It airs national and international newscasts and talk shows, rolling news coverage from correspondents and reporters of SMNI Manila and other news bureaus in the Philippines and in more than 40 countries around the world, entertainment programs and cult-related programs.[3]
It is exclusively aired over Digital terrestrial television on UHF Channels 39 and 43 in Metro Manila, and UHF Channel 19 in Davao Central and through more than 500 cable & satellite affiliates nationwide, selected programs simulcasting live via Facebook page, as well as on the main SMNI channel via analog and digital TV.[3]
Marissa del Mar-Magsino – OFW Partylist representative
Peter Serrano - actor and political vlogger
Lala Vinzon - actress
Former anchors
Michael "Mike" Abe - A news anchor who specifically dealt with the controversy on Vice Ganda's challenge to Quiboloy on possibly shutting down ABS-CBN as the pastor has claimed to have "stopped" the series of earthquakes in Mindanao in 2019.[6][7][8][9] He later departed from SMNI in 2022 after he walked out from hosting his program Usaping Bayan following his on-air argument against Quiboloy over the latter's alleged criticism on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first State of the Nation Address.[10]
In June 2023, SMNI was recognized as the "Best Preeminent Broadcasting and Media Production Company" (international category) in the 16th Golden Globe Annual Awards for Business and Excellence.[11]
Controversies
Alleged far-right bias, red-tagging
According to a report by Rappler, the network allegedly fuels disinformation, misleading claims and propaganda to attack journalists and critics of the Duterte administration.[12][citation needed] It also has been accused of being a far-right channel in the Philippines.[1][2]
On 7 July 2023, YouTube terminated the channels of SMNI and one of its programs, Laban Kasama ang Bayan (translated from Tagalog: Fight with the People), along with KJC, following a previous ban on Quiboloy's YouTube channel which was terminated on 21 June. Google later stated that their actions were in compliance with existing sanctions by the United States against Quiboloy pursuant to the US Global Magnitsky Act as well as allegations of red-tagging misinformation; Quiboloy was previously indicted by the United States Department of Justice on charges of human trafficking and child sexual abuse.[13][14]
Quiboloy and SMNI later created accounts on the alt-tech video service Rumble[15] as well as an alternate account for SMNI on YouTube in defiance of sanctions;[16] the latter account was suspended by YouTube a few days later.[17] On 15 September 2023, the SMNI News Facebook page was deleted, in accordance to Meta's Dangerous Organizations and Individuals Policy.[18]
Administrative complaint
SMNI is facing an administrative complaint filed in May 2022 before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Concepcion Empeño and Erlinda Cadapan, the mothers of disappeared students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, and left-wing human rights group Karapatan petitioned the NTC to revoke Swara Sug Media Corporation's franchise, for airing on SMNI an interview with convicted kidnapper and retired Army General Jovito Palparan.[19] The complainants said in a statement that the broadcast propagated disinformation in violation of Republic Act No. 11422 and the 2007 Broadcast Code of the Philippines.[19][20] Palparan and program host Lorraine Badoy also red-tagged former vice president and then-presidential candidate Leni Robredo during the broadcast, which the complainants alleged were in violation of Commission on Elections' Resolution No. 10730 involving truth in advertising and fair and accurate reporting.[20]
During former President Rodrigo Duterte's meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping in July 2023, SMNI personnel, along with Quiboloy, met with Chinesestate mediaCGTN executives to discuss a partnership for efficient information dissemination.[21][22]
SMNI faced legal scrutiny following the investigation, including the revocation of its congressional franchise. PBA Partylist Representative Margarita Nograles filed a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend the broadcast operations of SMNI for violating its franchise.[26][27]
The program Laban Kasama ng Bayan was unanimously suspended after an episode where one of the hosts, Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz, made a claim on travel spending of House SpeakerMartin Romualdez in that year, citing unverified information from his source at the Senate.[28][29] The House had Celiz cited in contempt for refusing to reveal his source on his claim; Celiz said he is bound by the Sotto Law, which protects journalists from revealing their sources.[30] Celiz was eventually detained for seven days together with his fellow host, Lorraine Badoy, who was also cited in contempt. Celiz and Badoy went on a hunger strike in response to the "travesty" of the House proceedings and their detention.[31] On 11 December, Celiz' wife and Badoy's husband, represented by lawyer and fellow SMNI host Harry Roque, filed a petition before the Supreme Court to release the two news hosts on or before 15 December; the petition also asked the court to issue a writ of habeas corpus declaring their detention had no legal basis and to issue a writ declaring that the House acted with grave abuse of discretion.[32] Four days later, the House released Celiz and Badoy from detention citing "humanitarian reasons dahil Kapaskuhan (because it is Christmas)".[33]
On 21 December, the National Telecommunications Commission issued an order suspending operations of the entire SMNI for 30 days, as well as a show cause order against the network.[34] On 22 January 2024, the NTC, per Deputy Commissioners John Paulo Salvahan and Alvin Bernardo Blanco, in a 6-page Cease and Desist Order, made the 30-day SMNI suspension indefinite: “Pursuant to Sec. 4, Rule 10, the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure… the Commission hereby directs respondent to cease and desist from operating its radio and television stations under the authorities enumerated in the 19 December 2023 show-cause-order (with 30-day suspension order pending hearing and final consideration of the above-captioned case).” The Order was signed after the House of Representatives said in Resolution 189 that "the SMNI violated several provisions of its franchise as provided under Republic Act 11422".[35][36]
References
^ abChua, Yvonne T. (June 14, 2023). "Philippines". Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
