Philippines Number One TV Channel Extended On Orbit's Pinoy Plus Entertainment Package

Bahrain, 16 February, 2006- A huge growth in demand across the Middle East for television programmes from the Philippines has prompted Orbit, the Satellite Television and Radio Network, to extend its broadcast service of the Philippines' Number One television channel.  Under a new deal struck with GMA Pinoy TV, Orbit has boosted its Pinoy Plus package, which targets Filipino audiences.

Orbit cites the buoyancy of the Gulf economies as the catalyst for a burgeoning increase in consumer spending which is reaching all communities in the region.  "We are seeing evidence of a very real growth in spending across all sections of our customer profile.  By addressing the demand for programming which specifically targets sections of our audiences Orbit aims to tap into what is a growing and increasingly economically significant market," said Ali Ajouz, VP Marketing and Public Relations - Orbit Communications Company. 

The enhanced Pinoy Plus service is expected to result in a 200% increase in Orbit's subscriptions from Filipino expatriates living in the region, now numbering 1.5 million.   

Orbit's fast growing Filipino subscribers can now enjoy the massively popular GMA Pinoy TV channel 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Some of the Philippines' most popular news and entertainment shows feature on the channel including 24 Oras, a prime time news programme, Bubble Gang, a weekly comedy series, and Sugo, a daily action fantasy series. 

"By working closely with GMA Pinoy TV Orbit is pleased to be able to deliver this exciting and popular channel.  Our Filipino subscribers across the Middle East region now have the chance to get closer to home by watching GMA Pinoy TV on Orbit around the clock," added Mr Ajouz.

He continued:  "Orbit's programming strategy is committed to meeting the diverse interests of our growing audiences throughout the region and we will continue to extend all our efforts to surprise and delight our viewers by bringing the best entertainment from around the world to our subscribers' TV screens."

Subscribers to Orbit's Pinoy Plus package benefit from a wide range of Tagalog language programming.  These include GMA Pinoy TV, PBO featuring movies, and Pinoy Prime as well as a range of Orbit channels including CNN, ESPN, Music Now, Fashion TV, MGM, Animal Planet, Disney and the Cartoon Network. GMA Pinoy TV is also available for all Orbit subscribers as part of an A La Carte Pinoy Package option.

GMA Pinoy is the international service of GMA Network-Philippines, drawing its programmes from the GMA Network, the Philippines' most watched TV station.  The channel has drawn large audiences in the United States, Japan and Malaysia, and has won a number of Asian Television Awards, including being named the Terrestrial Channel of the Year in South Korea.  GMA Pinoy earned acclaim for the most balanced and accurate news reporting in the Philippines. 

-Ends-

About GMA Pinoy TV:
GMA Pinoy TV is the international service of the GMA Network. It was first launched in Japan in April 2005. Drawing on programming from the most-watched TV network in the Philippines, the channel also broadcasts in South Korea, Malaysia, Guam, and the United States, where its opening month in August 2005 set records for call volume and customer sales.

About Orbit:
Orbit Communications Company is the world's first fully digital, multi-channel, multi-lingual pay television platform that broadcasts 39 television channels and 20 music radio stations to the Middle East and North Africa. 

It offers five channel packages that are customized to suit all the members of the family.  Orbit delivers the best in family entertainment, movies, news, sports and documentaries offering its viewers unrivalled and exclusive quality programming.

For more information, please visit www.orbit.net.

Issued on behalf of Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network by Hill & Knowlton.

For more information contact
Rana Habib on
el: +973 17533532,
Fax: +973 17533370, or
e-mail: rana@hillandknowlton.com.bh

Or

Alia Shaikho on
Tel: 317370 97317+,
Fax: 311919 97317+, or
email: alia.shaikho@orbit.net. 

© Press Release 2006