At a contract signing event on January 12, president and CEO of Solar Entertainment Corporation Wilson Tieng, PLDT, Smart, and TV5 Network chairman Manuel Pangilinan, and VP of business development and marketing of the Miss Universe Organization Shawn McClain, together PLDT and Smart CRO Eric Alberto and TV5 president and CEO Chot Reyes, announced they will be bringing this year’s Miss Universe beauty pageant to be held in the Philippines closer to Filipinos with their combined reach.
PLDT will provide landline and wireless internet connection for Miss Universe contestants throughout their stay in the Philippines, as well as in selected public areas where live-streaming activities will be conducted. Smart Communications will supply Smart mobile phones and Smart Bro Pocket WiFis for all the contestants, letting them share their Miss Universe experiences with their fans online. On top of the complete broadcast coverage of the coronation night, TV5 will give viewers access to the preliminary show, specifically the swimsuit and long gown rounds.
“Bringing Miss Universe to the Philippines is one of the top events that we have ever invested in. It is an opportunity that we did not want to miss. For Miss Universe, we have jam-packed activities that will be happening at the same time and we’re excited to share it with the viewers,” said Tieng.
“Filipinos can look forward to watching their favorite contestants compete even before the grand finale, which is something only TV5 can offer,” Reyes said. “We aim to bring the pageant to life by bringing it closer to the hearts and enthusiasm of every Filipino.”
“With the Miss Universe crown currently in our homeland, the enthusiasm for and connection of Filipinos to the global pageant is now stronger than ever,” Pangilinan said. “With the combined reach of PLDT, Smart and TV5, we are providing our countrymen more ways to enjoy the pageant even more. We are giving them access to the behind-the-scenes and key events such as the very popular swimsuit and long gown competitions, and of course, real-time viewing of the much awaited coronation night. With our robust network capabilities, fans can watch the pageant events via multiple platforms, whether on TV, laptop or mobile—whenever they want, wherever they want.”
“The internet and social media will undoubtedly play a substantial role in Miss Universe in the Philippines,” Alberto said. “We are ready to contribute our products and services to make it a more engaging experience for everyone.”
