GMA inks 3-year deal with Fox

MANILA, Philippines - GMA Worldwide Inc. (GWI), the content acquisition and distribution subsidiary of leading Philippine multimedia company GMA Network Inc. (GMA), recently signed a three-year output deal with Fox International Channels.

The deal will involve a minimum of 350 hours of locally produced programs and 25 feature films for airing thru Fox’s cable channels this 2012.

Fox, which is among GWI’s top global partners, is a subsidiary of a global media conglomerate that reaches millions of households worldwide. Among GMA productions delivered to Hong Kong for airing over Fox’s Philippine feed include hit fantasy series Encantadia, Darna, Dyesebel and Super Twins; Filipino television adaptation of renowned dramas Stairway To Heaven, Trudis Liit and Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita; and News and Public Affairs programs Wish Ko Lang, Pinoy Meets World and Pinoy Abroad.

GWI also distributed best-selling films like My Best Friend’s Girlfriend, When I Met You, Yaya and Angelina, Temptation Island, and the 1998 award-winning biopic film by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Jose Rizal.

Other than Fox, GWI made strong sales in Africa, Brunei, Korea, and China in 2011 with more than 2,000 hours of programs to these countries.

According to GWI vice president Roxanne Barcelona, GMA’s programs do not only appeal to domestic viewers but are steadily gaining interest and popularity among international viewers as well.

In fact, GWI recently made a landmark achievement thru licensing an all-original drama production by the GMA Entertainment TV (ETV) Group for the Chinese locals. The production will run for 50 episodes.

GWI achieved record sales in 2011 on strong syndication of programs and acquisition of canned programs for GMA’s two free-to-air channels, the flagship Channel 7 and Channel 11.