Felipe Gozon, GMA Network Inc. chairman and chief executive officer, has been leading the transformation of the company from a traditional television network to a digital one, expanding operations both locally and abroad.
Gozon, together with Menardo Jimenez and Gilberto Duavit Sr. took over from the Stewarts the management of Republic Broadcasting System (RBS) during the 1970s and renamed it to GMA -7, an acronym for Greater Manila Area to refer to the initial coverage of the station.
Gozon, who assumed GMA’s senior management position in 2000, said the Kapuso Network already achieved all its corporate goals and now aims to achieve much higher goals.
“I suppose we can dream to be one of the recognized media innovators and pacesetters in the world,” Gozon said in an email interview.
In the near term, Gozon said “we want to ensure that GMA remains the most trusted and most watched media network in the Philippines: a multi-platform organization that provides a rich media experience through excellent journalism and superior entertainment.”
From its initial coverage in Metro Manila, GMA now has 95 stations all over the country and has a combined net reach of 95.3 percent in TV homes or 77.5 million viewers in Total Philippines per Nielsen’s TV Audience Measurement data from January to October 2022.
“Our key areas of focus (are) to continue improving our reach and signal across the country; growing our regional footprint; building on our digital leadership; and bringing our content, production, and talent to even greater heights. We are also focusing on relentlessly making our processes and programs cost-efficient”
“Our key areas of focus (are) to continue improving our reach and signal across the country; growing our regional footprint; building on our digital leadership; and bringing our content, production, and talent to even greater heights. We are also focusing on relentlessly making our processes and programs cost-efficient” Gozon said.
The broadcast giant through its diversification and investment arm GMA Venture Inc. (GVI) is keen on expanding its revenue stream beyond traditional television services.
“Beyond mainstream broadcast revenue, we are future-proofing the network by creating additional viable sources of income. We’ve incorporated GMA Ventures to explore and invest in start-ups with high growth potential and in M&As (mergers and acquisitions) and investments in local and international funds with portfolio companies that can potentially operate in the Philippines. Further, GMA is also looking into digital R&D (research and development)-based opportunities through GMA New Media Inc.,” Gozon said.
In July 2021, GVI was formed to lead the GMA Group in identifying, investing in, and/or building strong and sustainable businesses. It will focus on sunrise industries such as tech start-ups with substantial growth horizons and industries that continue to expand.
Last week, GMA through GVI forged a partnership with a US-based leading venture fund, Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health to expand operations to healthcare technology.
GMA’s corporate purpose sums up its contribution to the nation, according to Gozon.
“We enrich the lives of Filipinos with superior entertainment and the responsible, unbiased, and timely delivery of accurate news and information,” he added.
According to Gozon, a huge part of GMA’s economic value goes to the production of high-quality programs that push the boundaries of television.
“We invest in our talent and provide competitive compensation and benefits to our people. We also responsibly pay our taxes at both local and national levels,” he added.
The company continues to strive for healthy returns for its investors.
“In 2021 alone, we returned P6.56 billion of capital to shareholders. Close to P100 million of our revenues was allocated for our CSR (corporate social responsibility) and public service programs. Through the GMA Kapuso Foundation, we helped bring development – health, jobs, and education – to remote villages,” Gozon said.
But more than these financial indicators, Gozon said “GMA’s role and responsibility to keep the public informed on matters affecting their lives are critical in spurring innovation and making markets and institutions work better. “
“As the fourth estate, media is essential in delivering truthful information so Filipinos can make informed decisions,” he said.
For nine months period ended September 2022, GMA’s advertising revenues remained the lifeblood of the company and the main source of revenue growth during the period. Consolidated revenues hit P16.8 billionwhich is slightly higher as compared to P16.5 billion revenues in the same period in 2021. Of the total revenues, P15.8 billion came from advertising revenues and the remaining was from consumer sales.
Based on Nielsen TV Audience Measurement data from January to December 2022, GMA Network’s combined people net reach including GTV and its other digital channels was at 96 percent or 78 million viewers in Total Philippines.
