ABS-CBN Corp., the biggest broadcasting company, plans to sell this year one million units of TVPlus, the newly-launched digital box that aims to deliver clear picture and sound to televiewers.
ABS-CBN group chief finance officer Ronaldo Valdueza said in an interview at the sidelines of the launching of TVplus held Wednesday night the company had spent P3 billion for the newest innovation on Philippine TV. The company plans to spend another P600 million to roll out the project nationwide.
Valdueza said TVplus would not affect the group’s cable business as the newly-launched product was geared toward the mass market.
ABS-CBN TVplus was officially rolled out at a ceremonial switch-on led by ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III, president and chief executive Charo Santos-Concio and head of access Carlo Katigbak Wednesday.
“Digital terrestrial television is a major investment for ABS-CBN, but it is actually investing in our fellow Filipinos. We believe that the inspiration and the information that digital TV will beam into our homes will help open new windows of opportunity for every Filipino family,” Lopez said.
For a one-time payment of P2,500 and no monthly and installation fees, televiewers will enjoy the clear signal and sound of Channel 2, plus four more exclusive free-to-air channels that cater to different audiences, and all free TV channels available via digital transmission.
ABS-CBN is the first TV network to offer the product in the country after investing heavily in infrastructure and test broadcast activities in the past seven years to ensure a smooth transition to DTT, which is globally considered the future of television.
The network has been preparing for the switchover since 2007 and has conducted DTT trials in key areas accross the Philippines.