Claim: Willie Revillame to lead ABS-CBN after buying the frequency on which the media corporation broadcasted.
Rating: FALSE
The Facts: The headline and thumbnail for the video state that Willie Revillame, host of the popular game TV show Wowowin, is set to become ABS-CBN’s new boss after purchasing the frequency on which it was broadcasted.
The headline for the video states “HALA! WILLIE REVILLAME BAGONG BOSS NG ABS-CBN MATAPOS BILHIN ANG FREQUENCY? | KAREN KABADO NA?” Meanwhile, the video’s thumbnail contains a header with the words “WILLIE BAGONG BOSS NG ABS-CBN? MATAPOS TANGGALIN WILLIE REVILLAME NAKAGANTI NA” along with pictures of journalist Karen Davila, Willie Revillame, and former president and CEO of ABS-CBN Charo Santos-Concio. Lastly, at the bottom of the thumbnail is a line of text stating: “KAREN KABADO NA?”
The video itself goes over Willie Revillame’s move to work for AMBS following the end of his contract with GMA and does not provide any information about Willie becoming ABS-CBN’s newest boss.
The Philippine entertainment and media conglomerate was shut down on May 5, 2020, due to a refusal from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to renew the network’s franchise.
Following the company’s shutdown, the frequency and channel that ABS-CBN held for digital TV were handed to Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc. (AMBS), a media company led by Manny Villar.
This debunks what the thumbnail and headline of the video stated and that Willie Revillame will be in charge of ABS-CBN again after buying its former frequencies. Though Willie may yet transfer to AMBS and work, or probably lead, the Villar-led company.
Despite the inclusion of Karen Davila in the thumbnail through pictures and text, she has not released any statement directly talking about Willie Revillame’s inclusion in AMBS.
It can be recalled that in October 2020, ABS-CBN already announced that the company will air its shows and movie back on free TV via the new “A2Z” channel.
Other ABS-CBN shows made their comeback to free TV through TV5 following the Lopez-led firm’s collaboration with Cignal TV, TV5, and Brightlight Productions.
Why we fact-checked this: The video thumbnail and headline misled viewers into thinking the content within the video would provide news regarding Willie leading ABS-CBN. Those who do not or incompletely watch the video may even conclude that Willie now leads ABS-CBN, which is far from the truth. The sowing of misinformation only created more confusion.
ADVERTISEMENT
