ABS-CBN Corporation has signed a licensing agreement with Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Inc. (AMBS) — owner-operator of free-to-air channel ALLTV — to air the Kapamilya Channel on ALLTV Channel 2 beginning January 2, 2026.
Under the deal, ALLTV will carry selected ABS-CBN programs on free TV, giving viewers nationwide renewed access to flagship shows that had previously been available on cable and through other broadcast partners.
Reports list titles expected to be carried under the agreement to include current ABS-CBN dramas and variety/news programs such as FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, Roja, What Lies Beneath, It’s Showtime, ASAP, and TV Patrol.
ABS-CBN said the move follows a mutual resolution with TV5, which announced the termination of its content agreement with ABS-CBN effective January 2, 2026. In related disclosures, ABS-CBN confirmed it has settled its outstanding obligations with TV5 and MediaQuest in accordance with their agreements.
Industry observers view the licensing arrangement as a major reshuffle in the Philippine free-to-air landscape — effectively restoring ABS-CBN programming to Channel 2 five years after the network ceased free-to-air broadcasts following the non-renewal of its franchise.
The AMBS–ABS-CBN pact reopens a mass-market broadcast avenue for Kapamilya content, while ABS-CBN maintains other distribution deals (including cable, streaming, and partnerships with other channels) for parts of its lineup.
ABS-CBN’s corporate channels published official notices confirming the AMBS licensing agreement and the transition date, framing the deal as part of the company’s strategy to restore broader free-to-air reach for its audiences. Media reports from major outlets have since carried the announcement and listed early program expectations and the broader context of the TV5 separation.
What this means for viewers:
- Starting January 2, 2026, free-to-air audiences can expect to find Kapamilya Channel content on ALLTV (Channel 2) as part of the new licensing arrangement.
- ABS-CBN says it has honored its obligations to TV5/MediaQuest and thanked TV5 for previously providing a broadcast home for several Kapamilya programs.
- Some ABS-CBN titles may continue to appear on other platforms or through separate arrangements; viewers should check official program schedules and announcements from ABS-CBN and ALLTV for exact lineups and airtimes.
This licensing deal marks a significant moment in the local media landscape: a major content provider regaining a free-to-air footprint on Channel 2 while the industry adjusts to new distribution alignments ahead of 2026.