ABS-CBN's cable news channel ANC has started airing a Chinatown News TV, a late night newscast that targets the Filipino-Chinese community.
The program is delivered in a mix of Mandarin, Filipino and English. Before ANC, the newscast also aired on free TV via Net 25, according to its YouTube page.
The April 13 edition of Chinatown News TV is free to view on ANC's Facebook page. The banner story was China and Russia will supply "bulk" of the Philippines' vaccines in the second quarter.
At the start of the newscast, ANC flashed a disclaimer saying the "views and opinions" in the program "do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of this network." It's a routine note for opinion and talk shows.
ABS-CBN released this statement late on Wednesday:
"ANC entered into a partnership with a Filipino-Chinese production group for the airing of Chinatown News TV or CNTV, a community newscast that brings relevant hyperlocal stories relevant to Filipino-Chinese audiences. It is part of the channel’s strategy to grow and serve its various audiences. ABS-CBN retains the editorial control, provides the newscast with national stories, and ensures the translation from Mandarin to English subtitles are accurate."
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ABS-CBN airs on cable, livestreaming and on TV5 and A2Z Channel 11 after Congress rejected its application for a new 25-year franchise last year.
The Chinese-language newscast started airing on ANC on the same week as tensions between the Philippines and China over reefs and islands in the Spratlys ratcheted up.
An ABS-CBN news team was recently in the West Philippine Sea and documented how their seacraft was chased away by the Chinese Navy.
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