ABS-CBN CORP TO EXPAND COVERAGE IN MIDDLE EAST!

MANILA, Philippines - Media giant ABS-CBN Corp. on Monday said its subsidiary ABS-CBN Middle East has partnered with OSN, the leading pay-TV network in the Middle East and North Africa.

Starting May 1, OSN subscribers on direct-to-home and cable platforms in the Middle East can now watch four ABS-CBN channels -- The Filipino Channel; Bro, a dedicated sports and entertainment channel; Cinema One Global, a channel featuring box-office hits, classic movies and teleserye marathons; and ANC, a 24-hour news channel.

SM GROUP HIRES SARAH G AS MAIN ENDORSER!

MANILA, Philippines - Singer and actress Sarah Geronimo is the new face of the property projects of the country's richest man's real estate arm.

At the stockholders meeting of SM Development Corp. (SMDC) on Wednesday, April 24, the real estate unit of Henry Sy-led holding SM Investments Corp., property officials announced Geronimo as their new "brand ambassador."

ABS-CBN: SUSPENSION OF COMELEC'S AIRTIME RULE DOES NOT AFFECT US 'CAUSE WE'RE ALREADY FULL!

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court decision stopping the implementation of the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) airtime limits on political advertisements has not affected ABS-CBN Corp.'s ad revenues, said the company's chairman.

Speaking in a press briefing after the company's stockholders' meeting on Tuesday, April 23, ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio Lopez III said they have felt no impact from the lifting of the Comelec rule limiting to just 120 minutes each candidate's ads in all TV stations, and 180 minutes in all radio stations.

With the SC decision, Comelec's old interpretation of 120 minutes per TV station, and 180 minues per radio station stays.

“It doesn’t affect us because we limit the number of minutes per commercial we have per hour of broadcast. It may be good for other stations but since we have our limits, we are already full to begin with,” said Lopez.

ABS-CBN DECLARES CASH DIVIDEND ON THE BACK OF GOOD EARNINGS!

MANILA -- ABS-CBN Corp. expects to rake in higher profits this year, buoyed by strong program ratings and consumer sales.

In a press conference on Tuesday, ABS-CBN Chief Financial Officer Rolando Valdueza said this year's net income will "be better" than 2012's.

"Well, if you look at our ratings, we're very strong so [earnings this year will be] driven by strong ratings and airtime," Valdueza said after the media conglomerate's annual stockholders' meeting.

TV5 HAILS NOEL LORENZANA AS NEW CEO!

Manuel V. Pangilinan, Managing Director of First Pacific Company Limited and Chairman of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company on Tuesday announced the appointment of erstwhile TV5 president Ray C. Espinosa as Associate Director of FPC and his new assignment as the Group's Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs and Head of the  Communications Bureau, both in the Philippines. Espinosa will also assist the First Pacific Group with respect to new investments in the Philippines and in the region.

ABS-CBN DENIES COURTING WILLIE! SAYS VERY MUCH HAPPY WITH SHOWTIME'S RATINGS!

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Charo Santos-Concio on Tuesday denied rumors that controversial host Willie Revillame will return to the Kapamilya network.

"That's not true. We're not in talks with Willie Revillame. We're very happy with the ratings of [It's] Showtime. We're very happy with Showtime," she said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Rumors that Revillame, host of "Wowowillie" will return to ABS-CBN stemmed from reports that his contract with TV-5 will expire soon. Revillame left ABS-CBN in 2010.

SANTOS-CONCIO: ABS-CBN OFF TO A GREAT START IN 2013!

MANILA, Philippines -- Media giant ABS-CBN Corp. is off to a great start in 2013, coming from a successful 2012, chief executive officer and president Charo Santos-Concio said on Tuesday morning.

"Even as we review the successes of 2012, we are seeing a great start to 2013," Santos-Concio, who assumed the CEO post in January, said during ABS-CBN's annual stockholders' meeting.

LOPEZ HOLDINGS' NET INCOME UP BY 13.6% ON BETTER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ABS-CBN CORP.!

MANILA, Philippines - Lopez Holdings Corp. earned P4.538 billion in 2012, up 13.6% from P3.995 billion a year ago.

The flagship listed holding firm of the Lopez family disclosed this to the stock exchange on Friday, April 12, without providing additional details.

Lopez Holdings, formerly Benpres Holding Corp, serves as the holding company for the Lopezes' investments in broadcasting and cable, telecommunications and power.

TV5 TO END ITS BLOCK TIME AGREEMENT WITH IBC-13!

MANILA - The operator of TV5 will no longer extend its block time agreement with state-run IBC 13.

At the sidelines of the turnover ceremony of the Road Safety Research of the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies, MediaQuest Holdings Inc chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the company would let the agreement lapse in May, adding that the deal was expensive.

"Hindi na siguro. Hanggang Mayo lang yun. Masyadong mahal. Lugi kami dun," Pangilinan, who also chairs TV5, told reporters.

PLDT TO INFUSE P750 MILLION TO TV5'S MOTHER COMPANY!

MANILA - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT) on Wednesday said its wholly-owned subsidiary has infused P750 million into its broadcast and print businesses.

In a report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, PLDT said ePLDT Inc on March 14 made a deposit of P750 million for its investment in the Satventures and Hastings Holdings Inc Philippine depositary receipts (PDRs) of MediaQuest Holdings Inc. 

GMA-7 GEARS UP FOR THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEWEST RENDITION OF LUPANG HINIRANG!

"After the release of its highly praised cinematic version of the Philippine national anthem in 2010, broadcast media giant GMA Network is set to launch another theatrical rendition of “Lupang Hinirang,” expected to capture the attention of TV audiences and moviegoers alike as it hits TV screens and movie theaters soon.

"The 2013 version pays tribute to the heroes of today by drawing inspiration from the heroes of yesteryears. It opens with an artist sketching a portrait of Lapu Lapu, which seamlessly transforms into a colorful animation of the events that shaped Philippine history from the Battle of Mactan, which saw the defeat of the Spanish conquistadors in the hands of the natives, to the Cry of Pugad Lawin and the martyrdom of our national hero, Jose Rizal. 

ABS-CBN'S 2013 SUMMER STATION ID! WHAT DO YOU THINK?

MAYNILAD EXECUTIVE TO TAKE OVER LEADERSHIP IN TV5?

MANILA - The chairman of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT) said a change in leadership at TV5 is in the offing.

"Well, we are talking about it," said Manuel V. Pangilinan, who is also chairman of ABC Development Corp, when asked about the change in leadership at TV5.

While not providing details, Pangilinan however said he was "happy" about the performance of TV5 president Ray C. Espinosa. From only three percent three years ago when the PLDT Group took over the network, TV5 already enjoys a 15 percent audience share.

ABS-CBN AND GMA7, IN A TUG OF WAR IN DAYTIME RATINGS!

April 1, Monday

Morning:

Kape't Pandasal (ABS-CBN) 0.3%; Matanglawin Replay (ABS-CBN) 0.7%; Tunay Na Buhay Replay (GMA-7) 0.8%

Umagang Kay Ganda (ABS-CBN) 3.4%; Unang Hirit (GMA-7) 2.9%

GMA7 TRIMS GAP BUT ABS-CBN REMAINS AFLOAT DURING HOLY WEEK!

Here are the comparative Household Ratings of ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA-7 programs from March 30 to April 2, 2013 based on the overnight ratings of Kantar Media/TNS among Total Philippines (Urban & Rural) households:  

March 30, Saturday (Black Saturday)

JMM Covers (ABS-CBN) 1.8%; Pokemon Theater Presents (GMA-7) 13.9%

GMA NETWORK POSTS 35% INCREASE IN GROSS SALES LAST MARCH!

MANILA, Philippines -Felipe L. Gozon, GMA chairman and chief executive officer, earlier said that the company expects higher earnings for 2013 due to the elections and the country's strong economic performance. He said political ads account only for about 8% to 9% of reveunes, while recurring advertisers are increasing their ad placements due to the overall economy's strong prospects.

ABS-CBN NOW NO.1 IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON OVERALL RATINGS!

KRIS AQUINO TO RUN FOR VICE PRESIDENT?

MANILA, Philippines -- Just weeks after announcing her resignation from her TV shows, host-actress Kris Aquino is reportedly planning to enter the political arena, a well-known bishop said.

According to a report published by CBCP News on Tuesday, Archbishop Oscar Cruz revealed that Kris, the youngest sister of President Benigno Aquino III, is being groomed to run for vice president in 2016.

ABS-CBN'S AD RATE: P538K FOR A 30-SEC AD SPOT!

MANILA, Philippines -- Makabayan senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño on Wednesday revealed a jaw-dropping truth behind placing a 30-second ad spot on National TV. Casiño disclosed the cost for airing a 30-second ad in ABS-CBN which stands for more than half-a-million pesos! It is not yet clear whether the 30% discount for Political Ads aired on National TV is already discounted on the mentioned amount. But if the amount is already discounted, then the real cost for advertising on ABS-CBN is a mind-blowing P769,417.00 for a 30-second ad spot!     

GMA NETWORK: WE DON'T NEED TO BORROW MONEY!

MANILA, Philippines - GMA Network Inc. (GMA), which operates GMA-7, will depend on internally generated funds instead of borrowings to finance its estimated P1 billion capital expenditure program for 2013.

"There appears no need for a fund raising activity relating to that,” Gilberto Duavit, Jr., president of the country's second biggest media firm, told reporters when asked during a recent briefing if it will tap the debt or capital markets to fund its capex.

“Traditionally, our capex are funded through internally generated funds," he added.

The capex budget will involve mainly the setting up new regional stations that specialize in localized content, as well as the widening of the company’s reach in rural areas where close to half of all television viewers reside.

TV5 ADMITS SHARE OF POLITICAL ADS IS VERY LOW!

MANILA - On the sidelines of Philweb Corp's annual stockholders' meeting, Ray C. Espinosa, TV5 president, said that the network is working on trimming its losses this year by managing costs and expenses and improving its programming. Ray C. Espinosa said new Commission on Elections (Comelec) rules have restricted potential revenues from poll-related ads.

LOPEZ GROUP CHAIRMAN, ONE OF 15 FILIPINO DOLLAR BILLIONAIRES!

The 15 Filipino dollar billionaires have a combined wealth of $48.13 million ($48.13 billion—nearly a fifth or 19 percent of the $257.76 billion GDP (total value of goods and services) produced in 2012. In effect each of our dollar billionaires accounts for 1.26 percent of GDP.