THE PHILIPPINES, FEBRUARY 2, 2011 – GMA Worldwide Inc. (GWI), the overseas unit of broadcast giant GMA Network Inc., recently announced a distribution deal with Fox International Channels, which allows GWI to broadcast up to 350 hours’ worth of locally produced programs and 25 feature films on Fox’s cable channels this year. The three-year content acquisition and distribution output deal will cover four continents.
“GMA’s programs do not only appeal to domestic viewers but are steadily gaining interest and popularity among international viewers as well,” said GWI vice president Roxanne Barcelona. The company also said that the deal will cater to the request of overseas Filipino for the availability of more Filipino content.
GMA fantasy productions "Encantadia", "Darna", "Dyesebel", and "Super Twins" have already been sent to Hong Kong for airing over Fox’s Philippine feed. Television adaptations of dramas “Stairway to Heaven”, “Trudis Liit”, and “Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita”, as well as News and Public Affairs programs “Wish Ko Lang,” “Pinoy Meets World”, and “Pinoy Abroad” have also received their fair share of success in the overseas market.
Other than Fox, which is a subsidiary of News Corp., GWI said it also posted strong sales in Africa, Brunei, Korea and China in 2011 with more than 2,000 hours’ worth of programs to these countries.
GMA Network is expecting a net income of PHP2.8 B this year, due in part to stronger advertising revenues and political “advocacy” placements toward the end of the year in anticipation of the 2013 elections.
