Is CNN Philippines Shutting Down? Here's What We Know So Far.

Is CNN Philippines shutting down? 

Reports came out Thursday (January 25) that Nine Media Corp. and CNN have jointly decided to discontinue their licensing agreement due to substantial financial losses. The current licensing agreement is actually scheduled to conclude at the end of the current year, but Nine Media has reportedly been struggling to meet the cost of the licensing fee as well as other operational expenses.

The financial burden has been exacerbated by the lack of advertising placements, which has compounded Nine Media's challenges in reducing losses. According to Rappler, an executive meeting was held on Thursday to ultimately decide on the company's future.

There are speculations that CNN Philippines will temporarily transition back to its former identity as RPN-9 once the CNN branding agreement ends this month.

January 29, 2024 will be the moment of truth for employees of CNN Philippines, as they expect to officially hear from officials of Nine Media Corp., the company that manages and operates the local broadcast news network, whether news about its impending closure is true.

Before CNN Philippines, there was RPN-9

RPN-9, which stands for Radio Philippines Network, was one of the pioneers of television broadcasting in the Philippines. Established in 1960, the network was initially known as KBS or Kanlaon Broadcasting System, and was rebranded as RPN-9 in the late 1960s.

Throughout its history, RPN-9 has been known for broadcasting a variety of content, including American programs, local news, and public affairs shows. During the 1970s and 1980s, RPN-9 was one of the top television stations in the Philippines, competing closely with other major stations like ABS-CBN and GMA Network.

In 1989, RPN-9 became the first network in the Philippines to broadcast in full color. The network also played a significant role during the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986, when it aired coverage of the event that led to the end of the Marcos dictatorship.

Over the years, RPN-9 has undergone several management changes and rebranding efforts. In the 2000s, it faced financial difficulties and underwent privatization. In 2011, the network rebranded as ETC, focusing on entertainment and lifestyle programs aimed at a younger demographic.

Shifting Gears

In 2014, the management of RPN-9 was taken over by Solar Television Network, a subsidiary of Solar Entertainment Corporation. The channel was initially rebranded as Solar News Channel with a focus on news programming.

Later that year, on August 23, 2014, it was rebranded again to 9TV, shifting towards a broader mix of news, lifestyle, and entertainment content to attract a wider audience and compete in the Philippine television market.

The 9TV brand, however, was short-lived. On March 16, 2015, almost seven months after its launch, 9TV was rebranded as CNN Philippines as a result of a partnership between Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific (the regional arm of Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting System) and Nine Media Corporation (formerly known as Solar Television Network). This partnership was aimed at leveraging CNN's global news resources while providing local news coverage tailored to the Philippine audience. It was also the first time that a local network inked a partnership and branding agreement with a major international news media brand. 

CNN Philippines' current programming lineup primarily features local and international news, political talk shows, sports coverage, and lifestyle and health segments, along with the popular noontime variety show E.A.T. Bulaga! According to the company's LinkedIn profile, CNN Philippines has anywhere between 200 to 500 employees. 

CNN Philippines is accessible on free TV via RPN-TV9 in Manila, Cebu, and Davao, as well as RPN-TV5 in Zamboanga, RPN-TV12 in Baguio, and RPN-TV8 in Bacolod. On cable, it's available on Metro Manila's Sky Cable Channel 14, Sky Cable Channel 6 in Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Baguio, Destiny Cable Channel 14, Cablelink Channel 14, and Cignal Channel 10, along with over 200 cable affiliates throughout the nation.

CNN International is distributed in over 200 countries and territories. The network, which first aired in 1980 and was the first-ever 24-hour news channel, operates various international networks and has several partnerships and joint ventures around the world, including CNN en Español, CNN Brasil, CNN Indonesia, CNNj (Japan), CNN-News18 (India), CNN Portugal, CNN Prima NEWS (Czech Republic), CNN Radio Argentina, CNN Türk, and CNN Philippines, among others.