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ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center

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ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center
The ELJ Communications Center, the satellite dish antennas, and the transmitter mast as viewed from the main building of ABS-CBN.
Map
General information
Typeretail, office, studio, broadcasting, information technology
Architectural stylemodern architecture
LocationSgt. Esguerra Avenue corner Mother Ignacia Street, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Construction started1968(studios/main building), 1998(ELJCC)
CompletedMarch 21, 1969 (studios/ building), January 1, 2000 (ELJCC)
Renovated2010
CostPhp.6 billion (ELJCC)
Height
Antenna spire720 feet (transmitter tower)
Technical details
Floor count18 (15 are offices/studios and 3 are basements)
Floor area101,608.32 sqm (ELJCC)
Groundsapproximately 44,000 sqm (main compound)
Design and construction
Architecture firmDatem, Inc.

The ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Diliman, Quezon City, the Philippines is the main headquarters of ABS-CBN Corporation and its subsidiaries. It consists of a triangular compound with an area of approximately 44,000 square meters.[1] It was originally built in 1968 and was then the most advanced broadcast facility in Asia until March 1973 when NHK Broadcasting Center in Japan was formally opened. Today it is now the country's largest and most technologically advanced broadcast facility, capable of broadcasting multiple and simultaneous live SD or HD audio-video feeds to any parts of the world and vice versa.[2] The complex contains several buildings, studios, backlots as well as a chapel, a health center, a garden, and the 720 foot Millennium Transmitter. The Pinoy Big Brother studios and backlots are in a nearby lot in front of the complex. The ABS-CBN Studios can be toured through the company's ABS-CBN Studio Tours.

ABS-CBN main building

The ABS-CBN main building was originally built in 1968 and was the main headquarters of the whole ABS-CBN network for decades until 2000 when the ELJ Communications Center was opened. It is directly connected to the ABS-CBN Studios which was also built in 1968. The main entrance to the whole complex is located here. Today, it is mainly occupied by the ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs division of ABS-CBN and the Manila Radio Division which consist of DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 (AM) and MOR 101.9 (FM) as well as its ABS-CBNnews.com website. The ABS-CBN Newsroom which is used by the ABS-CBN News Channel for live broadcasts is located here.

ABS-CBN Studios

The ABS-CBN Studios are the television studios of ABS-CBN consisting of nine studios. It was originally built in 1968 and is directly connected to the main building. Studio 1, now called the Dolphy Theatre, is one of the oldest studios of ABS-CBN and is named after the late comedian-actor Dolphy. Studio 2 used to house the variety show It's Showtime until 2012 and the 'Blind Auditions' of the first season of the reality singing competition The Voice of the Philippines. Studio 3, also one of the oldest studio, now houses the variety show It's Showtime since 2012. Studio 4 used to house the now-concluded game show Minute to Win It. Studio 5 houses the shows of O Shopping and liturgy oriented religious program The Healing Eucharist. Studio 6 houses programs of ANC, while ABS-CBN flagship news programs TV Patrol, Bandila, and News Patrol airs live from Studio 7. Studio 8 houses the showbiz talk show The Buzz 15. Studio 9 used to house the lifestyle talk show Kris TV.

Eugenio Lopez, Jr. Communications Center

File:ELJCC.jpg
The ELJ Communications Center overseeing the newly renovated Millennium Transmitter as viewed from Mother Ignacia Avenue.

The Eugenio Lopez, Jr. Communications Center (also called ELJ Communications Center) is a high-end 15-storey building with three-level basement parking areas and a helipad. The whole building is an approved IT Center of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), making economic zone approved companies located therein eligible for temporary tax holiday incentives. It occupies 10,000 square meter of land area and it has a 101,608.32 square meter of gross floor area. It is made up of three interconnecting building structures; a four-storey high studio, and a 12 storey and a 15 storey office buildings joint together by steel and glass curtain structures.[3] It was originally constructed in 1998 and was opened in 2000 for a cost of 6 billion pesos.[4] It is named in honor of the late ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez, Jr. The dedication of the building was held on November 4, 2010 in a ceremony that was attended by the Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.[5]

The ground floor level is a mixed-used commercial area, second to third floors are studios and technical rooms, eighth to 12th floors are corporate offices while thirteenth to fifteenth floors are the executive offices. The fourth to seventh floors of the building are leased to other companies. Restaurant 9501, the exclusive executive restaurant of ABS-CBN is located on the fourteenth floor of the building. ABS-CBN Film Archives, the state-of-the-art film archive of ABS-CBN which holds the biggest film collection in the country is located in the basement of the building.

ABS-CBN's subsidiary, The Big Dipper Digital Content & Design, Inc. (Big Dipper) is an approved economic zone enterprise of PEZA, making the company eligible for tax holiday incentives .[6] In 2010, the company has availed an income tax holiday incentives of 472 million pesos. In 2011 and 2012, the company has availed 188 million and 204 million pesos respectively.[7]

ABS-CBN Studios annex

The ABS-CBN studios annex is a part of ELJ Communications Center and is connected to the ABS-CBN Studios by a bridge. It is further divided into four studios. Studio 10, the largest studio, houses the musical variety show ASAP 20, the comedy talk show Gandang Gabi, Vice!, the drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya, the magazine/lifestyle documentary program Rated K and the 'Blind Auditions' of the first season of The Voice Kids. Studios 11 and 12 are temporary studio set-ups, where the props and set decorations are dismantled after the show, this studio is currently being used by the gag shows Goin' Bulilit and Banana Split. This studio is also home for the programs News+ and The Score of ABS-CBN Sports and Action. Studio 13, the loop studio, houses the morning show Umagang Kay Ganda.

The ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in 2010 and beyond

  • The ELJ Communications Center as viewed from Eugenio Lopez Street.
    The ELJ Communications Center as viewed from Eugenio Lopez Street.
  • The newly renovated Millennium Transmitter at night.
    The newly renovated Millennium Transmitter at night.
  • The Pinoy Big Brother studio facade in front of the main ABS-CBN complex before the renovation in 2011.
    The Pinoy Big Brother studio facade in front of the main ABS-CBN complex before the renovation in 2011.
  • The studio facade of Pinoy Big Brother after the renovation in 2011.
    The studio facade of Pinoy Big Brother after the renovation in 2011.
  • The Pinoy Big Brother studios as seen from the 12th floor of the ELJ Communications Center. On the lower left of the picture is the facade designed for the former reality television show Pinoy Dream Academy, on the upper left is the Pinoy Big Brother activity area, while on the upper right of the picture are the swimming pool area and the Pinoy Big Brother multi-purpose hall.
    The Pinoy Big Brother studios as seen from the 12th floor of the ELJ Communications Center. On the lower left of the picture is the facade designed for the former reality television show Pinoy Dream Academy, on the upper left is the Pinoy Big Brother activity area, while on the upper right of the picture are the swimming pool area and the Pinoy Big Brother multi-purpose hall.
  • The ABS-CBN main building and the transmitter mast in 2015.
    The ABS-CBN main building and the transmitter mast in 2015.

References

  1. ^ Villanueva, Paul Michael (31 December 2011), ABS-CBN 17-A 2011, Scribd.com, p. 18, retrieved 8 August 2012 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ What is ABS-CBN?, Reocities, retrieved 21 March 2012 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Eugenio Lopez Jr. Communication, Manilaofficespace.org, retrieved 19 March 2012 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Dela Pena, Zinnia (July 8, 2003). [http://www.philstar.com/business/212891/abs-cbn-building-gets-it-zone -status "ABS-CBN building gets IT zone status"]. Philippine Star. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); line feed character in |url= at position 70 (help)
  5. ^ "Philippine Inquirer: Inside the Kapamilya film vaults". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-05-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Villanueva, Paul Michael (31 December 2011), ABS-CBN 17-A 2011, Scribd.com, p. 150, retrieved 8 August 2012 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Villanueva, Paul Michael (27 March 2013). "ABS-CBN Corporation 2012 SEC Form 17-A" (PDF) (Press release). Philippine Stock Exchange. {{cite press release}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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