Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC)
The Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) is a state-owned television network in the Philippines, operating under the auspices of the Presidential Administration. Its flagship station, DZTV-TV, is based in Metro Manila, and the network oversees a total of seven television stations and three radio outlets nationwide.
Media assets
Television: DZTV-TV (IBC-TV 13 Manila), IBC TV-6 Baguio, IBC TV-12 Iloio, IBC TV-13 Cebu, IBC TV-6 Palo, IBC TV-10 Cagayan de Oro, IBC TV-13 Davao
Radio: Radyo Budyong Kalibo, Radyo Budyong Roxas
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
IBC is wholly owned by the Philippine government and operates under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO)—formerly known as the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)—which serves as the central communications arm of the executive branch. IBC forms part of the state media triad alongside People’s Television Network (PTV) and the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Since early 2020, the government has promoted IBC’s transformation into a more educationally oriented broadcaster, aligning with broader public sector communication reforms. In January 2023, the House of Representatives approved a 25-year renewal of IBC’s legislative franchise, thereby extending its legal mandate until 2048.
Despite the franchise renewal, the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed its intention to privatize IBC, citing inefficiencies and the need for modernization through private sector investment. The privatization process, initially signaled in late 2022, has gathered pace in 2025: according to official statements released in April 2025, the Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) Governance Commission has been working with the Department of Finance and the PCO to identify potential buyers and craft divestment terms.
Source of funding and budget
According to IBC’s most recent available financial disclosures, the broadcaster earned a total income of PHP 653 million(approximately US$13 million) in 2021. Of this, more than two-thirds (66%) was sourced from government subsidies and allocations.
However, the network faced a substantial financial crisis in 2023. Following a government decision to exclude IBC from the 2024 General Appropriations Act, the station’s management made an urgent funding appeal to Congress in August 2023. The Budget Department clarified that this exclusion was linked to the planned privatization, with the rationale that IBC should no longer rely on public funds once its transition to private ownership begins.
As of mid-2025, IBC remains operational but on a reduced budget, relying largely on internal revenue and ad sales while awaiting the final outcome of the privatization process.
Editorial independence
IBC’s editorial agenda and institutional decision-making are firmly under the control of the executive branch, with the Presidential Communications Office exercising direct oversight. This includes appointment powers over top executives, strategic content direction, and operational priorities. No independent regulatory or oversight body currently monitors IBC’s editorial performance or ensures its journalistic impartiality.
August 2025