GMA Network eyes wider OFW reach in 2010 via Pinoy TV, Life TV

GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) wants to reach more Filipino households abroad next year through its two international channels, GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV, a network official said on Wednesday. Joseph T. Francia, GMA vice-president for international operations, told reporters GMA International plans to make its presence felt even more in European countries with a large Filipino base, particularly Italy, Britain and Germany. He added that GMA International might expand in the states of Florida, New York and New Jersey in the US, where there is also strong Filipino presence. Francia said GMA Pinoy TV's subscriber base has continued to grow, with more carriers signing up in key areas abroad. By yearend, GMA Pinoy TV subscribers are expected to reach 235,000 or a 13 percent yearly hike. Meanwhile, the company's second international channel, GMA Life TV, already has 106,000 subscribers, substantially increasing its average revenue per subscriber in select markets. This year, revenues from GMA Network's international channels grew by half to P854 million, making GMA International the second largest revenue earner and net income contributor of GMA Network, Francia said. GMA Pinoy TV is GMA’s first 24-hour international television channel, which airs the broadcast station’s news and entertainment programs to North America, Europe, Australia, North Africa and parts of Asia. Launched in 2005, it has 160,000 subscribers in the US and Canada alone. GMA Life TV, meanwhile, has been bringing selected Q-TV 11 lifestyle shows to Filipinos around the world since 2008. – Andreo C. Calonzo/JV/NPA, GMANews.TV