GMA Network allots P1 billion to expand digital TV venture

MANILA, Philippines — Broadcast leader GMA Network Inc. has allocated P1 billion for the expansion of its digital TV venture in an attempt to reach the entire population of households nationwide.

GMA said its core channel GMA-7, combined with secondary platforms Good TV (GTV), I Heart Movies, Heart of Asia, Hallypop and DepEd TV, has reached 97.1 percent of TV households across the country as of August.

Data from Nielsen Philippines showed GMA’s free-to-air reach has passed on 18.4 million TV households, keeping the firm ahead of the network wars in the absence of its traditional rival ABS-CBN Corp. on free TV.

By segment, the net reach of GMA-7 hit 96.6 percent, or 18.3 million TV households, while that of GTV increased to 78.9 percent, or 15 million. Based on estimates, total TV households in the Philippines stood at nearly 19 million as of August.

On the other hand, GMA’s net reach topped 94.3 percent, or 76.6 million, of the total viewers in the country, missing out on an audience of just around five million. To fill in this gap, the network plans to make new investments, particularly on digital TV, to widen its presence to every viewer.

GMA said that it is set to invest at least P1 billion to unveil digital stations that would expand its TV coverage.

As a result of this investment, GMA expects to reach the whole population of TV households in the Philippines with its digital signal set to be scaled up.

GMA has spent close to P860 million for the upgrade of its existing digital terrestrial TV stations out of the P1.8 billion in capital it set aside for prospective expansions.

GMA said it would shore up investments to enhance its reach and improve its signal, vowing that new stations will be put up and existing ones will be modernized. At present, the firm operates 93 TV stations made up of analog and digital facilities and situated in strategic locations nationwide.

GMA sustained its dominance on the free-to-air platform at the start of the year, capping the first semester with a net income of P4 billion. Revenues grew by 13 percent to P11.94 billion on the spike in campaign materials during the election campaign.

GMA has enjoyed its status as the broadcast leader on free TV since its major competitor ABS-CBN was denied by Congress of its legislative franchise in 2020.

Likewise, GMA is expected to keep its command on free TV with the joint venture between ABS-CBN and TV5 Network Inc. scrapped on political pressure from regulators and some quarters in Congress.