ABS-CBN rolls out mobile digital TV offering

Media giant ABS-CBN Corp. is bringing its digital television platform mobile with the recent launch of ABS-CBN TVplus Go.

The company said TVplus Go, a thumbnail-sized device attached to an Android smartphone, allows user to watch digital TV on their handsets.

TV broadcast companies are racing to launch digital products given the government’s mandate to shut down the prevailing analog TV platform in four years. Digital TV offers better viewing and sound quality and is capable of broadcasting emergency alerts.

ABS-CBN said TVplus Go had its soft launch in June this year. It retails for P799, or half of the price of ABS-CBN TVplus.

It will compete with rival GMA Network Inc., which announced plans to launch a rival device called MyGMA Go. GMA had partnered with PLDT Inc. for its digital TV rollout.

The network said ABS-CBN TVplus also continued to reach more viewers.

It recently added Batangas as its 16th signal coverage area.

Other coverage areas include Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Tarlac, Benguet, Cavite, Metro Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao.

Since its launch in 2015, over eight million ABS-CBN TVplus units have been sold.

“ABS-CBN TVplus’ accelerated sales is indicative of how far the country has moved on from analog television and how closer we are to fully transitioning into digital broadcast ahead of the government-mandated deadline of 2023,” Charles Lim, ABS-CBN Access head, said.

In August last year, Kantar Media noted an increase in digital television’s market penetration.

In Metro Manila, this rose to 72 percent from 55 percent in the previous year.

It added that digital television ownership also increased to 65 percent from 44 percent in Mega Manila; and 57 percent from 33 percent in the suburbs.