ABS-CBN plans satellite TV in the Philippines

MANILA — According to InterAksyon.com, ABS-CBN is planning to offer a satellite television service for the Philippines through its subsidiary SkyCable.

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In a submission to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Sky Cable Corporation said it plans to spend P252 million for the rollout of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service across 251 cities and municipalities.

Also known as "direct-to-home," DBS transmits signals to subscribers using satellite.

A unit of ABS-CBN Corporation, Sky Cable’s venture into satellite TV will pit it against three existing players, namely Cignal, Dream Satellite TV and GSat.

InterAksyon.com is the online news portal of TV5, which is a sister-company of Cignal.

ABS-CBN, TV5 to invest USD 26.9mln on DTT upgrade

Philippines-based networks, ABS-CBN and TV5, announced to spend a combined figure of PHP 1.2 billion (USD 26.88 million) to upgrade to digital terrestrial television (DTT) from analogue broadcasting.

According to reports, TV5 will spend around PHP 700 million (USD 15.68 million) in the next five years with P300 million (USD 6.72) to be spent this year to cover the National Capital Region to roll out its DTT service.

On the other hand, ABS-CBN will spend PHP 500 million (USD 1.2 million) for its rollout to Cebu, Davao, Cagayan, Bacolod, and Iloilo.

ABS-CBN to invest PHP600mn in 2015, launches STB for PHP2,500

ABS-CBN Corporation has planned to allocate over PHP600 million this year to expand the coverage of its digital terrestrial television service in Philippines. The company has intended to tap other provinces such as Cagayan, Cebu, Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and Naga.

ABS-CBN has launched a set-top-box, TVPlus, for PHP2,500. It aims to sell over one million set-top-boxes this year. The company said that it had invested over PHP3 billion since 2008 to roll out digital television service.

“I think this year we have to go to other provinces like Cagayan, Cebu, Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and Naga. Based on our estimate it would be around P600 million this year. We are still looking at the investment to cover nationwide. We will see how the market responds first,” said Ron Valdueza, Chief Financial Officer of ABS-CBN Corporation.

“DTT is an investment in the Filipino people. We believe that the inspiration and the information that digital TV will beam into their homes will help open new windows of opportunity for every Filipino family,” said Carlo Katigbak, Head of Access with ABS-CBN. “Through Philippines DTT, we hope to create and offer more information and entertainment content for viewers in order to give them more choices, serve them better, and enrich their lives,” he added.

ABS-CBN launches digital TV service on 11 February

ABS-CBN Corporation will launch digital terrestrial television service on 11 February in Philippines. Broadcasting regulator, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), released guidelines to transition to digital terrestrial television broadcast service to ensure smooth transition from analogue to digital television on 7 December, 2014.

The country has selected Japan’s Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial standard over Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 (DVB-T2).

Under the guidelines, operators are expected to simulcast DTTB service with analogue TV service for one year after the launch of DTTB service. Analogue very high frequency television service should neither be disrupted nor terminated until further orders from the NTC. VHF TV operators that fail to simulcast within one year would lose their frequency to other qualified ultra-high frequency TV operators.

“In order to facilitate the entry of digital broadcast services in the country, there is a need to provide the corresponding guidelines for the delivery of digital television services and ensure smooth transition from analog to digital services,” said Gamaliel Cordoba, Commissioner of NTC.

ABS-CBN looks to long term expansion

ABS-CBN Corporation a diversified Filipino media conglomerate, has announced that it has raised USD 132 million from its maiden bond in order to finance a five year expansion plans for the country. The company is currently owned and controlled by the powerful Lopez family.

The company will be focusing on digital terrestrial TV as well as ensure its pay TV business, Sky cable is also serviced appropriately. Aldrin Cerrado, chief financial officer of ABS-CBN, said in a statement.“The success of this bond issue is a major achievement for our company and is a culmination of management’s adoption and efficient execution of key business strategies over the last few years,”

BDO Capital president Eduardo Francisco has noted that the industry has welcomed ABS-CBN’s move. He said, “The positive response we received from investors reinforces our view that ABS-CBN has earned a solid credit standing among the domestic investing community.”