ANC tells the Filipino story

Reporting the news as it happens, where it happens.

Through the years, the ABS-CBN News Channel, the only 24-hour news channel in the country, has been providing Filipinos with the most comprehensive, most up-to-date, most credible news coverage of various noteworthy events that have shaped the country’s recent history.

From former President Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial to the historic EDSA Dos and Tres to the recent Oakwood Mutiny, ANC and the people behind it have shown their dedication by coming up with coverage unequaled by any other station. With the help of the News and Current Affairs Group (NCAG) of ABS-CBN, ANC has offered viewers something they deserve: reliable information round the clock, thus, elevating ANC into a league entirely of its own.

The birth of the ABS-CBN News Channel, then Sarimanok News Network is a realization of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio Lopez Jr.’s dream of "building bridges on air." Through ABS-CBN facilities like The Filipino Channel, ABS-CBN Global’s 24-hour international network and agreements with various cable operators, Filipinos all over the globe will have access to various information about the country through ANC’s plausible reportage and impressive programming.

With the presence of ANC in the cable television market, Filipinos need not wait for the early evening newscasts because one could expect ANC to be on top of every news event, way ahead of other networks’ coverage.

On an early December morning, what originally was an ordinary traffic report turned out to be Ricky Velasco’s defining moment as a news reporter when he gave ANC viewers a live, blow by blow account of a bank robbery incident in Valenzuela.

Asked about the rave reviews he received for that coverage, Velasco, ABS-CBN’s Sky Patroller, elatedly says, "As a reporter, I am happy I was given the chance to report a live coverage. Being commended for a job well done is heartwarming. For this, I am very thankful."

With ABS-CBN’s technological capabilities and the experience of the newsmen of ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs Group, ANC’s on-the-spot reportage of the bank robbery, according to a broadsheet, was comparable to American network’s protracted tracking of O.J. Simpson on Los Angeles freeways. "What really sets ANC apart from other channels is the advancement in its technology. Imagine, ABS-CBN is the only channel in the country which has its own chopper!"

According to Ricky, the coverage has reaffirmed ANC’s invaluable service to its public. "With ANC, the news is always fresh. Viewers really have the chance to watch the news as it happens, where it happens," he adds. "ANC is like the counter-ego of DZMM (ABS-CBN’s AM radio station)."

Another piece of remarkable journalism ANC covered was the celebrated Oakwood Mutiny. Alvin Elchico, NCAG’s business reporter, staged his own coup as he was the only media person allowed by the mutineers to enter the occupied condo-office space.

He reported every shocking detail of the event – from the forced occupation of the rebel soldiers to the point when one of the mutineers fired a warning shot. Alvin, through the coverage of both ABS-CBN and ANC, served as the country’s only witness during this episode in recent history. The coverage has even earned for Alvin accolades from his media colleagues.

Asked about this milestone in his career, Alvin said, "As a business reporter, I never expected to have that kind of break. But, I am happy that I was given that chance. I realized na kaya ko pala." He also considers his colleagues’ congratulatory messages very encouraging.

Jing Magsaysay, then ANC’s managing director, gave the most extensive, most comprehensive coverage of former President Joseph Estrada’s Impeachment Trial. For months, reporters and crew of ANC steadfastly covered the whole trial proceedings. ANC’s account of the controversial trial gave the viewers a ringside view of this trial of the century.

Consequently, Estrada’s impeachment trial saw Filipinos seeing the rise to power of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president. Once again, ANC gave the viewers a vivid account of this event that will always be remembered in the broadcasting industry.

Basing it on the channel’s ratings, it can be said that ANC lives up to its name as the country’s only and premiere news channel trusted by the viewing public. Through the years, ANC has maintained its rank as one of the most watched channel in the country considerably surpassing, considerably almost all international news channels in the business for a longer time.

Peter Musngi, ANC’s managing director has every right to be proud of the accomplishments the channel has attained over the years. He says the success of the channel is due mainly on the efforts the ANC people have exerted.

He maintains, however, that there are still many things the channel can do. One thing that he is keen on right now is the improvement of ANC’s 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. timeslot. "It is during this time that ANC shows replays," Musngi said. "This time slot is the primetime abroad." This statement reveals the magnitude of the channel’s reach.

Camille Espino, a TFC subscriber from Florida says, "Very reliable ang ANC. You know what’s happening in the Philippines right away. Yun nga lang, minsan, nakakatawa isipin na minsan mas magandang di na lang malaman yung mga balita. Nakakalungkot e. But imagine what it would be like without ANC. Those of us here in America will be left groping," he says.

More than airing regular news updates and local newscasts, ANC also produces programs that extensively study business in the country like Business Nightly and Market Review. The channel also covers happenings in the Philippine Stock Exchange daily, the only network to do so.

Aside from being the country’s 24-hour source of news and information, ANC also carries an array of critically-acclaimed talk shows like Ces Drilon’s Get Real with Ces, Cito Beltran’s Straight Talk, Boy Abunda’s Private Conversations, Gene Orejana’s On Line and Tina Monzon-Palma’s Talk Back.

Last July, no less than President Arroyo lauded ANC for its extensive news coverage of the Angelo dela Cruz hostage situation, for being instrumental to the success of the negotiations between the Philippine government and Dela Cruz’s captors. In a privilege speech, President Arroyo, referring to ANC’s coverage shown through ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel, said, "TFC was watched by the captors and ABS-CBN, recognizing this, changed their programming and included messages from the Philippines in their programs. That helped a great deal in the negotiations that eventually freed our countryman."

But don’t expect ANC to rest on its laurels thus far because it is cooking yet another surprise that will enable the news channel to reach an even wider market.

This is ANC, the nation’s only news channel, serving the Filipinos worldwide by "telling the Filipino story best."