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James Lindenberg (December 20, 1921 – April 28, 2009) was an American-born Filipino engineer and businessman. He moved to the Philippines in the 1940s. He is credited for his founding of Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC), the precursor of ABS-CBN Corporation, and dubbed as the Father of Philippine Television.

Career in the Philippines

ABS-CBN

On July 11, 1946, he began assembling transmitters and established Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC). The company was named after his wife's hometown of Bolinao, Pangasinan. He was the first to applied to the Philippine Congress for a license to open a television station three years later. His wish was fulfilled on June 14, 1950, one year later. Instead, he had to get into radio broadcasting because of the tight import controls (since 1948) and lack of raw materials.

His attempt to put up a television station did not go to waste. Antonio Quirino, a judge and brother of then-Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, had been trying to get a license from Congress that would allow him to put up a television station. The Congress, however, denied him from getting such a license for the fear that he might use it as a vehicle for propaganda for his brother who was then running for a second term in the presidential elections of 1953. Because of this, Antonio Quirino bought a 70% share in BEC, which earned him indirect control of a television franchise. He changed the name of BEC to Alto Broadcasting System (ABS). Lindenberg continued to be a co-owner and served as the general manager, and in November 1955 directed hands-on the first televised coverage of an election in the Philippines with the cooperation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL). On February 24, 1957, Don Eugenio Lopez, Sr. acquired ABS from Quirino and Lindenberg.

RPN

After co-founding ABS-CBN, Lindenberg founded the Radio Philippines Network on February 25, 1960. RPN was formed as the Congress of the Philippines approved its franchise in June 19, 1960.

See also

• ABS-CBN Corporation
• Radio Philippines Network

References

1. "Farewell to the Father of Philippine Television". www.abs-cbn.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
2. Salterio, Leah C. "2003: A good year for ABS-CBN — and how!". The Philippine Star.
3. "ABS-CBN Corporation - Company Information". PSE Edge. Philippine Stock Exchange. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
4. ^ Geocities: The Philippine TV History. Accessed January 23, 2009.
5. Trinidad, Cita (November 10, 1955). "How TV covered its first election in Philippines". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc. Earphone on and both hands kept busy turning on and off the double row of phone switches, Lindenberg kept faithfully at his post and reported to his vast unseen radio and TV audiences every single bit of news stories...
6. Rodrigo, Raul (February 28, 2020). "How Don Eugenio Lopez bought ABS from the Quirinos to build a broadcast giant". ANC X. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
7. "ABS-CBN's 50th year celebrates Philippine television". The Philippine Star.
8. "At 91, Atty. Jake Almeda-Lopez is still fighting for ABS-CBN, the media company he helped shape". ANCX. June 22, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
9. "About Us". Radio Philippines Network. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
10. "Republic Act 2980". June 19, 1960.

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