Following the recent launch of GMA’s international news channel GMA News TV International, GMA Pinoy TV – its flagship international channel and GMA Life TV – the first international Filipino lifestyle channel – will also be widely available in the Middle East Region via My-HD, a pay-TV platform based in Dubai, beginning May 1.
“We have decided to make the GMA Channels more relevant to our viewers in the Middle East by providing greater value and better service in this key market,” said GMA Network Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia. “With this new partnership in place, we are now offering the GMA channels at a more affordable price and have made them more accessible to more Filipinos in the Region.”
Francia added that, “While we have decreased our subscription rate from 32.00 to 25.00 US dollars, GMA subscribers and followers can expect even bigger things from the Network with the improved standards of our programming. The My-GMA package from My-HD includes not only the GMA international channels namely, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International, but also up to 28 English language channels, 14 of which are in High Definition.”
With its strengthened programming and enlarged presence in the Middle East, the Network is confident that it will be able to further grow its subscriber base in the ME Region, which has the second largest population of Filipinos abroad next to North America.
GMA International – the business unit that manages the distribution and operations of GMA’s overseas channels – is embarking on massive promotional efforts to ensure the smooth transition of its current subscribers. In fact, a total of 40,000 digi boxes, which already contain the entire line-up of My-HD including the MyGMA package, are being given out for free to Filipinos all over the Middle East.
This major feat will also signal a new phase in My-HD’s plan to create a unique viewing experience for audiences across all nationalities and age brackets.
Commenting on the partnership with GMA, My-HD CEO Cliff Nelson said, “With over 2.4 million Filipinos in the Middle East, this community is considerably one of the largest ones in the region and thus plays a significant role in the development of the local economy. Through our agreement with GMA Network, we aim to offer viewers their favorite programs on our one-stop HD platform.”
Following the finalization of the exclusive rights to carry GMA’s popular overseas channels, My-HD has appointed SAWA Media as its IPTV and cable distribution company for the GMA launch.
My-HD Media will make the MyGMA package available on Arabsat through the frequency 10,770 MHz Vertical on BADR-5 satellite to further expand the reach of My-HD Media’s line-up of channels for over 170 million viewers in more than 80 countries across the Middle East, Africa and beyond.
The partnership between GMA and My-HD extends to Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen in the Middle East. The agreement also covers countries in North Africa namely Algeria, Chad, Djibouti Northern, Egypt, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Tunisia.
For details on how to avail of the free My-HD digi box, interested parties may call 971 4435 4844, email [email protected] or visit www.my-hd.tv.
