James Lindenberg

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 dubbing as the Father of Philippine Television, and Radio Philippines Network.

Personal James Lindenberg was born December 20, 1921, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was married to Soledad S. Lindenberg. He died April 28, 2009, in Makati, Philippines.

Career in the Philippines ABS-CBN On June 13, 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 apply 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, 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 on June 19, 1960, and in 1969, RPN has acquiring several broadcasting equipment facilities and channel frequencies from Lindenberg's previous firm ABS-CBN, such as Channel 9. In late 1960's, Lindenberg sold the entire network to Ambassador Roberto Benedicto, one of the cronies of former President Ferdinand Marcos.