ABS-CBN shows air in Sub-Saharan Africa

Media and entertainment firm ABS-CBN Corp. has entered into an agreement with digital television (TV) operator StarTimes to air more Kapamilya programs across Sub-Saharan Africa.

In a statement yesterday, ABS-CBN said the agreement was signed by Maria Cecilia Imperial, ABS-CBN officerin-charge head for integrated program acquisitions and international distribution, Catherine Lopez, who is finance head for broadcast and integrated news and current affairs and StarTimes chairman Pang Xinxing during the recently concluded Marché International des Programmes de Communication or International Market of Communications Programmes, the biggest global market for entertainment content held in Cannes, France.

The partnership was sealed amid demand for more Filipino dramas in Africa.

“Filipino stories are full of youthful romance, pure love, and also dramatic plots. They show how the young Asian people struggle with lives and how to love,” Pang said.

ABS-CBN expects to reach new audiences through the partnership.

“Despite the highly competitive global market, Africa has remained to be one of our constant and strongest ter- ritories. We look forward to an even wider presence for Filipino content in the region via the StarTimes platform,” Imperial said.

Among the hit ABS-CBN dramas that aired via StarTimes were “On the Wings of Love” and “Dolce Amore.”

ABS-CBN’s content is being made available across other territories through ABS-CBN International Distribution.

ABS-CBN International Distribution has been the source of Filipino programs in over 50 territories. It has also sold over 30,000 hours of content worldwide.

ABS-CBN is primarily involved in TV and radio broadcasting, as well as in the production of TV and radio programming for domestic and international audiences and other related businesses.

It also has other businesses such as merchandising and licensing, mobile and online multimedia services, glossy magazine publishing, video and audio post production, overseas telecommunication services, money remittance, cargo forwarding, TV shopping services, theme park development and management, property management and food and restaurant services, as well as cinema management.

As of the first semester, ABSCBN’s net income reached P1.26 billion, down from P2.1 billion in the same period last year.