CNN Philippines takes down website, social media pages

The website and social media pages of CNN Philippines are no longer available following its shutdown on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

After nine years of delivering "news you can trust," the media company announced earlier this week that it would cease its operations on all its media channels due to "serious financial losses." In an advisory, it noted how it became a "trusted source of news and information" and was "accessible on free-to-air TV, cable, and digital platforms."

'Erased just like that'

CNN Philippines' former employees shared their sentiments in line with the social media wipeout on Thursday, Feb. 1.

"Nine years of working for CNN Philippines started and ended on the website and our social media pages to deliver content that is fair, accurate, and balanced," former digital executive producer Lara Tan wrote on X. "Erased just like that. Allow me to grieve this loss," she added.

Tan continued, "Sa huli, hindi lang kaming mga empleyado ang talo, kung hindi ang taumbayan. Nabawasan tayo ng isang maghahayag nang malaya, magmamatyag nang masinsinan, at kukwestiyon nang walang takot. Karangalan naming makapaglingkod sa inyo."

CJ Marquez, who handled "most of [CNN PH's] social media accounts," said he's "proud of what [they] accomplished."

"Worked for CNN Philippines for over a decade. We tried our best to deliver news that's fair, accurate, and balanced. I handled most of our social media accounts, And just like that, it's all gone," he said. "We fought the good fight. I'm proud of what we accomplished."

"CNN Philippines wiped out on social media as if we never existed," correspondent Bea Pinlac tweeted. "But we did exist & I hope you remember that we were once here—always trying our best to deliver news you can use, news you can trust."

Senior correspondent Gerg Cahiles also shared the same sentiments on the matter on his Instagram page. "Over a decade of reportage, now gone. As if #CNNPhilippines never existed. Too much pain this week."

Jade Agustin, one of the network's senior executive producers, said, "Been putting it off, I guess this is it." 

The shutdown rumors began on Jan. 25 after Media Newser Philippines reported that CNN Philippines and its operator, Nine Media Corporation, have "mutually agreed not to continue with their licensing agreement due to significant financial losses," saying there was a "decline in ad revenue and increased operating costs."

In its recent financial statements, CNN Philippines reported a net loss of P239.7 million in 2022 and P231.4 million in 2021.

The now-defunct media company was launched in 2015 as a "predominantly English language free-to-air television." Its last day of airing was on Jan. 29.

The government will own the network's frequency following its closing.