GMA Network is set to release its very own digital TV receiver, the Affordabox.
Affordabox will be GMA Network’s counterpart of the widely used TV Plus by ABS-CBN. A release date has yet to be announced, but it is expected to sell under PHP 1,000 and like TV Plus it won’t require monthly fees.
It was reported in early 2019 that GMA Network invested $20 million to complete the second phase of the company’s efforts to digitize its operations.
“All these state-of-the-art upgrades are part of GMA Network’s ongoing digitization project to bring world class programming to our viewers here and abroad.” GMA Network chairman and chief executive officer Felipe L. Gozon said.
“We are excited to unveil more innovative offerings that will not only maintain our position as the country’s leading broadcast network but will also revolutionize the TV viewing experience in the Philippines,” he added.
The digital TV receiver has been a contentious issue with regards to ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
One of the opposition to the Kapamilya network’s franchise is FICTAP (Federation Of International Cable TV Association Of The Philippines) which accused ABS-CBN of violating their franchise by offering TV Plus to the public.
FICTAP President Neng Tamano in her interview with GMA Network’s 24 Oras said that ABS-CBN shouldn’t have sold TV Plus and introduced several channels because a broadcast franchise is for one franchise one channel only.
According to her, it was a clear violation of their franchise because the frequency given to them should be free to air.
The interview went viral on social media which was eventually used and abused by ABS-CBN critics to bolster their campaign against the network’s franchise renewal.
24 Oras did a follow-up days later, giving the side of ABS-CBN. However, online trolls continued to capitalize on the first interview given the credibility of GMA news and Jessica Soho.
Now that GMA Network is about to release its own digital TV receiver and introduce multiple channels, will FICTAP react violently like how they did with ABS-CBN?
Let’s wait and see.
