Sky Cable to shut pay TV

MANILA, Philippines — Cable operator Sky Cable Corp. is ending its pay TV business toward the end of February, as it moves to become a dedicated connectivity provider as part of its merger with PLDT Inc.

In an advisory, Sky Cable announced that it would cease its pay TV services as agreed upon in the buyout with PLDT, with the broadcast scheduled to sign off on Feb. 26.

However, Sky Cable is maintaining its fiber network as it remains an internet service provider.

Sky Cable told its internet customers that there would be no changes in their subscription by Feb. 26, as broadband services and monthly fees would stay the same.

Sky Cable advised its cable users to begin searching for another pay TV provider and came up with a list of operators that affected subscribers may choose from depending on the availability in their area.

It informed its bundle subscribers that their packages would be converted into a broadband plan, instructing them to select their preferred rates until Feb. 26.

Last week, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) approved the P6.75-billion merger between PLDT and Sky Cable, allowing the parties to proceed with the closing conditions of the deal.

As part of this, Sky Cable has to terminate its cable operations to align the business with the core product of its new parent.

Last year, PLDT signed a sale and purchase agreement with ABS-CBN Corp., Sky Vision Corp. and Lopez Inc. to acquire 100 percent of Sky Cable.

The transaction cements PLDT’s position as the largest connectivity provider in the Philippines.

PLDT also plans to maximize Sky Cable’s assets to improve internet quality in rural areas in line with its commitment to expand digital access in the countryside.

For the Lopezes, the merger means that it will dispose of a business that has struggled to recover since 2020.

Sky Cable lost its right to provide direct-to-home services when ABS-CBN failed to get a new franchise from Congress.

With the PCC approving the merger, the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research is asking PLDT to also absorb at least 22 employees from the pay TV department of Sky Cable.

The group is urging the telco to respect the security of tenure of these employees by reassigning them to another position now that the Sky Cable’s pay TV is about to shut.