Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) will be expanding its reach through a partnership with the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association, Inc. (PCTA) to help students in remote areas.
In a statement, KCFI’s parent company ABS-CBN Corporation said a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by KCFI and PCTA to benefit more learners as they study at home while distance learning is being implemented.
This formal partnership will help extend the reach of Knowledge Channel to more cable-connected homes nationwide, especially in remote areas with limited to no internet connection. Prior to the ABS-CBN franchise denial in July 2020, Knowledge Channel was in over 7 million households via ABS-CBN TVplus, SKYdirect, SKY and a number of cable service partners.
When classes were prematurely terminated in March this year, it aired curriculum-based video lessons with its Stay at Home, Learn at Home program that helped children catch up with their lessons while “enhanced community quarantine” was enforced in many parts of the country.
However, Knowledge Channel’s reach shrunk to 1.8 million households because of the franchise denial as it could not longer broadcash its programs via free TV.
This renewed collaboration will bring Knowledge Channel to as many learners, parents, and teachers to help them with distance learning. PCTA has 360 regular members and 32 affiliate members reaching over 75 percent of cable-connected households.
“My fervent wish is that through this bayanihan effort with cable providers, distance learning will become more accessible, feasible, affordable, and most of all, enjoyable for every Filipino child,” said KCFI President and Executive Director of Rina Lopez-Bautista.
Joel Dabao, PCTA President and K-CAT cable owner, acknowledged this bayanihan effort and assures that PCTA is ever willing to partner with KCFI in helping the basic education sector.
PCTA will encourage all its cable-operator members not only to include Knowledge Channel in their line-up but also to put the channel in its most affordable packages. “With this partnership we hope to reach more Filipino learners and ease the challenges in adapting to distance learning to ensure that no student is left behind,” Dabao emphasized.