GMA breaks into more foreign marts

Manila, Philippines -  GMA Worldwide Inc. (GWI), the program acquisition and syndication arm of top broadcast firm GMA Network Inc., continues to penetrate more markets in overseas territories.

GMA vice president for GWI Roxanne Barcelona said there is growing interest in Philippine-produced programs not just in Asia but across the rest of the world.

“We are proud to showcase to partner broadcasters around the world GMA Network’s key programs that were hits in Filipino households. We are pleased to tap more markets this year and we hope to maintain the drive for the rest of 2012,” she said.

During the first four months of 2012, GMA signed contracts of program syndication in Asian and US TV markets including eight program titles sold to Cambodian Broadcasting Services Ltd.; nine program titles and nine movie titles syndicated to Fox International Channels for the Philippine territory; nine program titles for the US territories; three program titles for Malaysia; two program titles and two film titles for Brunei; and three program titles for Myanmar.

Among the GMA-produced dramas and films that were syndicated by GWI include Encantadia, La Vendetta, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin (Second Chances), Una Kang Naging Akin (When You Were Mine), Pahiram Ng Isang Ina (Children In My Heart), Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit (Losing Heaven), Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin (Only You), Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita (Sweet Revenge), Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit (Selfish Desires), Little Star, Marimar, Impostora (The Impostor), Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw (My One And Only Love), My Only Love, Wish Ko Lang, Pinoy Abroad, I-Witness, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Comedy Bar, Temptation Island, Muro Ami, I.T.A.L.Y., Si Agimat At Si Enteng, Let The Love Begin, Mulawin: The Movie, Sundo, The Promise, My Valentine Girls, and Sa Pusod ng Dagat.

In 2011, the January to April revenues came mostly from syndication of nine program titles to Africa, one program title to Vietnam, and various footage of News and Public Affairs shows to worldwide territories.

GWI grossed P16.58 million for the first four months of 2012, 109 percent or P8.66 million higher than P7.92 million generated for the same period in 2011.

The increase in GWI’s profits was mainly driven by the growth in distribution revenues to new territories plus more businesses from existing clients.

The bulk of the amount came from P14.28 million worth of contracts of program syndication to mentioned territories, while P210,000 of the gross came from the GWI Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service, which gives subscribers worldwide access to a selection of programs that can be viewed on high definition quality at anytime.

GWI’s four-month 2012 cash operating expenses (OPEX) dropped 19 percent to P361,000 due to lower dues and subscriptions and ads and promo. This slump in OPEX brought the GMA subsidiary’s EBITDA to stand at P2.97 million, more than two times the amount the company made in 2011. 

In all, GWI pushed its bottom line performance to P1.98 million for the first four months of 2012, a four-fold growth from last year’s net income of P447,000.

Barcelona also said that GWI’s participation in international markets namely, World Content Market in Prague, Czech Republic, Hong Kong International Film and TV Market in Hong Kong, and Marche International des Programmes de Television in Cannes, France this 2012; and six other markets held in Singapore, Accra, Ghana, Prague, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, and Cannes, France in 2011 provided rich intercultural exchange for GMA Network, now dubbed as one of the most competent Filipino broadcast companies in introducing Filipino programs to overseas territories.