ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (Pse: ABS) (ABS-CBN: "Alto Broadcasting System-Chronicle Broadcasting Network") is a Philippine-based multi-media conglomerate. It is an integrated media and entertainment company in the Philippines with an asset base of more than PHP32.5 billion (US$666.8 million) as of June 2008. ABS-CBN is principally involved in television and radio broadcasting, as well as the production of television programming for domestic and international audiences and other related businesses. It was founded on June 13, 1946, becoming Asia's first commercial television broadcaster. It is part of the Lopez Group of Companies. It also broadcasts content to the rest of the world through The Filipino Channel (TFC Direct), TFCko (video on demand) and TFCnow internet TV.

The network's main broadcast facilities, news headquarters, transmitter and satellite operations and studio complex are located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center at Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Mother Ignacia St., Barangay Laging Handa, Diliman, Quezon City. In Metro Manila, its terrestrial VHF station is Channel 2 (DWWX-TV) while its terrestrial UHF station is Studio 23 (DWAC-TV). The company is slated to begin broadcasting digital television starting in January 2008,[http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=87487 ABS-CBN to launch digital TV - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos ] although it has been presumably delayed since there were no announcement during the entire month of January that the signal is now digitized. It is now expected to begin its digital broadcasting by 2009.

On March 3, 2008, Executive Vice-President Charo Santos-Concio had been promoted as the fifth president of ABS-CBN, taking over from interim president Eugenio Lopez III.

Beginnings

The nucleus of what ABS-CBN would be began in 1946 with Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC). BEC was put up by James Lindenberg, an ex-GI and electronics engineer who went into radio equipment assembly and radio broadcasting. At that time, the giant Philippine network was Manila Broadcasting, with DZRH as the top station.

In the 1951, Lindenberg partnered with Antonio Quirino, brother of then President Elpidio Quirino , in order to try their hand at television broadcasting. In 1952, BEC was renamed as Alto Broadcasting System or ABS. "Alto" was a contraction of Quirino's and his wife's first names, Tony and Aleli. Though they had little money and resources, ABS was able to put up its TV tower by July 1953 and import 300 television sets. The initial test broadcasts began on September of the same year. The very first full-blown broadcast, however, was on October 23, 1953, of a party in Tony Quirino's home. The broadcasting channel was known as DZAQ-TV Channel 3.