A cheaper price tag of P1499 and the expansion to other key areas in the country helped ABS-CBN TVplus reach the two million mark. (Photo credit: ABS-CBN)
The ABS-CBN TVplus black box continues to sell like pancakes.
Parent company ABS-CBN recently announced that the sale of the TVplus box has reached two million units, thus surpassing its year-end target. The swift rise in sales was helped by the product’s cheaper price tag of P1499 (originally P2500, then P1999), as well as national expansion to key regions in the country.
ABS-CBN CEO and president Carlo Katigbak shared his enthusiasm for the TVplus box. According to Katigbak,
ABS-CBN TVplus continues to improve the Filipino’s viewing experience though digital quality broadcast and a transformative entertainment experience by offering more choices of channels and even opportunities to watch special TV events, greatly supporting our mission to serve the Filipino people.
Launched in February 2015, ABS-CBN TVplus carries a select number of major free TV networks, including ABS-CBN and S+A. It also carries ABS-CBN’s exclusive digital channels Yey!, CineMo, Knowledge Channel, and DZMM TeleRadyo, as well as pay-per-view channel Kapamilya Box Office (KBO).
Meanwhile, rival network GMA continues its planned transition to digital television. The network revealed that it plans to invest P416 million on transmitter facilities to aid in the migration process.
Previously, GMA announced its plan to invest P1.5 billion on digital equipment, which was lower than the P3 billion that ABS-CBN spends for its own digital migration. GMA also unveiled a prototype of its upcoming digital television product, which is expected to combine the capabilities of a digital receiver and a set-top box.
While ABS-CBN continues to make strides in the development of its digital television arm, it is clear that GMA is taking things slow. Considering that the Kapuso network has had a history of questionable investments and a poor management reputation, Felipe Gozon’s ‘conservative’ approach may be the hopeful solution for now.
Still, with the target towards shutdown of analog broadcasts in 2019 within reach, GMA may not have enough time to deal with the impending migration. Sooner or later, the Kapuso network must act now, otherwise every household may end up with an ABS-CBN TVplus box, leaving GMA with little room to grow.
From the Tube 
In ABS-CBN, despite of technical problems on how to “configure” their DTV from some customers on functioning, they still reached 2 million by sending their unit; This could be a milestone for them since NTC ordered all TV station to switch to digital from analog.
Meanwhile, GMA Network still searching for resources by using Dongles. Sooner or later, they will be violated if they are not migrated their transmission until 2019.
GMA’s digital TV development has been slow so far. With all the questionable financial decisions they made in previous years, GMA might not be able to make it in time as far as digital broadcast goes.
I would suggest that they should minimize on pursuing fantaserye in order to allocate their digital migration. Otherwise, it could lot of burdens and many of the “talents” will resign if they still persist.
Indeed. The fantaseryes are very expensive to produce. GMA must use its money wisely to speed up this digitalization process.
Now, Cinemo and Yey have a lot of Unilever TV commercials. I think they gained more viewers.
Unilever has a long relationship with ABS’ cable networks, so the partnership does help.
Even Unilever is currently dominating TV5’s commercial break. No P&G being advertised on Channel 5.
Probably because of spending restrictions that’s why ads are limited.