GMA Network to launch more digital channels

GMA Network Inc. is set to launch more digital TV channels as the company transitions from analog to digital free-to-air broadcast, following the launch of its own high-quality and affordable Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) receiver “GMA Affordabox.”

During the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting on Friday, GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon confirmed that the broadcast giant is set to launch “one or two more” digital channels this year.

“That is true. In GMA, we do things gradually. The first one is ‘The Heart of Asia’ which is already being done and there is one more digital channel, and perhaps one or two more,” Gozon said.

“So about three more digital channels. I just cannot remember the timing but some of them within the year,” he said.

GMA Network, on June 26, launched the “Heart of Asia” digital TV channel. The channel is set to bring to digital TV viewers no less than the biggest and the freshest K-drama titles alongside the best Asianovela series that are sure to warm the hearts of Filipinos. 

Viewers can catch the “Heart of Asia” channel on the GMA Affordabox and on other digital TV boxes on free-to-air broadcast.

Also in June, GMA Network unveiled its very own digital TV receiver “GMA Affordabox.” 

The GMA Affordabox was well-received by the public and garnered significant demand from the market.

The GMA Affordabox is the Kapuso Network’s 70th anniversary offering to Filipinos —enabling millions of households to access high-quality and affordable digital TV, bolstering the country’s transition from analog to digital TV viewing.

Selling like ‘hot pandesal’

Gaining higher demand as a result of numerous good reviews, GMA Affordabox’s sales are now set to exceed the Network’s initial projection of 600,000 units.

“It is selling like hot pandesal, and in fact we are overshooting our targets,” Gozon said.

“Just this morning I heard a request to increase the purchase for the number of boxes,” he added.

The GMA Network chair said the affordabox is much cheaper.

“Secondly, we do not have the conditional access system so everybody can access free-to-air TV transmission through our Affordabox, plus it has some features that are not available in other similar boxes like video recording, emergency warning system, multichannel, etc.,” Gozon said.

“There is now a transition from analog to digital, and many many of our people have digital TV sets ready for digital reception, so we need to have this transition where you need to put this box for an anlog TV set to be able to receive digital transmission,” he said.

GMA Affordabox is available in appliance stores and online via the GMA Store on Shopee and Lazada. It is for sale in the following areas: Metro Manila, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte.

For more details, visit www.GMAaffordabox.com and its official social media accounts via the handle @GMAaffordabox. For inquiries, contact the hotline (02) 8857-4627 within Metro Manila from 8AM to 10PM or 0961-252-9393 for outside Metro Manila, or e-mail support@GMAaffordabox.com. —KBK, GMA News