GMA Network unveils game-changing device GMA Now, eyes to sell 500K-1M units in a year

Following the success of its digital TV receiver GMA Affordabox, broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. is launching a new offering to enable Kapusos to watch the network’s shows through their smartphones.

The latest offering, GMA Now, is a  mobile digital terrestrial television (DTT) receiver that can be plugged into an Android phone and allow the user to watch live TV on the go for free and enjoy its interactive features as well.

In a media interview during the unveiling of the device on Thursday, GMA New Media Inc. president and COO Dennis Augusto Caharian said with GMA Now, “we’re hoping we can somehow influence the consumption of television even outside of the home.”

In the first year of the product’s launch, Caharian said the network is targeting to sell within 500,000 to one million units.

GMA Now will have its formal launching on Sunday, February 7, 2021.

To recall, GMA Affordabox hit a milestone with one million units sold in just seven months since its launch.

While the target for GMA Now will depend on the market’s reception, Caharian said, “[D]efinitely, we are confident given the amount of smartphones out there.”

“The target market are people in general. People who love to watch TV, people who have smartphones,” he said.

“Based on our data, a lot of people consume video through mobile phones,” he added.

GMA Now, priced at only P649 per unit, is currently available in portions of Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Metro Cebu, Davao, Baguio, and Cagayan de Oro.

“Those are the coverage areas for GMA Now,” GMA New Media Inc. Senior Vice President and Head of New Businesses Evert Miranda said.

“With the intent to expand and improve the signal, we will be adding more to the list anytime soon,” Miranda said.

With GMA Now, Kapusos can watch their favorite GMA shows anytime and anywhere and have access to GMA, GMA News TV, Heart of Asia, Hallypop, Dep-Ed TV, and all available free-to-air digital channels in your location.

Aside from watching TV in digital quality, GMA Now also allows users to stream GMA videos, play interactive games, and chat with Kapuso celebrities on Groupee.

GMA Now works with any Android smartphone that runs on Android OS Marshmallow (Android 6.0) or higher, Dual Core 1Ghz CPU, and USB OTG support. GMA Now is also set to be available soon for iPhone users. 

Users should simply download the GMA Now app from the Google Play Store to register for free and attach the GMA Now dongle on the smartphone.

The GMA Now device was made available for purchase exclusively online via the official GMA Store on Shopee and Lazada, on December 12, 2020. —KBK, GMA News