GMA digital transmission device now set to be launched H2 2019

GMA Network Inc. is now set to release its digital transmission device by the second half of the year, as it said contracts and importation concerns are now being ironed out.

"Our digital device, which will have features that our competitors do not have, will be finally launched sometime in the second half of this year," GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon said in a speech during the company's annual stockholders meeting in Quezon City.

Gozon last year said the device was set to be commercially rolled out by June 2018, but on Thursday he clarified that some details needed to be finalized.

"Ang nangyari, 'yung contract namin sa PLDT (Inc.) medyo nade-delay pa, at inimport pa namin 'yung dongle eh," he explained in a separate interview with reporters.

The partnership between the two companies, said to revolutionize television viewing in the Philippines, was announced in January this year.

"Binigay na namin exclusive sa PLDT. May contract na kami, 'yung details nalang ina-iron out," Gozon said, "Sila mayroong facility eh."

The device, which is being manufactured in a factory in China, was announced by Gozon in May 2016.

He then said that the device will enable analog TV sets to receive digital transmission, and will rival those that are already available in the market.

Asked for more details, Gozon on Wednesday said it will initially cater to mobile devices such as smartphones and laptops.

"With the other features, I am hoping na madaling mabenta. Mas mura eh. But sa smartphone muna," he said, as the main competition already covers television sets.

The manufacturing of each device is said to be at P500 apiece, but Gozon said its selling price has still yet to be finalized.

GMA earlier this year said it is investing over P1 billion for the company to complete the second phase of its digitization project. — MDM, GMA News