ABS-CBN is a diversified Filipino media conglomerate and the country's largest media and entertainment company. The corporation was formed by the merger of Alto Broadcasting System owned by James Lindenberg and Judge Antonio Quirino (the brother of then-Philippine President Elpidio Quirino) and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network owned by Don Eugenio Lopez, Sr. and the then-Philippine Vice-President Fernando Lopez. Founded on July 11, 1946 by James Lindenberg as Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC), it was incorporated as the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation on February 1, 1967, shorted to simply ABS-CBN Corporation in 2010. The common shares of ABS were first offered in July 1992 while the PDR (Philippine Depository Receipt) of ABSP were offered in October 1999.
Its assets include two national television networks (ABS-CBN and Studio 23), two radio stations in Mega Manila (DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and Tambayan 101.9), a regional networks of AM stations (branded as Radyo Patrol) and FM stations (branded as My Only Radio For Life!), five international premium television networks (ABS-CBN News Channel, Bro, Cinema One, Myx TV, and The Filipino Channel) along with subsidiaries dealing in print publication (ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.), cable television (Creative Programs, Inc.), communications (Sky Cable Corporation) film production (Star Cinema), digital visual effects (Roadrunner Network, Inc.), music production (Star Records), new media (ABS-CBN Interactive), talent development and management (Star Magic) and other related businesses. ABS-CBN Corporation and its subsidiaries are part of the Lopez Group of Companies.
Beginnings
The nucleus of ABS-CBN Corporation began in 1946 with Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC). BEC was established by James Lindenberg, now dubbed as the father of Philippine television, an American electronics engineer who went into radio equipment assembly and radio broadcasting. At that time, the largest media company was