ABS-CBN set to expand in Japan, Singapore, HK

Media giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. is stepping up its regional expansion with Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong as its next targeted sites, a top company official said.

ABS-CBN chief financial officer Randolph Estrellado said the broadcasting firm is now training its sights on the three areas for future expansion in line with efforts to further boost profitability.

"We are looking at further expanding our presence in Asia. Japan is an option. It is under study. But we’re definitely expanding in Hong Kong and Singapore," Estrellado said.

The company’s international operations currently account for 15 to 20 percent of total revenues. ABS-CBN Global, whose subscribers have grown to 1.5 million, is expected to provide double-digit growth for the parent company.

For the first half this year, ABS-CBN Global registered revenues of P1.41 billion or an increase of 24 percent from P1.135 billion the previous year. This, in effect, increased its subscriber base to 1.5 million from only 1.2 million.

ABS-CBN Global launched its own direct-to-home (DTH) service last June in Australia, where ABS-CBN’s channels were previously distributed by a third-party DTH provider.

Through The Filipino Channel (TFC), ABS-CBN’s locally-produced programs are now shown in North America, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, Papua New Guinea and Europe.

North America has remained as ABS-CBN’s major cable market with about 130,000 subscribers.

ABS-CBN is currently negotiating with a Canadian cable company to offer 24-hour all-Filipino cable services in Canada.

Since it started its global expansion in 1998, ABS-CBN has been exporting its locally-produced programs like soap operas, game shows and youth programs in the international market through its international sales and distribution units.

The entry of Mexican telenovelas and Chinese series in local television has encouraged ABS-CBN to export its own series in the global market.

The company is also looking at selling its programs to India, China and other Mandarin-speaking countries.

ABS-CBN earlier said it expects at least $1 million in revenues from every telenovela it will sell to the overseas markets.

The company is also selling licenses for Star Cinema-produced films as well as other movies. European countries that receive ABS-CBN’s films include the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Sweden.