MANILA, JUNE 14, 2013 – FOX International Channels (FIC) Philippines has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS).
FIC is to purchase multi-channel per-carrier (MCPC) services, playout and satellite capacity on the ABS-1 and ABS-2 satellites for Philippine operations. The service is to begin in the latter half of 2013 on the ABS-1 and is to transition to ABS-2 after the launch.
ABS says that its investments in on-the-ground infrastructure, including some of the industry’s most advanced systems, and in digital television playout facilities in both Subic in the Philippines and in Hong Kong as well, it will be able to support FIC’s playout requirements. The Subic Bay facility was enhanced to tailor its services to support FIC’s operations in the Philippines, from where its transmissions will originate. ABS will also be able to provide an integrated broadcast 24/7 solution for FIC.
Tom Choi, CEO of ABS, said that the Philippines is an emerging broadcasting market in the Southeast Asian region and that ABS sees that there will be more players that will be looking at developing localized feeds for the Philippines.
Jude Turcuato, territory head of FIC Philippines, said that Asia is not a single market but a diverse region encompassing many countries possessing distinct tastes and preferences regarding TV viewing. He said that through this partnership with ABS, he was pleased that FIC could now better tailor its channels to meet the needs of Filipino viewers.
