PLDT, Roku team up for internet TV plan

Telecom giant PLDT Inc. partnered with United States-based Roku, its latest effort to broaden the use of internet television in the Philippines, a statement Friday showed.

Roku, which markets media player boxes that connect directly to television sets, allows the streaming of a wide-range of internet applications like, according to Roku’s website, YouTube, as well as subscription services like Netflix.

Ramon Isberto, head of Public Affairs at PLDT and Smart, said an agreement was just signed between PLDT and Roku. He said other details, including when the service would be commercially available in the Philippines, had yet to be finalized.

PLDT said in its statement the Roku partnership was in step with ongoing efforts to widen its footprint in digital services, tagged as a new area of growth and profits. Early steps taken by the company in internet TV include iflix, where PLDT has a minority stake, and a partnership with Fox International Channels.

In a statement, PLDT said Roku had nine million active accounts in 10 countries, including the US, United Kingdom, and Australia. The telco play compared that with rival Globe Telecom’s partner Chromecast, developed by tech giant Google. PLDT said Roku had twice the usage of Chromecast, citing independent surveys and Roku’s own tracker as of November last year.