Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Philippines' broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. is eyeing a bigger share of the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) market with the recent launch of one of its international channels in two major territories abroad.
In a statement, the company also announced plans to bring GMA Life TV, the company's second international channel, to two other American states with large concentrations of OFWs before the year ends.
"Ably complementing the programming of GMA's flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV features top-notch news and public affairs, entertainment and lifestyle programs catered for Pinoys all over the world," the company said in a statement.
Two launches - both within the month's first week - took place this November. On November 4, GMA Life TV was launched in Canada via MTS All-Stream. Meanwhile, chosen GMA Life TV programs began airing in the United Kingdom since November 7 via Pinoy Europe IPTV. This was made possible by Orbit Showtime Network in partnership with Infinity IPTV, the company said.
"Just before the year ends, GMA Life TV will continue to spice up the lives of Filipinos in the United States as it penetrates New York and Illinois," the statement read.
The company said GMA Life TV will soon air with the help of Time Warner in New York and Comcast in Chicago on December 1 and 16, respectively. It will also be launched in Houston, Texas, by early next year via Comcast.
GMA Life TV had about 126,000 subscribers at the end of the third quarter, the network said.
The number of subscribers began to substantially increase when the channel was launched during the early part of this year in other areas such as Florida (via Brighhouse Tampa), Texas (via En-Touch), Hong Kong (via PCCW) and Central California (via Comcast).
"The increase of GMA Life TV subscribers can be attributed to the channel's superior programming and the way it effectively responds to the under-served content needs of our carriers," vice president and GMA International operations head Joseph Francia said.
