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Surge in support for ABS-CBN franchise draws overwhelming response on Twitter

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/05/20200505-abs-cbn-closure-fsj-5849.jpg"/><figcaption>An employee of ABS-CBN fails to control her emotions after watching TV Patrol before it went off air on Tuesday. <em>Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — For as long as many Filipinos can remember, ABS-CBN has always been there, readily available with a flip of a switch or a click of a button, with its various news programs, teleseryes, and noontime shows to bring color to the public’s drabbest of days. </p><p>But this Tuesday night, television screens tuned into the Kapamilya network <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/05/05/20/its-been-an-honor-to-tell-your-stories-says-noli-de-castro-as-tv-patrol-and-abs-cbn-sign-off" target="_blank">went dark</a> after it was forced by a cease-and-desist order from authorities to shut down its broadcast operations.</p><p>The shutdown prompted a massive outpouring of support online, evidenced by how the hashtag, #NoToABSCBNShutDown, dominated the Twitter trending topics list locally with nearly 1 million tweets late Tuesday, and surpassing eight digits past-midnight Wednesday.</p><p>Combined with mentions of ABS-CBN and other related hashtags such as #DefendPressFreedom and #IStandWithABSCBN, the topic of the cease-and-desist order accounted for over 2 million. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/05/no-to-shutdown.png"/><figcaption>A snapshot of the trending topics list on Twitter around 11 p.m., Tuesday night, dominated by hashtags related to the order to stop the free TV and radio operations of ABS-CBN. </figcaption></figure></div><p>Celebrities and other media personalities, including some from rival networks of ABS-CBN, led the condemnation of what is considered a brazen attack on press freedom. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/05/20/stars-react-to-abs-cbn-being-ordered-to-close-tv-radio-operations">READ: Stars react to ABS-CBN being ordered to close TV, radio operations</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/05/20/napakasakit-ng-ginawa-niyo-sa-mga-pilipino-coco-martin-bares-anger-over-abs-cbn-closure">READ: ‘Napakasakit ng ginawa niyo sa mga Pilipino’: Coco Martin bares anger over ABS-CBN closure</a></li></ul><p>It was also criticized as untimely, given how it threatens the jobs of about 11,000 people during the COVID-19 pandemic. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/05/20/abs-cbn-shutdown-comes-at-worst-possible-time-amid-pandemic-says-rights-watchdog">READ: ABS-CBN shutdown comes at worst possible time amid pandemic, says rights watchdog</a></li></ul><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Di lang ang network at ang mga empleyado ang kawawa kundi ang buong bansa at lahat ng Pilipinong napagkaitan ng kailangang kailangang serbisyo sa oras na ito ng pandemya. ANG LUPIT!</p>— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) <a href="https://twitter.com/vicegandako/status/1257648214418702336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Sa lahat ng nagmamagaling at nagsasabi na “buti nga nagsara ang ABS”, sana masarap ang tulog ninyo ngayon gabi at nakapagbayad na ng bills. Sana rin masarap rin ang mga napamalengke ninyo na ipapakain sa inyong pamilya. Sana walang magkasakit na kailangan ipagamot at gastusan.</p>— Angel Locsin (@143redangel) <a href="https://twitter.com/143redangel/status/1257661784389038081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Sa dami ng problema ng Pilipinas... sa dami ng nagkakasakit at namamatay sa Covid... sa laki ng problema ngayon sa ekonomiya..sa dami ng nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa covid..<br/><br/>Talagang pagpapatigil ng ABSCBN ang inatupag nila. Hindi ko maintindihan kung nasaan ang mga puso nito.</p>— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamkarendavila/status/1257607714781487104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Puwedeng magsugal ang mga Tsino pero bawal magbalita ang mga Filipino.</p>— Juan Miguel Severo 🏳️‍🌈 (@TheRainBro) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1257605224434241536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I may never get used to seeing my dark TV screen when it’s set to ABS-CBN. No amount of bashing and trolling will change the hearts of all those who are committed to be in the service of the Filipino. We will somehow continue to do so. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoToABSCBNShutDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoToABSCBNShutDown</a> <a href="https://t.co/85YUBvH9dL">pic.twitter.com/85YUBvH9dL</a></p>— GARY VALENCIANO (@GaryValenciano1) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryValenciano1/status/1257700576671883268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Emotional night in the ABS-CBN newsroom tonight.<br/><br/>We can’t even hug each other. <a href="https://t.co/kp0PaMOq2M">pic.twitter.com/kp0PaMOq2M</a></p>— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffcanoy/status/1257645786700984322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">wanted to share my realizations about the ABS-CBN shutdown.... so here it is :) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DefendPressFreedom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DefendPressFreedom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoToABSCBNShutDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoToABSCBNShutDown</a> <a href="https://t.co/7yrF6tc8k1">pic.twitter.com/7yrF6tc8k1</a></p>— Macy (@macysalud) <a href="https://twitter.com/macysalud/status/1257686725775650820?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">&quot;This is ABS-CBN signing off&quot;<br/><br/>ME:<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoToABSCBNShutDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoToABSCBNShutDown</a> <a href="https://t.co/V34Elp4kqk">pic.twitter.com/V34Elp4kqk</a></p>— 🍑𝘼𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨 (@Haimein18) <a href="https://twitter.com/Haimein18/status/1257691548549918722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Too painful to witness the biggest broadcasting company to sign off just like that - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DefendPressFreedom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DefendPressFreedom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoToABSCBNShutDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoToABSCBNShutDown</a><br/><br/><a href="https://t.co/NapC4qnFZG">pic.twitter.com/NapC4qnFZG</a></p>— Joan Melendres (@joan7melendres) <a href="https://twitter.com/joan7melendres/status/1257692379902967820?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I stan!!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoToABSCBNShutDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoToABSCBNShutDown</a> <a href="https://t.co/ncuz0SWLH2">pic.twitter.com/ncuz0SWLH2</a></p>— Kim.Inonawa (@QuixoticVirgin) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuixoticVirgin/status/1257688337390825472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The topic had been trending since the National Telecommunications Commission announced early Tuesday its order to have the TV and radio operations of ABS-CBN <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/05/20/ntc-orders-abs-cbn-to-stop-broadcasting" target="_blank">stopped</a>, in the absence of a franchise. The company’s 25-year operating franchise expired on Monday.  </p>

<p>Topics such as #NoToABSCBNShutDown, #IStandWithABSCBN and #DefendPressFreedom accounted for more than 2 million tweets just about past midnight Wednesday.</p>

Topics such as #NoToABSCBNShutDown, #IStandWithABSCBN and #DefendPressFreedom accounted for more than 2 million tweets just about past midnight Wednesday.