GMA Network, the largest Philippine television services provider, will now find its way into every household in the Middle East through Bahrain-based cable network Orbit.
The channel will be launched simultaneously in the GCC through Orbit under the Pinoy Plus package on March 1.
The package consists of three Filipino channels: PBO (Pinoy Box Office), GMA 7 Channel and Pinoy Prime Sports.
GMA 7 will broadcast 24 hours a day via a hybrid channel.
It also has 10 regular Orbit channels like ESPN, Orbit News, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and many more, including 20 radio channels.
"It took us almost a year for licensing and distribution rights but now we're here to bring GMA to every Filipino in the Middle East," said Aji Ajouz, Orbit vice-president of marketing and public relations.
This is a sizeable market that is still largely tapped, given the large number of Filipinos living in the Middle East, he added.
The monthly subscription for the package is Dh75.
It includes a free decoder for a subscription of more than two years. A refundable deposit of Dh200 will be charged.
Existing subscribers must inform Orbit dealers that they want to receive the package. They will be charged Dh25 per channel, with a package rate of Dh60 for all three.
Some programmes such as GMA news will be fed live, while other shows will be adjusted to take into account the GCC time zones.
Anticipating a demand surge, Ali said Orbit would outsource manpower when it comes to attending customer needs.
Orbit will launch the channel in association with the Saudi-based Nora Eastern Corp (NEC-Viva). After the Middle East launch it will eventually be available in Europe.
In 2006 it will be made available in the United States.
