GMA Network eyes P1-B investment in 2nd phase of digital TV rollout

MANILA, Philippines — Television broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. said it would continue expanding the rollout of digital TV across the Philippines.

In a statement, the company said it had moved to the second phase of the project, which will require investments of more than P1 billion.

GMA said this phase would include production, post-production, content management and distribution of GMA and GMA News TV’s programs.

It will also launch its “Digital Terrestrial Transmitters” that allow digital-enabled TV sets and set-top boxes to reach viewers in Mega Manila, North Central Luzon, Cebu, and Davao.

“All these state-of-the-art upgrades are part of GMA Network’s ongoing digitization project to bring world- class programming to our viewers here and abroad,” GMA chair and CEO Felipe Gozon said in the statement.

“We are excited to unveil more innovative offerings that will not only maintain our position as the country’s leading broadcast network but will also revolutionize the TV viewing experience in the Philippines,” he added.

GMA’s digital TV rollout only started to ramp up last year, or about three years behind rival ABS-CBN Corp. Gozon, at the time, noted that they were concerned about still-uncertain financial prospects in the business.

Broadcasters are preparing for the switch off of analog TV, which is targeted by 2023, the National Telecommunications Commission had earlier announced. It expected that roughly 95 percent of all households would have access to digital TV by then.

GMA has also been beefing up partnerships, notably, through an alliance with telco giant PLDT Inc. As part of their agreement, PLDT will deliver GMA’s content across its nationwide telecommunications network.