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By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. on Tuesday said the
US slowdown is unlikely to hit its international operations as
demand for Philippine entertainment would remain resilient.
In a briefing, Vivian Tin, ABS-CBN chief officer
for research and business analysis, said the company expects the
US’ economic difficulties to have no impact in terms of
subscription growth.
“We still expect subscription to grow double
digit,” she told reporters.
ABS-CBN Global, the company’s international
unit, posted a 22-percent increase in its subscriber base with
international viewers hovering at 1.7 million at the end of last
year.
Tin said the network expects its international
operations and Sky Cable to be the growth drivers this year. Also
seen to boost the company’s top line is the 15-percent increase in
advertising rates ABS-CBN imposed.
Last year, the company’s consolidated revenues
increased 17 percent to P19.9 billion, driven by higher airtime
revenues and sale of services. Airtime revenues grew 28 percent to
P13.6 billion on the back of higher advertising rates and higher
volume.
The company’s advertising volume last year was
up by 9 percent even as the industry as a whole saw volume decline.
Direct sales, which consist of both sale of
services and sale of goods from subsidiaries, posted a 12-percent
growth to P5.3 billion as ABS-CBN Global and ABS-CBN Films continued
to deliver improved results.
ABS-CBN’s net income last year stood at P1.27
billion, up 71 percent from the previous year.
For this year, the network has set aside P1.6
billion to fund expansion and film right acquisition.
The company also failed to report its program
ratings for the first time, claiming the household panels remain
“dirty.”
“We don’t recognize any legitimate ratings.
We have proof that the panel remains dirty,” Tin said.
ABS-CBN earlier questioned the authenticity of
the TV ratings data produced by AGB Nielsen Philippines after a
network informant divulged details of survey anomalies in Bacolod
City due to actions taken by a rival.
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