MANILA, Philippines - Lopez-led
multimedia conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp. is branching out into theme parks and
resorts development, following the footsteps of global media giants Walt Disney
Co., NBC Universal and Viacom which broke out of the cocoon of home
entertainment.
The country’s largest media outfit has
incorporated ABS-CBN Theme Parks & Resort Holdings Inc. with an initial
authorized capital of P270 million to serve as the group’s vehicle for its
foray into the amusement park business.
The Lopezes were earlier reported
among those that have signified interest to partner with Japanese billionaire
Kazuo Okada, one of the four investor groups granted a license to operate a
casino in Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corp.’s Entertainment City.
Okada and the group of taipan John
Gokongwei are still in talks for a possible partnership in the Japanese
pachinko tycoon’s planned $2 billion integrated resort along Manila Bay.
Sources said ABS-CBN is banking on the
flourishing market for family amusement rides and live shows as Asia’s large
populations are now moving up into the bottom rungs of the middle classes,
triggering a boom in theme park construction. With more disposable income and
free time, the continent’s growing middle class tend to spend some of it on
thrill rides.
In an industry challenged by piracy
and a deteriorating DVD business, amusement parks have emerged as a bright
spot. Theme parks have become one of the few steady growth drivers for global
media and entertainment conglomerates.
Analysts said real estate has become
indispensable to an entertainment company’s portfolio, its growth and
promotional strategies. The recent years have seen many global media firms
venturing into theme park and resorts development to diversify their revenue
stream.
ABS-CBN produces world-class
entertainment, news and information programs through its flagship station in
Mega Manila, ABS-CBN Channel 2, and its free-to-air UHF channel Studio 23.
Backed by a regional network of 25 originating stations, eight affiliates, and
a collection of strategically-located relay stations across the archipelago,
ABS-CBN’s nationwide reach remains unmatched to date.
The group also operates the country’s
leading radio network led by DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and Tambayan 101.9 in the FM
band.
ABS-CBN owns SkyCable, the country’s
largest cable television service provider with around 500,000 subscribers in
Metro Manila and key urban areas nationwide.
Outside of the Philippines, ABS-CBN
reaches an estimated two million Filipinos out of the more than eight million
Filipinos overseas, through ABS Global’s The Filipino Channel (TFC).
TFC is available in the US, Canada,
the whole of Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Japan, and a host of other
Asia-Pacific countries via cable TV, direct-to-home satellite, Internet
Protocol Television (IPTV), and the internet through TFC Now.
ABS-CBN’s in-house produced programs
also reach foreign audiences through the distribution of ABS-CBN content to
countries in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa.
Star Cinema, ABS-CBN’s movie
production unit, accounts for a 75 percent share of the local film market based
on gross box office receipts, consistently producing one blockbuster hit after
another.
ABS-CBN also leads the local music
production and distribution outfit in the country through Star Records.
The media giant completes its
tri-media offering with 14 glossy magazine titles, addressing the needs of the
Philippine upscale market with features on fashion and lifestyle, gossip and
entertainment, culinary arts, interior design, sports, and male-specific
interests.
Blazing the trail in new media
technology, ABS-CBN Interactive pioneered traditional media and SMS tie-ups in
the country with the launch of TV text promos and TV polls / voting systems.
The group’s online properties –
entertainment and news sites, online games, and social networking through one
of the leading social networks in world, Multiply, have a solid following.
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