Cover Carlo Katigbak gave his statement on franchise renewal during TV Patrol’s May 5, 2020 broadcast (Photo: ABS-CBN Entertainment / YouTube)
Carlo Katigbak gave his statement on franchise renewal during TV Patrol’s May 5, 2020 broadcast (Photo: ABS-CBN Entertainment / YouTube)
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Tatler Asia’s Most Influential 2022 honouree Carlo L Katigbak shares the challenges and future of the local media industry
ABS-CBN’s tri-coloured circular logo has become a symbol of trust for majority of the Filipino viewers. And under Carlo L Katigbak’s leadership, it has also become an insignia of hope.
The president of one of the Philippines’ biggest media companies and one of Tatler Asia’s Most Influential listers, Katigbak led the charge against insurmountable odds in the past years. ABS-CBN Corp is slowly but surely regaining its ground as it transitions from a broadcasting behemoth into a content production giant—all while maintaining its mantra of being “in the service of the Filipino people”.
More from Tatler: ABS-CBN Film Archives: the process, challenges, and rewards of film restoration
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What projects in the last two years are you most proud of? Why?
Carlo L Katigbak (CLK): We produced one television series that aired primarily in the North American market, and produced a movie that was picked up by Sony Pictures for international distribution. We have every confidence that Filipinos can produce content that resonates with a global audience. We have the creative talent, the performing talent, and the production talent to tell stories that touch the hearts of people all over the world. There is nothing more exciting to us in this industry than to see Filipinos succeed on the world stage.
See more: Restored Filipino Classic Films You Can Watch on Facebook for Free
What challenges do you see now in your respective industry? How do you intend to help address these challenges?
CLK: The Filipino audience is being exposed more and more to global content, whether through television or streaming platforms. Because of that, our tastes and sensibilities are evolving and becoming more global as well. This means that local producers are now competing against content creators from many other countries. On the one hand, this is forcing us to up our game and become more competitive against international players. On the other hand, if we are successful at becoming world-class creators, our market is no longer just the Filipinos but the rest of the world.
What can you say to those who want to follow in your footsteps?
CLK: Be clear about your purpose. You should understand how the work that you do, the products you create, or the services you provide—how they end up uniquely making the lives of your customers better. Success isn’t the goal, but the consequence of making a sincere difference in the lives of the people you serve.
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