JEDDAH, 31 March 2006 — A year after the initial launch of its Pinoy Plus package, Orbit said it hopes to eventually capture the Filipino market in the Middle East by bringing in the “real” GMA 7, the archrival of Philippine broadcast network giant ABS-CBN.

In a simple relaunch on Wednesday night at the Al-Harithy Hotel in Jeddah, Orbit officials said they have learned lessons from their failed offer and have packed the new one with excellent programs and extras for a minimal price.

“We are offering a totally new package and what further makes us different is that we do not count heads,” Orbit Product Manager Ken Fortun told community leaders, business executives, school officials and Philippine Consulate officials who were invited to the launch.

“We have a fixed price. We know that Filipinos are here to earn and save for the future and so we don’t take advantage of their homesickness…,’” Fortun said in apparent allusion to the pricing method of a rival channel.

Last year’s launch of Pinoy Plus in the Kingdom was met with a warm welcome but the enthusiasm died when it turned out that the package tailored by Orbit and the Dubai-based NEC-Viva group included only the syndicated programs of GMA 7 and not live telecasts.

Ed Rufino, one of the organizers of the event, said it took Orbit about 10 months to negotiate and seal an agreement directly with GMA 7 in Manila.

“Today, the deal has materialized and kapuso is really here with us!” he said. Kapuso is how GMA 7 calls its talents and staff and loyal viewers while ABS-CBN and its own circle call themselves kapamilya (one family).

Easier Payment Methods

Fortun said more than 3,000 subscribers have signed up for Pinoy Plus since the broadcast launch of the “real” GMA 7 shows in mid-February, but he admitted that many Filipinos in the Kingdom still have to know what’s in store for them.

Pinoy Plus is an excellent package for only SR89 a month, with its main GMA 7 shows such as the Philippines’ longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga, the No. 1 gag show Bubble Gang, the news program Saksi, the primetime news program 24 Oras, among others, as its main come-on.

“GMA 7 alone already offers an excellent program. Yet Pinoy Plus has Orbit ESPN for those who are fond of sports, MGM for the movie buffs, there is the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network for the young, Animal Planet for everyone, CNN for those who want to keep up-to-date with the news, Fashion TV for the fashion-minded, plus Music Now and Radio Orbit,” he said.

Orbit offers three payment methods for new subscribers. One is a one-time cash payment of SR 1,290, which would cover SR378 for the decoder and installation, plus a 10-month subscription. Another payment method is by credit card, in which an initial cash payment of SR378 is required and SR178 is deducted every two months from the subscriber’s credit card. The third option is by Direct Debit to the subscriber’s ATM card of SR178 every two months after an initial, one-time, cash payment of SR378. Unlike the other Filipino pay-TV channel, Fortun said, Orbit allows a subscriber to use multiple TV outlets as long as these are all within an apartment or a house. It also offers at a discounted rate a Kid’s Channel for the subscriber so that children won’t be exposed to shows fit only for adults.

Launching Woes

Arab News learned that Wednesday night’s launch was supposed be done with some fanfare, with entertainer German Moreno, international billiards star Efren “Bata” Reyes and singer Jolina Magdangal invited for the occasion along with three top executives of GMA 7. Due to visa problems, they managed to make it only to Dubai. The “show” had to go on, however, and local singers John Marimla and Adrienne Mae Familara, backed by Ramon Comia, an engineer by day and pianist by night did the honors. Orbit was represented by Fortun, together with Muhammad Shmishany, Orbit’s dealer network manager, and Sharrif Badi Hazem, owner of Pinoy Plus dealer Al Sharef Establishment in Jeddah.

Closer to Home

Welfare Officer Anwar Ampang, who spoke in behalf of Consul General Pendosina R. Lomondot, welcomed the arrival of GMA 7 to the Kingdom, saying it would provide Filipinos more choices of Philippine shows. He said such shows are necessary for they “bring us closer to home,” and he urged Filipinos “to patronize our very own shows.”

John Asperilla, who co-emceed the launch with community leader Willy Ansis, said the coming of Kapuso in the Middle East ushers in an era of stronger competition, which should result in better shows.