Global Destiny allots P700M for shift to digital platform

• arianne85 on November 07, 2009 08:26 PM

  Global Destiny allots P700M for shift to digital platform
  
  abs-cbnNEWS.com | 03/12/2009 5:27 PM
  
  
  Global Destiny Cable Inc. is spending as much as P700 million to switch from analog to digital cable service.
  
  According to Global Destiny President Philip Chien, the company's investments in the next three years would reach P500 million to P700 million, which includes the purchase of set-up boxes and network upgrades.
  
  In particular, some P100 million will be used to put up a cable TV headend, a master facility used for receiving TV signals for processing and distribution over a cable TV system.
  
  "We hope to go digital starting third quarter of this year," Chien said in an interview at the sidelines of the 17th Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) Convention.
  
  With the deployment of set-up boxes, Chien said illegal cable TV connections will be eliminated. "Going digital will surely eliminate piracy because the signal will be encrypted. Only those who pay for digital boxes can receive cable TV signal," he noted.
  
  According to the PCTA, non-paying cable TV subscribers have already reached 1.5 million, at par with the paying subscribers recorded last year.
  
  Global Destiny, the country's third-largest cable firm, charges customers around P500 monthly for its cable TV service, lower than Lopez-led SkyCable Corp.'s P800 fee. Global Destiny has not increased its rates since 2004.
  
  "Keeping cable TV services as competitive as possible is the only way to go. Keeping our rates artificially high will eventually kill the industry," Chien said, adding that Global Destiny offers 88 channels compared to SkyCable's 66 channels.
  
  In Metro Manila, SkyCable, the country's leading cable TV service provider, was the first to make the shift from analog to digital cable TV platform.
  
  as of 03/12/2009 6:24 PM

• russelg000 on November 07, 2009 08:32 PM

  ok...now work on making ridiculously fast internet infrastructure.

• arianne85 on November 07, 2009 08:43 PM

  up

• pressuredat19 on November 07, 2009 08:52 PM

  ahhh. Nakikitrend! Haha. I didn't reckon they'll try to catch up with what's up in the US.

• arianne85 on January 28, 2010 08:31 PM

  Global destiny migrates to digital
  
  
  The country’s second largest cable firm Global Destiny Cable Inc., will migrate from analog to digital network infrastructure in the second quarter this year to post revenue growth and help government reduce illegal cable subscribers.
  
  Philip J. Chien, Destiny Cable Inc president and CEO, said in an interview that the company has earmarked P700 million to shift to digital, but the investment is expected to increase the company revenue by 20 percent this year.
  
  In addition, the company move to digital would also help the cable industry reduce the huge revenue losses yearly pegged at about P5 billion to P6 billion due to the rampant growth of illegal subscribers estimated at 1.5 million.
  
  According to Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) report in December last year, the country’s legitimate cable users have surpassed the number of illegitimate cable users in 2009 due to investment in digital technology of a cable company.
  
  In 2009, the cable association report said that cable piracy cost has been reduced to $83 million from more than $90 million last year.
  
  In addition, Chien said the company is also looking at offering a broadband Internet bundled in cable connection like the services of its nearest competitor.
  
  Global Destiny is also a member consortium of First United Broadcasting Corp., the operator of GSAT or global satellite, the biggest and the widest satellite in Asia expected to double its subscribers by year-end.
  
  Destiny cable operates in Caloocan City, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Novatas, Marikina, Manila, Pasay, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati City, Las Piñas, Sucat, Parañaque and Muntinlupa.
  
  The company offered programs like ABS Philippines, ABC 5, GMA Philippines, Viva Cinema, Solar Sports, Jack TV, Crime and Suspense, ETC, Nickelodeon, Bloomberg, TV5 French, Global Theater, CTI, Phonix, GNN, English Classic Music, Tagalog (Phil.) Music, Mandarin Music, Taiwanese Music and Mainland China Music.-Myla Iglesias
  
  
  <click here for link>

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