Philippine Senate Launches Senate TV Digital Channel in Partnership with IBC-13
Key Takeaways
- •The Philippine Senate launched Senate TV on Tuesday, its official free-to-air digital television channel, through a partnership with state broadcaster IBC-13.
- •The new channel joins the House of Representatives' Congress TV in forming what IBC-13 describes as a C-SPAN-style public affairs framework for the Philippines, offering coverage with minimal editorial filtering.
- •Senate President Sherwin T. Gatchalian said the channel aims to show the legislative process behind laws, including research, consultations, and the work of Senate staff who help craft bills.
- •Senate TV is currently in its first phase, providing live coverage of hearings and proceedings and accompanying senators on community visits, while a second phase with a main newscast and niche programs is being planned.
- •The channel broadcasts on IBC-13 Digital TV Channel 13.3, which the Senate leased from IBC-13, and the chamber is restructuring its communications office to engage constituents more effectively.
The Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday launched Senate TV, its official free-to-air digital television channel, in partnership with state broadcaster Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC-13), in a move intended to give Filipinos a full view of the chamber’s operations.
With the debut, Senate TV joins Congress TV, the official channel of the House of Representatives, in laying the groundwork for “a C-SPAN-style framework for the Philippines,” IBC-13 said in a statement. C-SPAN is the American public affairs network known for airing unedited coverage of the US Congress. The broadcaster described the service as a public affairs channel that shows viewers how government functions with minimal editorial filtering.
Senate President Sherwin T. Gatchalian said Filipinos are currently unable to see how laws are made — particularly the research and consultations involved — or the Senate staff who help craft bills. “As a senator, we merely become the face of that law,” he said. His remarks point to the visibility gap the channel is meant to close, giving viewers a look at the process behind a law rather than only its public face.
Alongside the new channel, the Senate’s communications office is being restructured to communicate more effectively with constituents, Mr. Gatchalian added — an effort that extends the chamber’s outreach beyond the new broadcast outlet.
According to IBC-13, the channel is in its first phase, providing live coverage of the chamber’s hearings and other proceedings. Senate TV will also accompany senators on visits to the communities they serve.
A second phase, similar to Congress TV’s setup, is being planned. It will feature a main newscast wrapping up Senate activities and its members, alongside other niche programs. For now, the live first-phase feed remains the channel’s core offering as plans for the expanded lineup take shape.
Senate TV is available on IBC-13 Digital TV Channel 13.3, which the chamber leased from IBC-13.
Source: BusinessWorld Online — reporting by Francessca S. Abalos
