ABS-CBN is charting a new path forward, with its biggest entertainment successes helping define what president and CEO Carlo Katigbak calls the “new ABS-CBN.” Speaking during the company’s 2026 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting, Katigbak highlighted how the network continues to reach millions of Filipinos through television, streaming platforms, cinemas, music, YouTube, and international partnerships—even without owning a broadcast franchise.
Among the year’s major milestones was the historic “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition,” which brought together ABS-CBN and GMA Network in an unprecedented television partnership.
Katigbak also cited “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” and “It’s Showtime” as programs that led their respective time slots, demonstrating the continued strength of ABS-CBN’s television content despite the company’s shift toward a multiplatform strategy. The success of “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition” was particularly significant, showing how ABS-CBN can build major entertainment properties through partnerships rather than relying solely on its own broadcast infrastructure.
One of the clearest examples of ABS-CBN’s international ambitions is BINI, which has emerged as one of the country’s biggest global music acts. The Nation’s Girl Group has surpassed two billion streams across music platforms and made history as the first all-Filipino group to perform at Coachella. BINI also expanded its international reach through a partnership with DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, performing a song for the animated film “Forgotten Island.”
“BINI’s global success is proof that ABS-CBN can channel its creative strengths to reach an international audience,” Katigbak said.
The group’s rise has become a major showcase of how Filipino talent can be developed locally and eventually brought to audiences around the world.
ABS-CBN’s strategy of working with global streaming platforms has also delivered major wins. The company-produced miniseries “The Silent Noise,” released on Prime Video, won Best Asian Content at the 2026 Global OTT Awards. Meanwhile, “Sosyal Climbers” became a major Netflix success, topping the Philippine chart and entering the platform’s global Top 10 for non-English films. These achievements underscore the growing value of Filipino stories beyond the traditional television market.
The company also continued to make its mark in cinemas. Star Cinema produced the three highest-grossing Filipino films of 2025, with the films generating a combined box-office gross of approximately P900 million. The performance reinforces the importance of ABS-CBN’s film business as the company expands its presence across multiple entertainment platforms.
ABS-CBN’s digital footprint has likewise continued to expand. Its YouTube channel has surpassed 55 million subscribers, retaining its position as the most subscribed media and entertainment channel in Southeast Asia. The company’s digital reach has allowed ABS-CBN to connect with audiences directly, reducing its dependence on traditional broadcast distribution.
Beyond entertainment, Katigbak pointed to ABS-CBN’s continuing role in news and public service. The company’s Halalan 2025 marathon coverage generated eight million combined livestream views, while “TV Patrol” and ANC continued to reach audiences through live and special coverage. For Katigbak, these results demonstrate that ABS-CBN’s stories remain relevant to Filipinos while increasingly reaching viewers outside the country.
“We no longer depend on owning platforms to reach audiences, instead building partnerships that would have once seemed impossible,” Katigbak said.
The company’s content and business transformation has also been reflected in its financial performance. ABS-CBN’s revenues excluding SKY reached P12.6 billion in 2025, its highest level since the company lost its broadcast franchise. Its outstanding debt, excluding SKY, also declined significantly—from P20.5 billion in 2019 to under P8.5 billion. On a consolidated basis, ABS-CBN reduced its net loss by 23%, from P6.1 billion in 2024 to P4.7 billion in 2025. While the company remains in the process of rebuilding its financial position, the numbers point to continued progress as ABS-CBN transitions toward a more diversified business model.
Building the “New ABS-CBN”
Katigbak acknowledged that the company still has more work ahead but expressed confidence in its direction. “This is a new ABS-CBN that we are building, faithful to our mission of public service, but adapting to a different time and circumstance,” he said.
“Our next chapter will be about proving that ABS-CBN can rebuild a company strong enough to serve the Filipino for generations to come.”
From the historic collaboration behind “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition” to BINI’s international breakthrough, global streaming victories, Star Cinema’s box-office dominance, and the continued growth of its digital platforms, ABS-CBN’s latest chapter is increasingly defined not by the platforms it owns, but by the audiences it can reach. The “new ABS-CBN” is, in many ways, becoming a multiplatform entertainment and content company—one that continues to find new ways to bring Filipino stories to the Philippines and the world.
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