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GMA, PLDT team up for digital TV innovation
GMA Network Inc., through its subsidiary GMA New Media Inc., has signed a partnership deal with PLDT-Smart Communications Inc. to revolutionize TV viewing in the Philippines.
In a signing ceremony in Makati City on Wednesday, the two companies entered into a technology, content, and distribution agreement involving innovations that will enhance the media network’s digitization.
GMA Network Inc./GMA New Media Inc. (NMI) and PLDT-Smart Communications Inc. laid the groundwork of a formidable partnership to revolutionize TV-viewing experience in the country, the network said.
“The companies entered into a technology, content, and distribution agreement involving the launch of game-changing innovations that will power the media giant’s digital transformation,” according to GMA Network.
GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon noted the partnership will set the stage for the network’s digitization.
“We have to constantly push boundaries in order to maintain our relevance to our customers and audience,” Gozon said during the signing ceremony.
“For GMA, we have to recognize that for us to maintain our position as the leading broadcast station in the country. We must evolve in accordance with the shifting habits and preferences of our audiences,” he added.
In a separate statement, Gozon said the partnership with PLDT-Smart is slated to improve the quality of GMA’s content.
“This partnership is a clear statement that we are welcoming disruption and embracing digital with open arms. By riding the wave of disruption with PLDT and Smart as partners, we will not only upgrade the quality of content we are producing but we are also setting the stage for a new age of digital television,” Gozon said.
“The agreement we are signing this afternoon with PLDT-Smart is significant for GMA because it marks the start of the full implementation of our digitization project,” he explained.
“Under this agreement, the partners are welcoming the disruption caused by digitization. GMA will be upgrading the quality of its content as it sets the stage for a new age of television,” Gozon added.
PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan said the partnership is also in line with PLDT-Smart’s digital pivot.
"As we transform our business from being a legacy telco into the premier and most trusted digital enabler in the country, this partnership will enable us to power GMA’s digital pivot and help deliver to our millions of fixed and wireless subscribers GMA7’s unique and compelling content, as well as exciting new digital experiences to more Filipino families,” he said.
“We are quite eager to start working on this project and making it successful for GMA and PLDT ... We welcome this partnership and we look for partnerships in the future,” Pangilinan added.
Also present during the signing ceremony were GMA Network President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., GMA Network Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Network’s Executive Committee Vice Chairman Joel G. Jimenez, NMI President and COO Judd Gallares, and NMI Senior Vice President and General Manager Dennis Caharian.
Representing PLDT and Smart were Oscar Enrico A. Reyes, SVP and Head of Consumer Business-Market Development; Ernesto R. Alberto, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer; and Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman and CEO.
PLDT and Smart announced in June 2016 their shift towards digital, with new logos of the two companies launched as well. —VDS/BAP, GMA News
