RIYADH, 25 February 2005 — Come March 1, Filipinos in the Kingdom will soon be able to watch their favorite shows on Philippine television network GMA 7, thanks to Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network.
Orbit, in partnership with Nora Eastern Corporation-VIVA Middle East and Europe, launched “Orbit Pinoy Plus” yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel in Riyadh, extending the rivalry between GMA 7 and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Orbit Pinoy Plus is the latest addition to Orbit’s list of channels and an alternative Filipino Channel in the Middle East.
Leading the launch were Orbit’s regional director for Saudi Arabia Abdul Mohsen Al-Joyan, sales and marketing director Majed Fayyad, marketing manager Tareeq Judeh, NEC-VIVA managing director Armando Tongol, executive director Fidel Dumanhog and marketing director Jose Gie Sinaon.
Philippine Embassy officials led by Minister Mariano Dumia, Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan, Welfare Officer Riyadh Fred Buelina, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Adrian Elmer S. Cruz and Vice Consul Romulo Israel came to witness the launch.
Orbit’s Pinoy Plus is expected to give ABS-CBN a run for its money, coming at a time when ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel, or TFC, is experiencing transmission trouble, aggravating complaints against TFC’s rate and subscription policies.
Said Jobi Yba?es, an IT specialist in Alkhobar, Pinoy Plus “will save us from the exorbitant subscription fees and humdrum shows of TFC.”
The new package, which will be available in the Middle East and Europe, includes GMA7 network — featuring comedies such as Eat Bulaga and Bubble Gang, heartwarming dramas and news and public affairs reports — and Viva Pinoy Box Office, a 24-hour movie channel, plus Viva Original Pinoy Music TV and Pinoy Prime Sports.
Orbit officials said Pinoy Plus is in addition to several channels such as MGM, Orbit-ESPN, Orbit News, Fashion TV, The Disney Channel, Animal Planet, The Cartoon Network, Music Now and Radio orbit.
Other packages offered by Orbit are Alfa-Arabic Entertainment, Prime-Western Entertainment, Mega-Total Entertainment.
Executive Director Dumanhog said GMA 7’s news broadcast initially will not be shown “live” but they will be moving into that very soon.
He said the network is also putting up its own news bureau in the Middle East and Europe.
Marketing Director Sinaon assured subscribers of Orbit-Pinoy Plus of better shows from GMA 7, as its kapuso team in the Philippines continue to work hard to outperform ABS-CBN’s kapamilya.
Orbit’s Pinoy Plus package costs includes a one-time SR200 installation fee and a refundable deposit of SR200 for dish and decoder, plus SR75 per month subscription charge.
Those with existing Orbit subscription need to pay only SR25 per month for each Filipino channel.
Viewers can subscribe by contacting Orbit’s customer service center telephone number 479-6000 or any of Orbit Pinoy Plus’ authorized agents, according to Orbit officials.
Additional information are also available in Orbit’s website, www.orbit.net.
