GMA Network investing P1 billion for digitization upgrades

MANILA, Philippines — Broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. is investing over P1 billion to complete state-of-the-art upgrades to its system as part of the second phase of its digitization project.

GMA said the second phase encompasses the production, post-production, content management and distribution of GMA and GMA News TV’s programs.

It will start with the commissioning of the digital terrestrial transmitters that provide superior digital TV signal reach, enabling the availability of GMA programs through digital-enabled TV sets and set-top boxes in various areas in the country, including Mega Manila North Central Luzon, Cebu, and Davao.

GMA is also set to finish the upgrade of its electronic field production capabilities to further improve its high definition I(HD) image capture to full 2K/4K HD, elevating the network’s output to true global standards.

It added that post production is likewise implementing full equipment and software upgrades coupled with increased storage and color grading capabilities to optimally process high-end 2K and 4K HD formats.

GMA said its field news gathering capabilities are also being upgraded to enable the transmission and delivery of HD-captured remote live events to its technical operations center as they happen.

 “All these state-of-the-art upgrades are part of GMA Network’s ongoing digitization project to bring world class programming to our viewers here and abroad,” GMA Network chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon said.

“We are excited to unveil more innovative offerings that will not only maintain our position as the country’s leading broadcast network, but will also revolutionize the TV viewing experience in the Philippines,” Gozon added.

Last month, GMA announced its partnership with telco giant PLDT Inc. to revolutionize the experience of TV viewing in the Philippines.

GMA and PLDT, together with its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc., have signed a technology, content, and distribution agreement that will involve the launch of game-changing innovations that will power the TV network’s digital transformation.

Gozon said GMA is not only upgrading the quality of the content it is producing, but is also “setting the stage for a new age of digital television.”

GMA Network has capped off a successful 2018 as it claimed to continue leading in nationwide ratings based on full year data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

From January to December last year, the network said it tallied 40.8 percent total day people audience share compared to its rival network’s 37.5 percent.

It said its momentum continued last month, when it recorded an average total day people audience share of 37.8 percent compared to ABS-CBN’s 35.9 percent.