Cignal offers 2 new channels via direct-to-home satellite source

MANILA, Philippines – Mediascape, a wholly owned subsidiary of PLDT’s Mediaquest Holdings, announced yesterday that that its direct-to-home (DTH) service Cignal Digital TV is now offering two new channels through its high definition platform.

Mediaquest still has a minority interest in Sky Cable – Central CATV, the country’s leading cable TV service provider. The PLDT Group used to own Home Cable until it was sold to the Lopez Group.

PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan told The STAR that while it may take some time before DTH becomes as pervasive as cable television in the Philippines, he remains confident that it can happen especially at the price Cignal is offering its service.

Cignal offers the basic package of 20 standard definition channels for P390 a month while the two HD channels can be availed of for an additional fee of P450 a month. Those who want to avail of both packages are charged lower at P790 a month.

Pangilinan explained that while the DTH signal will be available nationwide, Mediascape wants to focus on areas that do not have access to cable TV service. It is estimated that there are between two to 2.5 million households nationwide that are not reached by cable TV signal.

High-definition television (HDTV) is fast gaining ground in the Philippines, with the number of HD and HD-ready TV sets being sold in the country expected to double every year.

According to MediaScape managing director Benjie Fernandez, around 100,000 to 150,000 television sets capable of HDTV viewing are expected to be sold locally this year, or slightly more than last year’s. But the number is expected to double every year, especially in the next three to five years.

Around 10 to 15 percent of the 1.2 million TV sets being sold every year in the Philippines are HD or HD ready. In fact, due to the growing popularity of LCD and HD TV sets, leading TV maker Sony has already stopped producing CRT (cathade ray tube) TV.

According to Mediascape chief finance officer Anna Bengzon, the company invested around P650 million for its foray into the DTH business.

Cignal Digital TV’s pay television service has been expanded to include HD channels to cater to households that already own or are planning to purchase HD-ready or HD TV sets.

“We are excited to be the first to offer nationwide the high definition viewing experience. By bringing this new technology right into your homes, we aim to enrich the way subscribers consume information and entertainment, wherever they may be in the Philippines,” Fernandez said.