Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), which in the Philippines is also known by its government name, the Bureau of Broadcast Services (BBS), is a state-run radio broadcast network owned by the Government of the Philippines. The broadcaster airs four nationwide channels, an international station and a network of local radio channels (28 at the latest count).
Media assets
Radio: National- RP FM 1, RP FM 2, RP1 Metro Manila, RP2 Metro Manila; International- RP Worldwide; Local- DZAG Agoo, DWJS Albay, DZEQ Baguio, DWBT Batanes, DWFR Bontoc, DZMQ Dagupan, DWFB Laoag, DWLC Lucena, DWRB Naga, DWRM Palawan, DZRK Tabuk, DWRS Tayug, DWPE Tuguegarao, DWDF Virac, DYES Borongan, DYOG Calbayog, DYMR Cebu, DYLL Iloilo, DYSL Sogod, DXBN Butuan, DXIM Cagayan de Oro, DXRP Davao, DXRG Gingoog, DXSM Jolo, DXSO Marawi, DXJS Tandag, DXAS Tawi-tawi, DXMR Zamboanga
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
PBS is owned by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), which is the country’s presidential administration. The management of the station is appointed by the President of the Philippines, according to data from PBS corporate documents.
Source of funding and budget
PBS is majority subsidized by the government, receiving financing from the General Appropriations Act, which is the country’s state budget. As its sister broadcaster, PTV, PBS also generates revenue by selling its airtime to third-parties and through ad sales. The exact portion of the government funding is not made public, but according to local journalists and experts, it accounts for more than 50% of the company’s annual budget, which in 2022 was a total of PHP 456m (US$ 8.9m), according to data released by the government.
Editorial independence
PBS is closely monitored and supervised by the presidential administration, which dictates its editorial policy.
The broadcaster advertises itself as a government institution and has no statute that establishes editorial independence.
October 2023