MANILA, Philippines – Satellite television provider Cignal Digital TV is aiming to have more than 600,000 subscribers by the end of this year, after hitting the 500,000 mark, with the roll-out of affordable pricing schemes.
“We want to exceed 600,000 subscribers this year,” Cignal vice president for marketing Guido Zaballero told reporters.
At present, he said the firm has a total of 500,000 subscribers, with the bulk or 75 percent having prepaid accounts.
Most subscribers are in Luzon and Visayas.
Zaballero said the introduction of more affordable pricing schemes has allowed the firm to see its subscribers rise to 500,000 in the middle of this year from 440,000 as of the end of 2012.
The lowest priced plan is at P390 per month, while the premium plan costs P1,590 per month.
Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The new plans were launched in January.
Zaballero said the new plans are seen to support a further increase in Cignal’s total subscribers.
As the total number of subscribers go up, he said the firm is also optimistic that it could start seeing positive earnings before taxes this year.
“The first quarter (income) is quite good. I think we can see positive earnings by the second-half,” he said.
Launched in 2009, Cignal broadcasts to households and commercial venues nationwide using direct broadcast satellite technology.
It is owned and operated by MediaScape Inc., a subsidiary of MediaQuest Holdings, the media partner of the PLDT Group of Companies.
