2, 2000, IBC received a 25-year legislative franchise extension under Republic Act 8954 without President Joseph Estrada's signature; the bill became law after 30 days of inaction. IBC launched a new logo, station ID and slogan ("New Face, New Attitude") on January 1, 2002.
In early 2003, Viva TV cancelled after Viva decided not to renew its blocktime agreement with IBC due to high costs, low ratings, and the retirement of Bobong Velez as president and CEO of Viva-Vintage. The last Viva TV-produced program to air on IBC was the finale of Star for a Night on March 1, 2003. On December 12 of that year, IBC launched a new logo, slogan"Ang Bagong Pilipino" ("The New Filipino")and freestyle station ID. In late 2007, IBC signed Makisig Network as a primetime blocktimer.
Abandonment and privatization After four decades, IBC-13's studios and other facilities were abandoned due to negligence and network mismanagement. Budgets were cut, making radio and television operations unaffordable. Programming and airtime had been lost after a late-1980s and -1990s network war, and many employees lost their jobs. The network owed more than in back wages to its employees, some of whom were elderly or had worked for the network since the 1980s. IBC had 200 employees by 2016, 29 of which were talent or employed on a contractual basis (especially in news, public affairs, and production).
Management unsuccessfully tried to revive the network, and there were several plans to sell and privatize IBC and Radio Philippines Network (RPN).PCGG urges gov't to fast-track sale of RPN-9, IBC-13 ABS-CBNnews.com. August 10, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2010. ABS-CBN was planning to buy the network's blocktime to address signal problems, but could not join the privatization bid due to ownership regulations.Mirror, Mirror on the Airwaves Inquirer.net. February 11, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
IBC entered a 2011 joint-venture agreement with Prime Realty, an affiliate of Reghis Romero Jr.'s R-II Builders Group, calling for the development of of Broadcast City.San Miguel still keen on IBC-13, RPN-9 PhilStar.com. December 26, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2011. With the joint-venture agreement with a private company, the Benigno Aquino III administration wanted to privatize RPN and IBC and retain People's Television (PTV) as the sole government TV network.Coloma: Privatization of RPN 9, IBC 13 in the works GMANews.TV. March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.Aquino government set to privatize RPN-9, IBC-13 MB.com.ph. March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011. It was also announced that San Miguel Corporation would join the government-sponsored bidding for the privatization of RPN and IBC.
AKTV, privatization bids and property issues IBC signed a blocktime agreement with TV5's sports division Sports5 to air live sports coverage via its sports programming block AKTV.TV5 airs primetime sports block AKTV on IBC-13 PhilStar.com. Retrieved February 28, 2011.AKTV Official Website retrieved via www.interaskyon.com/aktv May 11, 2011 It was launched on June 5, 2011, with the AKTV Run held outside SM Mall of Asia in Bay City, Pasay. On the same day, IBC launched a new logo and slogan "Where the Action Is" to reflect the change.MediaQuest keen on IBC-13 retrieved via www.philstar.com April 4, 2011.
On April 11, 2013, MediaQuest Holdings chairman Manny Pangilinan announced that AKTV would not renew the blocktime agreement in May due to high costs, poor ratings, "PhilStar.com". Retrieved May 14, 2013. and doubts about IBC's future.
In 2012, pursuant to AO No. 26, IBC handed over its archives to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for restoration.
IBC signed a memorandum of agreement with the Asian Television Content Corporation under Engr. Reynaldo Sanchez as the major blocktimer of the station. The ATC @ IBC primetime block with the newest programs premiered on June 2, 2014. However, on August 31, 2014, programs under the ATC @ IBC 13 block suddenly no longer aired on the network, possibly due to poor ratings and a lack of advertisers' support.