ABS-CBN Corp. continues to strengthen its online presence to meet the increasing demand for content through digital channel YouTube.

The company has reached 50 million subscribers on YouTube and remains the most subscribed YouTube channel in the media and entertainment category in Southeast Asia.

“Since ABS-CBN’s shift to digital, our viewers have embraced YouTube as a go-to source of ABS-CBN content. We will continue to meet the increasing demand for content online through our offerings on YouTube as we make these accessible to more Kapamilyas in different parts of the world,” said Jamie Lopez, head of ABS-CBN Digital, in a statement.

ABS-CBN went full blast on digital since 2020 by offering for free its currently airing programs on YouTube.

YouTube users can look forward to the new original series “Halfmates,” streaming this October 18 and starring Kaori Oinuma and Jeremiah Lisbo, and “Four Bad Boys and Me,” ABS-CBN’s first digital movie for YouTube that is slated for release next year.

Viewers should also watch out for more ABS-CBN Studios content that will be available exclusively on YouTube soon.

ABS-CBN said it also constantly innovates its YouTube viewing experience through Kapamilya Online Live, which offers 24/7 livestreaming and up to 21 days of on-demand viewing of the latest episodes of current ABS-CBN programs and classic shows. 

Kapamilya Online Live is available anytime, anywhere and streams simultaneously for audiences in Asia, Australia, Europe and New Zealand to allow Kapamilyas abroad to tune in to their favorite shows at the same time with their loved ones at home.

As more viewers consume content online, Kapamilya Online Live has also seen an increase in viewership outside of the Philippines, particularly in Japan, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom, ABS-CBN said.

PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. are deploying fifth generation (5G)-powered fixed wireless access to expand high-speed internet to underserved regions in the country.

PLDT said it remains committed to delivering reliable network solutions that meet the growing demand of its customers.

“We are excited for PLDT to lead the understanding and application of global trends on deploying 5G, participating in our deep dive on the proper roadmap to migrate to 5G SA (Standalone), and ultimately help us determine the path to take to be able to realistically monetize 5G and enable us to achieve escape velocity,” Roderick Santiago, PLDT deputy network head, said in a statement.

The PLDT Group supports the increasing adoption of SA 5G networks and the acceleration of 5G expansion in industrial applications, Fixed Wireless Access and private networks to level-up connectivity and customer experience across the country.

By expanding access to 5G and delivering exceptional customer experiences, the PLDT Group said it aims to address social inequalities and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

Smart’s combined 5G/4G network covers around 97percent of the material population.

The PLDT Group said its fiber footprint remains unparalleled and the most extensive in the Philippines. Homes passed reached 18.13 million in 71 percent of the country’s towns and 91 percent of total provinces.

SUMITOMO Densetsu Co. Ltd. subsidiary Sumisetsu Philippines Inc. (SPI), a leading provider of electrical and mechanical construction services, has started operating a new Technical Center for the training and skills building of its employees, subcontractors and government employees.

The center is a three-building state-of-the-art facility in Baliuag, Bulacan.

The new SPI facility includes the 1,160 square meter (sq.m.) Training Center, a 620 sq.m. fabrication workshop and warehouse fully equipped with the latest energy-efficient technologies, including solar panels and skylights to minimize energy consumption.

Makoto Tani, president of Sumitomo Densetsu, led the ribbon cutting and tree-planting rites at the 6,000 sq.m. site last October 8 together with Mary Grace Romero, provincial director of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

Tomonori Nakagawa, SPI president, said SPI training programs are developed by Sumitomo Densetsu Group using advanced construction labor-saving and off-site construction methods.

These enable teams to meet project construction deadlines while showcasing the application of extensive technical and engineering education programs.

“We plan to leverage this new facility to extend our proven expertise beyond Japanese corporations, reaching major Filipino and Western companies,” Nakagawa said.

As part of SPI’s dedication to environmental sustainability, the facility is built with energy-saving features and designed to receive the LEED Gold certification, an environmental rating system from the United States.

SPI aligns with Tesda to further strengthen the quality and recognition of the training it offers.

“TESDA accreditation is a mark of trust in the Philippines, and we are working to evolve our programs with their guidance,” noted Nakagawa.

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has completed over 50 airport projects as of August, more than double the projects completed two years ago, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

“As of August 2024, we have completed 53 airport projects, a remarkable increase from just 17 in June 2022, further solidifying our commitment to improving the nation’s air transport infrastructure,” Bautista said during his speech at the 59th Conference of Directors General, Asia and Pacific Regions (DGCA) held on October 14 to18 in Cebu.

These projects include the privatization of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Laguindigan Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport and Kalibo International Airport, among others.

The Philippines is actively collaborating with the DGCA’s efforts to create actionable plans for the Asia-Pacific region that align with global aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the DOTr said.

“Today’s regional collaboration is especially important for developing countries like ours as we propose an ambitious 87 percent increase in government investment in the aviation and airport sectors. This initiative aims to enhance safety and passenger mobility thereby strengthening national, regional, and international connectivity,” Bautista said.

In line with this commitment, the DOTr said it is strengthening the independence of the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board, whose recent restructuring under the direct oversight of the DOTr is essential for conducting unbiased investigations, eliminating any potential conflicts of interest.

As part of the collective commitment to a safer aviation environment across the Asia-Pacific region, the memorandum of understanding for the Regional Data and Information Sharing agreement within Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand will be signed during the conference.

“By strengthening our partnerships, we are laying the foundation for a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive aviation sector in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond,” Bautista said.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the ICAO yesterday ended Day 2 of the DGCA 59 Conference.

Among the agenda items were aviation safety, air navigation, aviation security and facilitation, the economic development of air transport, and aviation and environment.

Key outcomes from the 12th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum—Asia and Pacific Regions and the 34th Meeting of the Asia and Pacific Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group were also discussed during the conference.

The DGCA 59 is being attended by at least 400 delegates from ICAO member states and international organizations.

ABS-CBN Corp. yesterday said it will retrench around 100 employees or 3 percent of its total workforce due to lower advertising revenues and a decline in pay TV business.

The television industry as a whole has been hurt by lower consumer spending which translated into lower advertising spends. The company said it is also affected by the global decline in the pay TV business.

“As a result, the company has made the difficult decision to retrench around 100 or about 3 percent of its workforce. We are committed to providing those affected with full benefits and support, and are deeply grateful for their many years of service to the company and to the public,” ABS-CBN said in a statement released yesterday.

As of the end of 2023, ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries had 3,634 regular employees, 268 project employees, 605 program-based employees and 772 independent contractors.

Despite the decline in advertising spending on television, ABS-CBN has made significant progress in many of its businesses this year. 

“TV ratings continue to improve, Star Cinema produced two hits so far, with one of them being the highest grossing Filipino movie, and our music business has gotten a strong boost from the popularity of girl band BINI,” the company said.

Currently, Batang Quiapo remains the highest rating TV show in the country and Showtime is the highest rating noontime show.

In movies, “Unhappy for You” is the highest-grossing Filipino film this year and “Rewind” is the highest grossing Filipino film of all time released last December.

On music, BINI hit the charts this year and sold out concerts in one to two hours. In the first half of the year, ABS-CBN trimmed its losses by 5 percent to P2.1 billion from P2.2 billion in the same period last year.

However, its consolidated services revenue was down by 11 percent to P7.8 billion in the first semester from P8.8 billion in the same period last year, due to a decline in content production and cable TV and broadband businesses by 3 percent and 23 percent, respectively.

Following its franchise’s lapse, Sky Cable could not continue providing direct-to-home service beginning in August 2020. The company continued to focus on growing its broadband subscriber base.

Sky Cable’s reported revenues amounted to P2.9 billion.

As of June this year, ABS-CBN has spent P1.3 billion on capital expenditures (capex) and program rights acquisitions. Bulk of the capex was allocated for cable and broadband expansion.

GLOBE Telecom Inc. has completed its network migration to fiber technology in 450 cities and towns across the country, to meet the growing demand for stable internet connection of its residential and enterprises customers.

The migration, which entails replacing copper cables with fiber, covers towns and cities in at least 60 provinces across the country, the company said.

The upgrade ensures customers enjoy uninterrupted, high-speed internet ideal for remote work, online learning, entertainment and a range of digital activities, Globe added.

“This transformation enables us to better serve the growing digital needs of our customers while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. As we continue to enhance connectivity across the country, Globe remains committed to delivering innovative solutions that drive both progress and sustainability,” Abigail Cardino, Globe vice president for broadband business, said in a statement.

In addition, Globe’s modernization from copper to fiber cable is expected to greatly reduce the risk of wire-cutting incidents plaguing copper-based networks.

Copper theft has caused widespread service interruptions and expensive repairs, Globe said. With fiber, it hopes to address the problem while delivering faster, more stable internet to homes and businesses.

Unlike copper, fiber cable – made of glass or plastic – holds no scrap value and cannot be sold to junkshops. Those caught stealing internet cable lines, whether copper or fiber, face imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to P100,000 under Republic Act 10515, or the Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013.

“Shifting to fiber enhances connectivity for our customers and protects our infrastructure from copper theft. Fiber’s lack of resale value discourages wire cutting and improves service reliability across these cities,” said Cardino.

Globe is calling on the public to be vigilant and support its campaign against cable theft. Incidents may be reported to the nearest barangay or police station.

Globe said it continues to lead the way in modernizing the Philippines’ digital infrastructure. With this completed migration, it is well-positioned to support the country’s digital needs and future growth.

FIRST Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) has sealed a deal with Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. to provide seamless fiber connectivity to the industrial park’s 600-hectare hub with over 150 world-class locators.

Under the contract signed by First Philippine Holdings (FPH) chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Federico Lopez and Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy last October 11, Converge will be able to leverage FPIP’s dark fiber infrastructure, providing seamless and fiber-fast connectivity to the industrial park’s locators and more than 70,000 locator-employees.

“Industrial parks such as FPIP, whose main clientele are multinationals, are major engines of economic growth not just for Calabarzon but for the entire country. This is why these economic zones must be state-of-the-art and second to none: these are crucial in bringing in foreign investments. Converge is proud to be one of the chosen providers of connectivity in this world-class industrial park, where we believe we can add even more to their competitive edge,” said Uy in a statement on Tuesday.

In 2023, FPIP, a joint venture between FPH and Sumitomo Corp., established a shared infrastructure by investing in a dark fiber facility, enabling them to maximize their existing underground infrastructure, facilitate faster deployment of fiber internet services for their locators and offer more affordable interconnection fees.

“We recognize the critical role that advanced connectivity solutions play in the day-to-day operations of FPIP locators. That is why we are committed to investing in robust digital infrastructures and cutting-edge connectivity. We are confident that Converge will deliver these crucial services to FPIP, which will foster innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and drive growth for the locators within the industrial park,” said Lopez.

The commercial agreement with FPIP is the first major project under the newly formed Converge Global Business Group, which is dedicated to providing high-speed, reliable and scalable connectivity and technology solutions for enterprises across the Philippines and beyond.

It will also include comprehensive digital transformation services, enabling the businesses within FPIP to adopt next-generation technologies, including cloud services, cybersecurity solutions and digital collaboration tools.

This holistic approach to connectivity will further strengthen FPIP’s position as a premier manufacturing hub of choice in the Philippines and across the Asia-Pacific region.

FPIP is one of the leading and fastest-growing industrial parks in the country. Established in 1996, it is host to domestic and export-oriented global manufacturing leaders in diverse sectors, including Canon Business Machines Inc., Collins Aerospace, Dyson, Honda Philippines Inc. and Nestle Philippines Inc.

Converge has fiber assets that span over 707,000 kilometers. It has deployed 8 million fiber ports in the country.