GMA launches three channels in 18 global territories

PHILIPPINES, NOVEMBER 18, 2011: GMA Network continues to expand its reach to more Filipino communities worldwide with various launches of its international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, plus its newest international channel, GMA News TV International, in around 18 different areas all over the globe via 10 channel carriers during the first three quarters of this year alone.

As the flagship international channel of the Kapuso Network, GMA Pinoy TV currently accounts for around two million global viewers, while GMA’s Filipino lifestyle international channel, GMA Life TV, now has one million viewers.

These two channels continue to add substantial viewership count this year from more Filipino households in the Asia Pacific via FetchTV Australia, Hawaiian Telecom, and Tolec Electronics (Papua New Guinea), and in the U.S. via Brighthouse (Central Florida), SureWest Broadband (Sacramento), Comcast (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michigan, Seattle, and Houston), and Time Warner (North and South Carolina, Upstate New York, and North East Region).

Meanwhile, newly launched GMA News TV International – from the leading news channel in the country today – is currently seen in Australia (via FetchTV and UBI World TV), New Zealand (via UBI World TV), Guam (via GTA TeleGuam), and Japan (via IPS Japan). GMA Network also expanded the overseas reach of its AM radio station DZBB and FM radio station DWLS via its third quarter launches in FetchTV Australia, Hawaiian Telecom, and Time Warner Carolinas and North East Region, as initiated by GMA International.

“With the aggressive expansion of GMA’s international channels, we bring more of our fellow Filipinos abroad closer to home as we let them experience valuable and relevant news and entertainment programming that they have come to expect from GMA Network,” said Joseph T. Francia (Pictured), VP and Head of Operations of GMA International.

And with these added opportunities to reach out to more Filipino communities outside of the country, GMA International is all set to back its channel launches with a more competitive television programming. Besides airing the top-rating entertainment and news and public affairs programs from GMA-7, GMA Pinoy TV also offers a number of shows mainly by and about Filipinos abroad. Through its partnership with Pinoy-owned media companies, GMA Pinoy TV is able to air Filipino co-production programs such as “Power ng Pinoy,” “Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika,” and “Kaya Mong Gawin.”

The three channels rise abroad

GMA Pinoy TV also strengthened its sports programming this year with the exclusive telecast of the Philippine National Basketball Team at the 33rd Jones Cup and FIBA-Asia Champions Cup; the “Island Assault” boxing matches featuring Brian Viloria, Denver Cuello, and Michael Farenas; the back-to-back bouts of Ana Julaton versus Gladney and Jessica Villafranca; and “Rugby 101” featuring the Philippine Volcanoes. Shakey’s V League’s Open Conference for women’s collegiate, meanwhile, airs over GMA Life TV.

GMA Life TV also just recently launched its newest program lineup. Positioned as the only international Filipino lifestyle channel, GMA Life TV further beefed up its programming with the first-ever English-dubbed Pinoy drama series “The Impostor” and “When You Were Mine.”
GMA Life TV’s other program genres include talk and reality shows for Talk About Life; beauty, fashion, plus the latest trends in Styles of Life; food shows and cooking programs in Food for Life; children and educational shows in Learn About Life; and other magazine and religious programs in Facts and Words of Life.

GMA News TV International, on the other hand, delivers timely and comprehensive local news from the Philippines straight to thousands of Filipino households abroad. It is powered by the most awarded and the most credible broadcast news team in the country, GMA News and Public Affairs, and is bannered by the most respected names in broadcast journalism today – Jessica Soho, Mike Enriquez, Mel Tiangco, Arnold Clavio, Vicky Morales, and Howie Severino.
 
GMA Network also continues to strengthen its presence worldwide through a number of events and festivals in partnership with the various Filipino communities in the U.S., Hawaii, Canada, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia.
 
For the first nine months of 2011, GMA International’s combined programming and marketing efforts resulted to a six percent (6%) year-on-year revenue growth in dollar terms. (30)