James Lindenberg (December 20, 1921 – April 28, 2009)[1] 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.[2]
On July 11, 1946, he began assembling transmitters and established Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC).[3] 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.[4]
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,[4] 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.[4]. On February 24, 1957, Don Eugenio Lopez, Sr. acquired ABS from Quirino and Lindenberg.[5][6]